Faith Schools - Essay Example

Do faith schools assist or inhibit multiculturalism? and Section # of FAITH SCHOOLS Faith schools have come under the spotlight especially after the recent terrorist attacks spreading terror across the world. Pakistan, Afghanistan and even certain Christian faith schools located in the United Kingdom and the United States of America have come under scrutiny and extensive monitoring regarding their curriculum, teaching methodologies and activities etc. Faith schools usually are educational settings with a particular religious character with links to religious organizations. They are usually funded by the state or by the religious organization themselves. Given this character of faith schools, it is reasonable to suggest that faith schools do inhibit multiculturalism because of their narrow and close-minded curriculum. This may not have a negative connotation but the point being stressed here is that they focus majorly on that specific religion and culture which they are linked to. This eventually, although unintentionally, inhibits any form of learning regarding multiculturalism and thus leads to a narrow-minded approach towards other cultures. Almost 80 % of Americans do not favor faith schools due to the reason discussed above. A logical perspective to look at it suggests that schools provide an ideal educational setting to impart teachings regarding tolerance and respect of other religions and cultures given the fact that children from different beliefs and cultures are educated collectively. Given this rise in secularism, it has become a source of concern especially in the United Kingdom supporting that without action; Islam would become the majority religion practiced in the UK ahead of Catholicism. The problem arises when Labor parties perpetuate the information to children regarding extremist religious information which can be harmful especially for other minority religions that are practiced in the region. This can also result in chronic problems for several nations for e.g. the UK; in a span of twenty years will face a serious threat from religious segregation due to the practices of faith schools (Gordon Cairns, 2007-12-04). Hence in such societies, individuals would be bound by peer pressures to associate themselves to certain religious groups even though they might not completely agree with the moral and ethical standards set by that religious group. This natural survival technique, also described as safety in numbers would then become a crucial means to survival. If this were to happen than the situation would arise whereby denouncing believe in God will also have severe affects. A country being ruled by the Church for e.g. can have serious consequences on the well-being of individuals who do not really comply with the principles and guidelines laid out by the Church. Education in England includes many schools which are linked to the Church and thus the Church’s ethos are applied and implemented without concern for the multicultural environment which England is characterized by. As stated, these faith schools are funded by the government, but 65% of the citizens in England are against this funding and want the government to stop funding these faith schools due to the fact that they hold back multiculturalism practices and lead to division of cultures. This is done through a simple mechanism; since the individual is exposed to a certain religion’s teachings and beliefs at a constant level, the teachings become engrained in the individuals mind and since references to other religions are rarely given neither are they taught tolerance towards other religions, the end result is closed mindedness and lack of concern for other religions and cultures which inevitably leads to divisibility in cultures and multiculturalism is inhibited. Moreover, even though Christian schools are a popular concepts in many countries, the rise in Muslim, Sikh and Hindu faith schools is perceived as a major threat and after the 9/11 and 7/7 attacks this threat has become a grave source of concern for several individuals. This has also given rise to many stereotypes which originate from the faith schools and create a reasonable amount of hatred between different sects in a society. Muslims and Sikhs, conversely argue that this has also given rise to the denial of their rights and hyped up Islam phobia and racism (Tony Halpin, 2005-01-18). Religious groups view faith schools as sources whereby religious identity, culture, language and ethnicity are instilled and that the teachings are not intended to create divisibility amongst religions and give rise to ethnic or religious conflict of any sort. For the parents this means that their children will grow up to become good Christians, Muslims, Hindus etc with values which could not have been instilled in such a good fashion by parents at home. However critics argue that since there is no efficient monitoring system in place to monitor the teachings of the faith schools, they can result in increased divisibility in cultures. Critics also state that schools should be open for all i.e. children from diverse ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds so that cultural cohesion within the society is promoted. They state that only certain groups or sects of the society have access to faith schools and their functionality is bound to distort cohesion within the society. A school should be a place which builds bridges amongst people and not erect barriers. A child should be able to play football with a Muslim, have snacks with an Anglican and walk back home with an atheist. This would give rise to tolerance and respect for other sects and enable children to eradicate the stereotypes that exist in their minds regarding other sects (Roy Gardner, Denis Lawton, 2005, pg 54-59). This integrated schooling system has been reaping benefits at the primary, secondary and higher levels to great extent. Findings of the Headspace survey of primary and secondary educational institutions have proved this. The research findings proved that the heads are deeply concerned about the impacts of the faith school education system and its future implications. Out of the 801 head teachers who were interviewed only 9% were in the favor of the expansion of the faith school system fearing the long-term implications of the faith school policies and teachings, 25% believed that the presence of religious schools promoted religious tolerance, 18% reckoned that they make no contribution to religious tolerance whereas 45% believed that they inhibited religious tolerance and created disparities amongst religious groups. Thus, it is evident that popular opinion is also not in favor of faith schools; they state that even if faith schools are allowed to operate, they should be consistently monitored and checked to ensure they meet the moral and ethical standards that comply with the principles and guidelines set forth for a fair and equitable society. Thus, faith schools, as the text suggests, do inhibit multiculturalism and can impede on the rights of minorities. People need to, therefore, take action and try to stop this from happening. Parents should withdraw their children from religious content being transmitted in faith schools since they can cause many misunderstandings, differences in opinion may surface and could result in sectarian violence. Proponents of this thought suggest that by 2050 there will be no faith schools since people would not require them anymore. This does not mean that people will not anymore be interested in religion but the fact remains that people will thereby be allowed to live a free life in which they can follow their cultural and religious beliefs and society would be in harmony. History is also evidence of the fact that deeply instilled religious beliefs and their constant refreshment by faith schools can be very divisive and dangerous for society as a whole. Thus the indoctrination individuals and not only children by religious belief must be discouraged and prohibited (Michael Hand, Mar 2003, pg 89-99). CONCLUSION To conclude, it is evident that faith schools do in fact inhibit multiculturalism to a great extent mainly due to the kind of teachings they impart towards their students. According to the humanist approach, faith schools must instill tolerance by imparting knowledge regarding different cultures and religions and their beliefs and values so that children can learn to value, respect and tolerate different sects of society. BIBLIOGRAPHY Roy Gardner, Denis Lawton. (2005). Faith Schools: Consensus or conflict? Illustrated edition. Routledge Publishing, pg 54-59. ISBN 0415335264. Michael Hand. (Mar 2003). A Philosophical Objection to Faith Schools, Theory and Research in Education, 1: 89 - 99. Tony Halpin (2005-01-18). "Islamic schools are threat to national identity". The Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1445275,00.html.  Gordon Cairns (2007-12-04). "My lack of faith stopped me being accepted". The Guardian. http://education.guardian.co.uk/faithschools/story/0,,2221130,00.html.  Read More