Sig,—In his interesting examination of the problem of giving satisfactory
religious education in schools, Mr. A. Victor Murray does not refer to the most important person responsible for the child's religious education— namely, the parent ; and this omission goes not a little way towards explaining why the problem is more difficult than it need be. If "religion" is going to be just another kind of history, taught in set lessons and bearing no direct relation to what the child does or learns at home, it never will come to life , the religious teaching given at school must be complementary to that given, expressly or by example, at home, and the co-operation of the parent must be actively enlisted by the education authority In my own experience, local education authorities do not fully realise the importance of encouraging this co-operation. I applied recently to the authority for my area (Lancashire County Council) for a copy of the new Agreed Syllabus, and was informed that it was still under con- sideration by the Statutory Conference. I asked for details of the mem- bership of the Conference, but was not given this information. I then applied for a copy of the current syllabus, and was told that " we have no copies available in the office." Although I am the parent of a child approaching school age, it apparently does not seem to be considered important the I should know in advance what religious teaching he will receive when he begins to go to school.—Yours truly, A. K. Ross. 24 Brooks Road, Old Trafford, Manchester, 16.
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