why allow faith schools?

Question

since faith schools are more interested in indoctrinating children into a particular belief system than in community cohesion - why do we allow them to exist

isnt church and the family the correct place for religion - rather than school

Answer 1

But they also turn out better educated students as well... which is the MAIN goal of a school, and public schools are sadly failing at that goal. It must be noted public schools are fantastic at concentrating on developing a high level of self-esteem for a group of people who know so little.

Answer 2

I see a problem!!! (don't I always :-) ).

Some people don't seem to have realised that there are faith schools and "Faith Schools". By that, I mean that the average xtian school is, as has already been said, a (generally) excellent general school with a church ceremony perhaps once or twice a week and a heavy accent on xtianity in it's so-called "Religious Education" lessons.

However, the vindalooas (sorry, madrassas but I like my curry hotter), teach mostly the Koran and almost totally in Arabic. Other subjects such as the rules for the mohommedan way of life are taught and everything else gets taught as little as possible. Unlike the xtian faith schools, they don't tend to produce "university material" or generally well-educated people, just people who have no interest in life, only religion.

Likewise the Jewish schools. They however DO have an accent on general education. Religion lessons are given great importance, day to day rituals are rigourously observed but, general education is also treated as important. Result, Jewish chilren work 10 times harder than all the others, and the results show. Oh yes, much of the religious curriculum and the ritualistic observances are taught in Hebrew, and the children probably all learn Ivrit (modern Hebrew) as well, since many of them, if not all, will eiter visit the Holy Land very frequently or, emigrate there permanently.

so, should faith schools accept other faith (or no faith) children? There's no real problem with it BUT, the education probably won't suit the children or their parents. After all, how many English people want their children taught in Arabic or Hebrew? Not many I suspect.

should faith schools be allowed at all? Well, a recent article in a Jewish newspaper points out that Jewish numbers are falling rapidly (in Britain) due to intermarriage and general falling away from what appears to be a very dogmatic and primitive faith. The suggestion to improve this is to send children to Jewish schools so they won't meet/mix with non Jewish children and will not be corrupted by non Jewish thoughts and theology/philosophy. Also, the concept of arranged marriage (Chinuch) should be maintained so a good Jewish boy is matched with an equally good Jewish girl whether they like it or not. In that way, they will probably continue to follow the dogma and ritual they learned as children simply because they have no concept of anything else. "This is how everybody lives, isn't it? !!!".

Perhaps then, faith schools should be outlawed completely. In that way, religion would probably die (or be relegated in importance and practiced only by the peasantry (loosely speaking) as they are the people with the least education.

Answer 3

I went to a private Christian high school...

"faith schools" are not just going to school and studying religion all day.

It was a normal school except we had chapel once a week... Our grades were even more strict than a normal public school (94 A/87 B etc.) The State Board of Education still approved all classes, so it wasn't non-standardized in any way.

If you think that church and family are the correct places for religion, then you should understand that not everyone goes to these schools. They cost money because they get no help whatsoever from the government.

If a group of people wants their kids to go to a school and be surrounded by others who believe the same, it should be their choice. I dont see how these schools are not supporting community cohesion...

Answer 4

As long as it is properly accredited they are appropriate. Generally the education is better in parochial schools than in public schools. Even the fundamentalists' schools are generally rated high, except in some of the sciences. I don't think comprehensive geology is a biggie for them,

In this country the Catholic Church does a wonderful job, and does not try to convert the Thai from Buddhism, or submerge them in a Christian environment. They are for teaching and helping 3rd world nations like this.

Not all church schools and universities have a religious agenda. BUT some certainly do.

Answer 5

Why allow secular schools? They indoctrinate children in secular humanism, the religion of athiests. Answer - Freedom of speech.
No church and the family is not the correct place, life is the correct place for a faith in God.
Many people have fought and died so that we can have freedom in our country, don't take those freedoms away from us just because you think you are right in your religion and everyone else is wrong.

Answer 6

Some people don't want their kids being brought up in this immoral disrespectful society so they choose to send their kids to these schools as opposed to public schools. If you have a certain faith, what's wrong with wanting your children to be taught at school with the same morals your trying to teach them at home? How is that indoctrinating them? It's not like they're making other parents send their kids to them. Isn't the freedom to be given a choice what this country's all about?

Answer 7

It's a very interesting question.

Imagine someone suggesting the foundation of a "political school" which taught subjects - history, geography, economics and so on - from a Conservative or Labour point of view. Would we accept that, or allow state funds to be given to such an institution?

So why accept the filtering of education through anything else which is a matter of opinion, like religion?

Answer 8

FREEDOM OF RELIGION!!!

Taxes support public schools, not private schools. So, I don't understand the logic of some arguments of people who complain about their tax money going to private schools. In fact, I as a parent who sends my kids to private Christian school, pay not only their tuition, but my tax money goes to public schools as well. So, I'm paying taxes to educate other people's kids - my kids don't benefit from my tax dollars. Private schools certainly take nothing away from taxpayers.

Regarding the statement that "indoctrinating" rather than "community cohesion" is the goal for faith schools -- it couldn't be more off the mark. My 10th grade daughter is going on a mission trip to Mexico next week. Every year her school sends students on other community outreach projects. Students collect and package medical supplies and raise funds (more than $13,000 last year) that are shipped to needy people around the world. My daughters are learning to be great American citizens and to truly love their neighbors.

Answer 9

Faith schools are great if you want your child to be educated about the familys beliefs rather than just follow the clan. As none faith schools are having to be more and more careful not to "tread on another faiths toes" I can actually see them becoming more popular.

Answer 10

I'm very interested in this for a number of reasons. I sent my daughters to the local state school because I believe in the community. I objected to the fact that children who do go to faith schools are given free transport, while my daughter who attends a school 2.5 miles away, has to pay for her bus fare. I supported the council on the decision to force parents to pay for their children's fares and we attended a few meetings. It was quite extraordinary to see how these so-called religious people behaved. They accused the counsil of anti-Semitism, racism etc etc.
My children attended the local school, which was, as a matter of fact, a faith school. I can tell you that it was no different to the state school they previously attended. In fact, it was more dated and out of touch. Simple things like netball weren't taught. Sure, we had lovely church services, which as a Christian, I was pleased to attend.
My daughter's friends went on to various schools, incuding the follow on church of England school. The lies those parents told to get their kids into the faith school were shocking. And we always had the "I want my children to learn morals!" brigade. Well, guess whose daughter is still a virgin, has never been drunk, never done drugs, doesn't smoke? And guess whose daughter has never shoplifted???? Believe it or not, the only child in her class who went to a State school.
Faith schools exist because people believe that their religion sets them apart. It allows indoctrination. Go into the schools websites and see their mission statements. Several of them are eye openers, preaching loyalty to other countries.
In my opinion, if you want your child to go to a faith school, you should pay for it. And I'm not just talking about the transport. I mean, all the way. The land, the buildings, the teaching etc etc. And the rest of the money should be put into State schools. Education should be for all, not just for a few who are somehow perceived to be superior to the rest of the community.

Answer 11

Its approximately determination in a democracy people might desire to notice that faith colleges will supply first option to a baby of a family in that faith. yet this would not mean that the colleges won't supply get admission to to those that do not proportion it. the actual concern for me is the ever creeping socialist state who's schedule seems to me to shed each and every mark of our christian background you only might desire to study the papers over the previous couple of years approximately Councils banning real reflections of Christmas and Fiona Bruce and her go. people who safeguard this political correctness say its approximately making a tolerant inclusive society yet that's risky rubbish and has each and every of the hallmarks of the former Soviet union its additionally patronising to different religious and ethnic minorities. It replace into the hot Archbishop of York who's from Uganda who suggested The British might desire to study real background and have fun the excellent achievements we've given the worldwide and restoration a ethical custom which we've lost. possibly its time we listened to people like this Archbishop incredibly of the chattering instructions which has led this u . s . a . down the ethical sewer .