Church School Admission Policies “Not Fair”

Says Dorset Humanists’ Richard Scutt in a recent letter to the Bournemouth Echo:*

Church School Admissions Policies not fair.

Following Echo letters 29 May from Councillor Whittaker (“Church schools can expand”) and Mrs. Brigid Hincks (“How could fairness to all be achieved?”), I wonder if readers are aware that voluntary aided church schools, which are funded by and intended to serve the local community, are allowed to formulate their own admissions policies. 

These schools provide part of the stock of places for children in the local authority community yet are able to discriminate on grounds of religion.  As Mrs. Hincks says, the admission arrangements for St.Joseph’s Catholic School, Christchurch, are to be found on the school website and I urge readers to look at them.  Under “Oversubscription Criteria” they will find a list of eight categories showing that baptised Catholic children are strongly favoured, followed by children of other religions and lastly “other children”. Surely this should not be the case in what should be inclusive community schools. Furthermore the proliferation of Free Schools and Academies, some of which are under religious control, will make this divisive situation worse. 

An article in the Echo, May 24 told of how a child had missed out on a place at St. Joseph’s because the mother had not submitted her baptism certificate with the application form. This despite living next door to the school and having a sister already attending it! 

Richard Scutt

*The Echo titled Richard’s letter  ‘Surely every school should be inclusive’.

Atheists are not to blame for violence

Christian Brian Hammond claims there has been an atheist and marxist infiltration of Great Britain. Richard Scutt, Dorset Humanist, replies in the Bournemouth Daily Echo.

BRIAN W HAMMOND, Ringwood Road, Three Legged Cross says

Let's go back to Christian basics

9:00am Wednesday 17th August 2011

IT IS a sad state of affairs when the same old left-wing writers in “Have Your Say” blame politicians for the mindless, mainly young rioters, looters and arsonists.

However, it is warming to see the open community spirit come to the fore. As a Christian, I hope and pray that we see a sweeping Christian revival as a result.

This country needs to find the Christian ethic and family strength that made Britain great.

Unfortunately, over countless years, there has been an atheist and marxist infiltration of our society, threatening the very foundations.

Atheist scientists profess to the universe being billions of years old and resulting from some “big bang” or something similar – what total nonsense! Again, the same people support Darwin’s evolutionary theory and talk of dinosaurs being millions of years old.

The Bible tells you the truth, and for those who seek knowledge and gain wisdom, they should be directed to Proverbs 1:7 and 9:10. God’s word also explains how people should behave.

Richard Scutt, Committee Member of Dorset Humanists replies

Atheists are not to blame for violence

RICHARD SCUTT, Wallace Road, Broadstone

10:00am Saturday 20th August 2011

I WAS sad to see yet another letter blaming, among others, atheists and scientists, for the recent riots. (Brian Hammond – Let’s go back to Christian basics – Echo 17 Aug).

This is unfair and inaccurate since scientists and atheists, who are often also humanists, have reached their views only after much research and careful thought. They have found themselves unable to have blind faith in any God but, in the main, care deeply about humanity.

They recognise the need for people to behave in peaceful and co-operative ways and campaign for fairness and peace in society.

They approach life using reason, evidence (often scientific – such as that for evolution) and common humanity.

I suggest that we should be more concerned with religious extremists, those who live only to feed their materialistic self-interest and those unfortunate young people we have caused to become unable to feel a part of our society.