Should religiously segregated schools in the UK be abolished?

Question

The issue of 'multiculturalism' is quite prevalent in the news here at the moment. On that point, it seems glaringly obvious to me that religious segregation in school leads to segregation in wider society. How can we expect children to grow up with tolerance and understanding and mutual respect if the school system is constantly giving them the message that they have to be kept apart from people who hold different beliefs?

Ruth Kelly, on breakfast TV, was questioned on this point and her response was to enthuse about how they would encourage joint sports events and other links between different segregated schools... but to me this is just an admission that segregated schools lead to segregated society, and rather than tinkering around with links between schools it would be far better to outlaw segregated schools completely and just educate everyone together. That seems, as the Americans like to say, a 'no-brainer'.

What do you think?

Answer 1

Yes they absolutely should be abolished/banned and I'm pretty sure that the government will come to its senses soon and do this.

It's not even like it will be discrimination, because all religious schools should be banned - muslim, sikh, etc, AND Christian schools.

There is no place for religion in our schools. If parents want their children to learn about God(s) they should take their children to a church or mosque or temple. We should follow the French and make it so the education system is secular by law.

To the moron above who thinks it should be up to parents: do you honestly believe all parents are capable of making the right decision and putting their kids in mixed schools? Most parents believe their kids are perfect and would never become terrorists or ignorant of other cultures. The simple fact is that many parents, particularly ones who went to segregated schools themselves, are NOT going to make the right decision. You have an overly idealistic view of the world. People complain about the nanny-state, but Britain is in a multicultural meltdown, with barriers between minorities and whites taller than ever. The government needs to take steps now to combat extremism before it's too late.

Answer 2

I'm in Malaysia, and they have the government schools that accept all races, as well as Chinese and Indian schools (this is racial segregation, but specific races tend to be a blueprint for specific religions in this part of the world).
It is damaging in the sense that when people from a Chinese-only or Indian-only school graduate, they've been surrounded by people who think, look, and act like them too much to the point that they can't assimilate with the rest of society, which means they live lives devoid of any sort of cultural diversity.
I think this would reflect the situation in the UK, and in these bleak times, this sort of thing could be perceived as a breeding ground for grassroot terrorism.
So yes, no doubt they should be abolished, as whatever good they do doesn't even come close to the damage they deliver.

Answer 3

"How can we expect children to grow up with tolerance and understanding and mutual respect if the school system is constantly giving them the message that they have to be kept apart from people who hold different beliefs?"

Would you have the state determine what is best for children to believe? I do not find myself believing bureaucrats have anyone's best interests at heart except their ability to keep their jobs.

I'd rather place my faith in the parents. Being one might bias my judgment, but consider what happens when the state's government leans decidedly towards a religious belief (such as exists in America at the moment).

Democracies are notorious for majorities using the power of the state to persecute minorities.

Answer 4

There are Catholic schools and Jewish schools and all sort of schools in the US. They aren't regular public schools, but my thought is if someone wants to pay to segregate themselves or just be around people with similar beliefs, go right ahead.

Answer 5

More and more I think that, if you survey globally, the foremost cause of division between human beings is not race, gender, age, or even politics. It is religion. Meanwhile, we sit back and allow children to continually be injected with virulent ideologies before they have enough maturity and common sense to differentiate between reality and Santa Clause. In this manner, the hate is perpetuated.

Answer 6

I think all religious people should be segregated to Antarctica

Answer 7

I think they are protected by Freedom of Speech. Of course, I don't know the English legal system.