School hits back at criticism of teaching

A ROMAN Catholic school in Tiverton has defended itself against suggestions that exposure to other faiths could create a “risk of radicalism”.

Devout Christian and Tiverton town councillor, Randall Williams, said he believes children can learn about different faiths without them having to be fully immersed into practices of worship.

He has criticised St John’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Tiverton, for adopting “subjective teaching” methods when holding a Sikhism Day last month, where nearly 200 children wore traditional dress, sampled the customs as well as some having the mark of the religion scribed on their foreheads.

Sally McCloskey, who heads the school on Melbourne Street, said such activities are part of the religious education curriculum which helps young people grow up to be “enlightened and educated human beings”.

But Mr Williams is concerned some participating pupils may grow up to be resentful that advantage had been taken of their vulnerability.

He said his son was part of a project at a Tiverton primary school around 20 years ago where its hall was transformed into a temple with Buddhist statues and burning incense.

“Children had to remove their shoes and they had to get into a kneeling, Lotus position with their hands outstretched,” he said.

“Our son, for example, was very disturbed by it and he didn’t want to take part because he knew his parents subscribe to the Christian religion.

“They may have showed children what is done in another religion, but there is no need to take the pupils and turn them into little devotees of another religion. We would never see that in a Muslim school while trying to teach Christianity.

“We do have instances of radicalism and I would say there appears to be a risk of something like that happening, but it depends whether the children welcome it or feel disturbed by it,” added Mr Williams.

The culture, customs and traditions of the religion were studied by pupils before donning associated attire to mark the end of a week-long project on Friday, February 18. There was also the opportunity for youngsters to try Indian cuisine, which some had not tasted before.

Mrs McCloskey said staff do not feel people can ever be at peace with one another unless they can understand different faiths and religions.

She added: “Our school bases its ethos on the teachings of Christ, whose message was that everyone matters, no matter who they are.

“We would like our children to understand and respect different cultures and faiths so that they grow up to be enlightened and educated human beings who are open to all those who share their street, town, country and planet.

“Our Sikh day was the culmination of a week of study in which the school explored the Sikh way of life, its traditions and customs.

“The Catholic Church expects us to include the study of other faiths in our curriculum and I find it heartening that pupils, parents and colleagues embrace this and celebrate it. We are looking forward to future studies on Islam and Judaism.”

The school was visited by education watchdogs from Ofsted in December which rated the extent of pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development as good.

Inspector Hazel Callaghan said: “Pupils have good opportunities to learn about people of different faiths but their awareness of the diversity of cultures in the British Isles is less secure.”