Religion in schools
Sir: Well done, Mr Cosgrave, on your encouraging lock at 'the fourth R' (7 May), and for your reminder of, and defence of, our schools' responsibility under the 1944 Act. Long may these duties remain.
But there are problems. Presumably it has all too often been the case in the past that the subject has been passed like the proverbial buck to a teacher in the school who will reluctantly 'do religion if nobody else will'. Consequently it has been taught badly, unwillingly and completely against the spirit of the Act. If it is to be taught, Christianity should be taught by those who believe it, practise it, live it and love it, and if
that means bringing in outsiders to the teaching profession then so be it. So, ail those in the Church (established or otherwise), all those in Christian youth work, or all Christians in any tither profession for that matter, stand by for action! MaYbe your calling is in Christian education. Of course, there must be safeguards against 'indoctrination' and bigoted denominationalism — but let us remember that no society has yet provided a better ethic than that of love, as seen in the New Testament. ' The other problem is school assemblY' The practice of unbelievers leading several hundred pupils in an `act of Christian worship' is a hypocritical charade and deserves to be halted. But the Christian staff wh° lead their school in lively singing of Chr ian truth, and lively presentation of th,e Scriptures, please carry on. You are the sa
of the earth and in our tasteless societY need as much salt as possible.
T. J. Smith 57 Brackley Square, Woodford Green,
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