UK Schools Must Teach Children that Britain Is a Christian Country, Education Secretary Says
UK schools must teach their students that Britain is a Christian country and religious views are held with more importance than atheism, the nation's Education Secretary said.
Nicky Morgan's statement comes after humanists scored a victory in the High Court after the latter deemed her exclusion of atheism from the curriculum as unlawful. The Education Secretary has recently released a new set of guide for non-faith schools, which clearly stipulates that "equal parity" will not be given to non-religious views, according to The Telegraph.
Morgan fears that humanists will use the courts to slowly force schools to include atheism in their teachings, Sky News reports.
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In the newly released guidance, schools are told that they are not obliged to devote equal time to religious and non-religious views. However, it mentioned that non-religious views can be covered in other lessons, the report relays.
Prime Minister David Cameron shares the same opinion with Morgan. In his Christmas message, he had emphasized that Britain is a Christian country, the report adds.
A major inquiry into religion's role in modern society came up with the conclusion that Britain should not act as if it is a Christian country. The commission, which was chaired by former senior judge Baroness Butler-Sloss, called for the removal of Christianity from UK's public life, the report details.
Morgan, however, fought the outcome of the inquiry. An insider said the Education Secretary is fed up of campaign groups' efforts to force schools to teach atheism and humanism even though parents disagree. For this reason, she is making a solid move to make sure that Christianity and other religions are prioritized in school teachings, the report explains.
"The Government is determined to protect schools' freedom to set their own religious studies curriculum, in line with the wishes of parents and the local community," the Telegraph quotes Morgan. "… I am clear that both faith and non-faith schools are completely entitled to prioritize the teaching of religion and faith over non-religious views if they wish."
The Education Secretary also said the guidance she released conveys the message that the recent inquiry will not affect the religious curriculum in schools.
