There is a move to do away with “Faith schools”. It would be far better for our children to be brought up in neutral environments, where children are not brainwashed by religion (of any persuasion). History has so many instances of wars, violence and division caused by religion; surely religious education is at least risky, if not downright pernicious?

But the question must be asked: what is a neutral environment?  Behind all education is there not a philosophy a “faith”, or system of belief. Almost 3000 years ago, Spartans believed education’s aim was to produce  soldiers: (no room for girls); male infants were examined; those with physical defects were exposed on the mountain-side, the healthy, at 7, were  taken from their parents to be trained in the military arts. They became the best; for centuries the Spartan soldier was renowned for skill and bravery.

The Athenians believed education’s aim was to produce politicians : men so eloquent they could convince people that bad was good. They produced the finest speakers.

In the 20th century the Soviet Union believed education’s aim was to produce cogs in the industrial machine, and those who disagreed perished in the gulags. Hitler believed its aim was to produce the master race; Jews, imperfect people, opponents were eliminated. In Cambodia, Pol Pot believed education itself was evil; so the educated disappeared in the killing fields. In Gaza today, schools cannot be built or rebuilt: ‘Security’ has put an embargo on building materials. The success of all these education systems is outstanding.

In the 1980s the British government rightly asked schools to come clean, to declare their system of belief. So Mission statements abounded. The mission statement of Our Lady Star of the Sea primary school is: “You are precious in my eyes”( Isaiah 43): each and every human being is unique, and should be valued and respected.

Visit the school. It’s palpable!

Mgr A. Turner