The idea that Catholics are being radicalised in state schools is “ridiculous” and “offensive”, the Conservative MP for Gainsborough will say today during a parliamentary debate on education, regulation and faith schools.
Sir Edward Leigh, who is also the president of the Catholic Union of Great Britain, will say in a speech that “faith schools should hold their heads up high” and should stand for Christian values, according to fragments of his speech seen by the Telegraph.
“[Faith schools] should not engage in the pre-emptive cringe and kowtow to the latest fashion but should stand by the principles that have made them such a success: love for God and neighbour; pursuit of truth; high-aspiration and discipline,” Sir Edward will say.
“The idea that Catholics are being radicalised in state schools is as ridiculous as it is offensive,” he will say.
The authorities have evaded making a proper response to the criticism, and Sir Edward’s speech as reported here similarly seems not to grasp a critical issue. The category of preparing for life in Britain today includes making sure that children are not prejudiced against homosexuals or lesbians. Well, I would be glad if that were so. Unfortunately it has become a heresy-seeking exercise, with reports, for example, of children in Jewish schools being asked if they have lesbian friends. This same-sex issue seems to have been one of those affecting the closure of the Durham school. Schools deemed not to imbue their pupils with the ‘right’ attitudes are going to be marked down.