Education Committee
Considering again the decision of the Education & Children's Services Committee, I started to ponder the position of the four appointees as Representatives of Religious Interests to the Committee.We have the Church of Scotland, The Free Church of Scotland, The Free Presbyterian Church and the Catholic Church join 16 Councillors to form Education policy in the Western Isles.
For those unfamiliar with religious schisms, the history of the various protestant denominations is one of argument and divisiveness, with the result that the Church of Scotland begat various offspring which begat the United (sic) Presbyterian Church, which begat the Free Church of Scotland in 1843 which begat the Free Presbyterian Church in 1893 and in 2000 the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing).
None of these are to be confused with the United Free Church of Scotland, or the Associated Presbyterian Churches (born 1990 to the Free Presbyterian Church).
The Church of Scotland as the established Presbyterian Church was, of course, a schism from the Catholic Church and has in course begat many other Churches too numerous to mention (and that is just in Lewis).
So, given this history of demonstrating how to live and let live with those who disagree with their view point, what right do they have to be the sole unelected representatives allowed to participate in Council decisions?
Where is the representation for parents? For teachers? For Muslims, Jews, agnostics et al? Special needs? Single parents? Gaelic speakers? Urdu speakers? Parents in a civil partnership?
Surely now is the time to remove the imbalance of religion from the Education Committee by either widening the scope of the input to include other views, or by removing an inherent bias in the process and restricting the decisions to elected Councillors only?
Let us grasp the nettle and ensure that education is no longer seen as 'needing' an input that cannot be provided by Councillors, and stop loading the Committee in favour of some denominations.
10 comments:
Bloomin' well said Angus
About time Angus, we members of the Catholic Church (Continuing) could not agree more... well more or less. Lets all have a say.
Rock on, Angus! I disagree with everything you say about wind factories, but this post is spot on.
And a reminder as to why I'm very reluctant to put any future kids through the local education system. I'd rather they learn and develop skills they'll need in their lifetime in a global marketplace, rather than waste their limited classroom time being brainwashed with some ghostie mumbo-jumbo.
"I started to ponder the position of the four appointees as Representatives of Religious Interests to the Committee."
Scuse my ignorance but is this solely a local issue or are the many guises of the church of scotland represented nationally regards to education matters.
For many years the tartan taliban restricted funding or prevented school trips to the mainland if there was any suggestion of sports on a Sunday- about time they were called to heel!
Its well known in the islands that these ministers work every Sunday going, at overtime rates....
Another good one Angus
Good idea get rid of the clergy and let the schools recognise the fact the world is more than 4000 years old.
Whilst no fan of religious representation on the EdCom I think in this case they may be the ones who helped bring about a sensible decision - wait until all the consultations are done and then decide to close the schools (or not). Didn't you say in an earlier post that you suspected another north south divide over school closures? Well done Rev Coghill and co!
10.59 yes, but not by much
10:59 see http://www.answersingenesis.org/#section-4 top of page
Post a Comment