Are religious schools necessary in Scotland? — Cameron Willey

We had a very interesting conversation, not least at the moment when each of us explained the basis for the selection of students who came to our schools. It was a bit odd that he was describing the process of selecting students for his (very good) public Catholic high school.

One of the many disadvantages of independent schools is that many—not all—are selective. Yes, the angry reader yells, “chosen by income” but in reality, of course, in the case of my old school, with its foundation and generous scholarships, it is often more a matter of selection by academic ability, with other factors - talent , pastoral necessity, disciplinary punishment - also in the mix.

Now I’m very happy to discuss the right and wrong of this - and I’ll do it in a minute - but if it’s wrong, then isn’t it wrong also to allow some young people into some schools simply on the basis of their (well, their parents’ religion? And I will say right away - this is public schools paid for by the general taxpayer.

The injustice of this has been a blind spot for Scottish politicians ever since the Scottish authorities assumed responsibility for Catholic education (virtually every “denominational” school in Scotland is a Catholic school) through the Education (Scotland) Act 1918. which was strengthened by the 1980 law.

It is simply too hot a topic for the party in power, even if it were ready for it, first for the Labor Party and then, more recently, for the SNP. So here we are, a century later, at a very different time regarding religion, still in a situation where we separate children based on religion, even when we know that the vast majority of young people don’t go to church.

Leave aside the question—albeit a very important one—should we introduce any of our children to the practice of religion in our schools—and just think about it. In a small nation that still has large pockets of religious intolerance, across a narrow sea from a country where segregated schooling has created a bitter historical religious divide, do we really need to still have separate denominational schools?

The Church and many people who, regardless of their faith, welcome a separate Catholic education may scoff at the idea that someone who has worked in independent education should seem intent on depriving anyone of limited rights to choose a school for their child.

In fact, however, there is no inconsistency in my position. When I come into office (“Vote Willie! The last vote you’ll ever need!” Just kidding), I would like to have many different schools available to educate Scottish students: vocational schools, STEM schools, schools. for children with athletic, musical, dramatic or creative abilities, schools for children with learning difficulties, whether academic, pastoral or behavioral, and schools for children of all backgrounds who are academically capable.

Indeed, it is not an exaggeration to say that such a variety of educational opportunities provided by the state may mean that independent education is simply dying out, while at the same time reducing the educational gap associated with poverty.

Of course, under the current educational regime and its policy of “mainstreaming” (i.e. sending everyone to the same school, regardless of ability, and leaving everything to principals, teachers and assistants), the chances are that any of This.

If this really happened - in some fictional world of the future - would individual denominational schools be able to qualify at all? Do we really think that we need to keep building dual schools to provide what is essentially a very, very similar education, just with a different religious ideal?

When I say this, it seems that most people agree with my position. The argument is sometimes made to me that Catholic schools are “better.” This of course includes judging which school is the “best”. Top scores? Best Behavior? Better ability to produce good citizens? The best sense of community?

Well, it’s hard to understand, but in any case, it’s a strange argument that a nation should deliberately pay to have some students go to “better” schools than others who aren’t allowed in.

Plus, of course, there is the proven fact that separating people - especially children - and placing them in different groups breeds prejudice against the “outgroup”. During a taxi ride through Calamity in Belfast, the driver, a former member of the paramilitary group, said his biggest achievement in life was getting his children into a school that welcomes all religions.

Fifty-five years ago, when I was a little boy, I wrote my first ever letter to a newspaper - that’s exactly it - and asked if the entire population of Scotland, regardless of their religion or lack of it, really thought that the creation of separate schools based on parental faith was a good idea.

I still do not know the answer - today, if we did not have a separate Catholic education, would we invent it? Maybe we should wait and see what the census tells us about religious faith in this country and then take stock.

If you haven’t already, consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism with a digital subscription.