Observations on single faith schools.

I attended a mixed (Girls and Boys) state school in East London from the mid to late nineteen-forties. Most fathers were away in the forces and, in the belief that the children were therefore out of proper control, the children were subjected to a regime that was strict and unbending. Considered a tough school in more than one sense; it was run by a Headmistress that it is not stretching a point to describe as overpowering. Put bluntly she was an imposing figure that struck fear into the heart of the hardest child and commanded grave respect from the most rebellious teachers, of which there were very few! Though a state secondary school she based the curriculum on the Christian faith and allied the school to the local Church of England Parish Church.

Within the curriculum religious education was in three forms:
1… New Testament for half an hour each week. That consisted of a teacher, any teacher and rarely the same one every week, reading a passage from the Bible and asking questions afterwards to ensure that the children had been paying attention.
2…School Assembly, first the children were required to divide themselves into the various faiths. Those designated Church of England were required to attend all assemblies, to sing all the hymns chosen by the music teacher and under the threat of severe retribution listen attentively to the local Vicar when he called to preach to the weekly assembly in the main hall. All of us thoroughly detested the whole subject of religion and paid as little attention to what was being said as possible. The only saving grace in these boring arrangements were in the assemblies. Then, since the girls stood in one line and the boys in another alternately from front to back of the hall, the boys were able to exercise their ingenuity to irritate the line of girls in front of them.
Roman Catholics were permitted to excuse themselves from all worship at school, staying instead in the classroom studying under the suspicious eye of a teacher who may or may not have been of their faith.
Jews and "Other denominations" (I never did see anyone claiming to belong this latter group) did the same but in a different classroom. All this was hardly calculated to develop a oneness amongst impressionable children.
3…The Old Testament, this was the only class in which religious education of any value took place. It was taught by Mr. Levy a devout Jew and a brilliant maths teacher. He brought to life many of the stories in the Old Testament and made us all think about the whole subject of GOD. That simply didn't seem like religious study, it had more of an historical value. It sparked an interest in The Book for me that I have maintained ever since.

Looking back I can't remember the names of "Single Faith Schools" performing in the sports arena, that being our prime area of interest. Those that we did know of we tended to write off as being soft or cissy. This though I do recall, those not included in the school C of E activities were regarded as being 'out of it', not like the rest of us, almost foreign…….In short there were divisions caused by the various religions even in those days. At the same time in other parts of the East End Mosely's Black Shirts were attacking Jews just because they were Jews. I left school at the required level of education and began work a week later in the City of London. I was aged 15 years. For many years religion was not a subject of great interest for me.

I know that times change but experience has taught me that people rarely do. Each generation of children tend to do the same things, OK with different tools and appliances but basically the same tricks and the same rebellious attitudes prevail, so I believe that it is likely that the modern child in a single faith school is still regarded by those in general state education as 'different' and would still be regarded with a degree of suspicion.

I long ago rationalised my attitude to religion. I am convinced that religion has little or nothing to do with faith. The former being created by man and the latter coming from within a person's own inner self, often defying logic or reason but steadfast nevertheless. I am convinced that there is a power of some sort beyond the understanding of man, just one. Rather like a power station, you can plug any sort of appliance into it and get power that enables and enriches your life or you can plug into the same socket and electrocute yourself! Or someone else! It's all a question of attitude and belief.

On balance I conclude it must be axiomatic that single faith schools teach division and therefore the state should not fund any of them. The responsibility for the teaching of religion should rest with parents and the appropriate religious teachers. All should teach tolerance and allow others to follow their inclinations and beliefs without criticism, fear or persecution. All should work for the common good and respect each other. Sounds impossible doesn't it? And yet all religions purport to teach and promote peace and the love of man for his fellows! Ah well! Someday who knows? Pigs might fly.