Mick Hartley

From the Times:

Faith schools are to be instructed to teach pupils about other religions besides their own.
Leaders from the Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist faiths have signed a joint statement backing the teaching of an awareness of the “tenets” of other faiths in schools.

The declaration, made jointly with the Department for Education and Skills, says that religious education enables pupils to “combat prejudice” and helps them to develop respect and sensitivity to others….

Ruth Kelly, the Education Secretary, said that the best faith schools promoted inclusion and appreciation of other faiths. She said: “This is part of the vital role that faith schools have played in education. By promoting core values, they have also strengthened communities and our society.”

I don’t think “naive” quite captures the stupidity of this, especially the bit about religious education enabling pupils to combat prejudice. What world are these people living in? And there’s that weasel word “communities” again. “Core values” will in many cases strengthen the community at the expense of society as a whole.