Professor Michael Hand, Philosopher of Education from the University of Birmingham came to visit us. After introducing himself and explaining what his job entails, he asked us whether we thought faith schools should be abolished. Towards the end, he asked us "Do you think faith state schools should be abolished on the grounds that they indoctrinate pupils?"
Though I had though he wouldn't be biased and would give us a balanced argument, I soon came to find out that the perspective he was advocating was that faith schools should be abolished on such grounds. I didn't get the wrong end of the stick, I clearly haven't.
It is a controversial issue which was in essence a professional yet heated discussion. Some of us spoke up and voiced our opinions, whilst others amongst us, kept quiet and talked about it once he'd gone away. I chose to be one of those who thinks in her head but doesn't speak to an audience of just under 300 similar aged students.
I'd like to offer my opinions on this topic, tell you what I'm not very sure about, tell you what I disagree with and ask questions which hopefully I can have answered.
To begin with, a faith school is one which exists and is intended for students of a particular religious faith, though within such schools you may find students with no faith or students with a different faith to the remaining students. Around a third of ALL state schools are faith schools and the majority of those in England are Church of England (4598 = 22.88%) and Roman Catholic (2010 = 10%). [Figures from 2010]
It may be important to note that there are only 11 Muslim state schools in England. This figure shocked me. I'm quite surprised by this but wasn't so surprised once I realised that a lot of Muslim schools in England are independently run and not government based. That made so much more sense.
If we think about indoctrination, I wouldn't say that it means brainwashing but it's more about teaching someone else beliefs which they begin to accept without a rational and critical thinking process. This isn't specific to religion because this takes place all the time, whether we are in an English lesson or a History lesson and it isn't specific to schools because it can take place at home, in a family environment or even amongst a friendship group whilst having a conversation. It seems it happens unknowingly all the time.
The first question I ask is do faith schools actually set out to indoctrinate in the first place? Is this their purpose and do they promote religious beliefs all the time? Is this even possible? A friend of mine went to a Catholic school for a few months and during mass, she wasn't allowed to eat the bread which was blessed because she didn't follow that faith. She wasn't forced into abiding by Christian beliefs either. How successful are faith schools at indoctrinating pupils if at all they do this and can you actually do this in a secular society?
Secondly, some may argue that state based faith schools may emphasise on religious beliefs so much so that the results of traditional subjects such as English, Maths and Science may see poorer results. Is this statistically proven? Aren't teachers at state faith schools just as qualified at teachers at standard state schools. Regarding teachers, do they have the same faith as the students they teach and does loco parentis impact a childs' religious beliefs?
Thirdly, some say that faith schools are racially segregated and do not teach pupils how to integrate with students who are different to them. Is this true? Are such students not capable of joining society in the same way that everyone else seems to be doing. What makes them "different and incapable"?
If, for example faith schools were abolished, wouldn't we find that schools in particular less diverse areas will have the majority of its students following the same faith anyway but to different degrees, so wouldn't they spend their time at school with students of the same faith anyway? This would all happen regardless of being at a faith school or not.
Fourthly, whose responsibility is it to decide what school a child go to? Doesn't this lie with their parents? If a parent wants their child to follow the same religion as them, wouldn't they think that it is best for them to go to such a school? Even if they didn't, they would be teaching their child their religious beliefs at home, or sending them to an educational institute or establishment or place of worship to teach them their religion during out of school hours perhaps.
Also, if a child feels they have been indoctrinated during their school life, there is nothing that stops them from leaving at 16 and discovering for themselves what is deemed true and what is not. Or do you think it is too late for this?
That's it from me.
Comments
A question is how do you differentiate indoctrination from education?
A second question who has the right to educate/indoctrinate?
At an early age ALL education is indoctrination. ALL education is telling people how to think and often without providing any alternatives.
From this perspective the only difference between education and indoctrination depends on your perspective on what is true and good and what is not.
An argument can be made that science is not indoctrination becuse it has something called the scientific method, so this can be taught. But at the same time most interesting science is theoretical and not only not proven, but constantly evolving with slight changes over time.
If someone came to you that every single particle in the universe had consciousness, chances are you would rule that person as some believer in religion or mysticism. In actual fact that is what is suggested by theoretical physics.
Go back to the 19th century and athiests would tell you that the universe is of a constant size and has always been. Religioous people would be ridiculed when they would argue that this is not true, that is had a beginning and an end and that it began from nothing. It was seen as a proof of God to suggest that the univrese had a beginning or that it expanded. Now that is seen as science and often used by the athiests in their arguments about the universe.
going back to the argument of indoctrination, there is a question of good and bad. While humans have an innate ability to recognise between the two and where without corruption they will often find the good, this isn't a world without corruption.
There is a similar argument about food. Should parents choose what their children should eat? if not then who? the state?
In this world it is the duty of every parent to give their children the best start they can in life with as much knowledge as possible and that includes indoctrination, whether it be considered moral, scientific, religious or other. The idea is to give them the best start from where they can make their own way.
The state and the education system is already indoctrinating children and the parents need to decide if there needs to be counter indoctrination to get rid of the bad indoctrination.
At this time of the year it is easy to refer to schools teaching young children that santa exists, but that isnt the main type of indoctrination - a bigger type is on the social type where children are taught that having relationships, girlfriends and boyfriends is normal and good - all this before they are even aware of the consequences of their education. That was the level of indoctrination 20 years ago. Now the level of norms taught to children in schools and even childrens tv programs are of a much greater extent which is indoctrination of the children into changing and corrupting what they may consider normal.
So when the good professor talke about indoctrination, his own prejudices biased his views and closed his minds to what is out there already. Faith and faith schools may be considered education or indoctrination, but even outside this field there are many forms of indoctrination that take place.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
CHRISTMAS HAS INDOCTRINATED NURSERY KIDS!
Who slaps you for hating on father christmas man..
Since when did Christmas have a voice?! lol.
My brother's teacher has indoctrinated him with every single festival that's passed. First he "created a diva lamp to send Rama and Sita home". Then he came home telling us "yes, we all celebrate Christmas, not just Christians".
I think you should be prepared for what's next.
Christmas has a very loud and clear voice. It's impossible to avoid the message. Trust me.