Oscar Wilde argued that “scepticism is the beginning of faith”. Scepticism about faith appears to be more common in modern Britain; indeed, outright cynicism has become fashionable in some quarters. Nowhere is that more true than in the relationship between religion and education. Religious schools are often admired for their ethos while simultaneously condemned for their exclusivity. Yet how their ethos could be created and maintained without an emphasis on what makes these schools distinctive and different is difficult to envisage. Ministers are faced with a similar conundrum. On the one hand, the academic results achieved by faith schools in poor neighbourhoods are often impressive. Yet on the other hand, politicians and public alike are uneasy about religious segregation and fear that it will undermine the quest for social cohesion. It is an unenviable dilemma for public policy.
Religious schools are, says the author condemned for their exclusivity. True but also misleading. Christian schools (I write as the pastor of a London parish with two parochial schools) are often wonderfully multi-ethnic. Yes, all the pupils are Catholics. But you could find at least 20 different language groups among them, and even more ethnicities. And happily accepting their diversity. One family, one faith, but many nations coming together as one. I do wish the journalists would reflect this in their reports.
I have no way of finding out – but I wonder how many of our countries leader politically and industrially speaking went to exclusive universities. I’m betting a bunch. Any proof for or against out there?
Yes, religous schools should be subject to the same levels of mediocrity as public schools!