To attach religious labels to a fostered child is absurd | the big issue

Tthe Tower Hamlets case has highlighted critical issues

I was pleased to see Kenan Malik in his article on the fostering row question the validity of the use of expression “Christian girl” (“Fostering row exposes how words fail us when we talk about Muslims in Britain”, Comment). I am one of many who find this usage as absurd as “communist child” or “neo-Keynesian child”. If freedom of conscience is to mean anything, there are only the children of such parents.

The DfE’s stance on the purpose of religious education in schools is that it includes supporting children in finding their own spiritual path and should therefore adopt a level-playing-field model of presentation of world views, both religious and secular. If we accept this, we must assent to the view that religion, to borrow a phrase, is something that should be practised only in private, between consenting adults. How this directive is to be reconciled with the current enthusiastic expansion of the “faith school” sector remains mysterious.
Charles Baily
Bedford

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from Children | The Guardian http://ift.tt/2xmtpgP