The rise of faith schools

The rise of state funded faith schools in Britain is a topical issue as their numbers are set to increase in the near future. This may well lead to a more heated EvC debate in Britain to mirror that in the US (if slightly less sensational).The crux of my gripe is that the fundamental premise of faith schools, to me and many others, is wrong. The education of children on the basis of their parents’ religious persuasions seems to me to be divisive as is serves to teach children how they are different from other children.
The notion is absurd would you approve of the creation of politically aligned schools where the children of Labour/Tory (or Republican/Democrat) supporters were segregated and taught different political ideologies?NB - I know this is a predominantly American forum but there are a few British members around so I would like your comments and insights. And of course comments from anyone else, who has an opinion of the rightness or wrongness of fundamentals of this issue, whether you are in favour or against faith schools, are also welcome.I don’t know if there are America equivalents to state funded faith schools so would be nice if someone could fill me in.

does the american government have the responsibility to provide every child with a free education?if so it should have a say in how every child is educated. I think that this means that every child’s education should be free from other people’s beliefs being taught to them. Peoples beliefs have nothing to do with education.If a parent wants to explain to a child what they believe in and why of they can do so but it should not be done in the classroom!If of course the government doesn’t have this responsibility then my point is mute.

Please tell me this is a sarcastic comment?This message has been edited by whiskeyjack, 04-08-2006 09:30 PMThis message has been edited by whiskeyjack, 04-08-2006 09:51 PM

Secularism is not a religion!Maybe I have not made myself clear in posts 33.I should have said that I think every child’s education should not include indoctrination of other peoples’ beliefs - after all they have a freedom to practice whichever religion they choose, a freedom which is practically impossible for them to exercise if they have been indoctrinated at a young vulnerable age when they should have been receiving an education provided by the state (which should be separate from church).