Under its extremism policy, the Government is now consulting on giving Ofsted legal power to investigate whether church youth work complies with ‘British values’. Any out-of-school setting which provides instruction for more than 6 hours in any week would be covered.
The plans would easily include holiday Bible clubs, church weekends and summer camps. In effect, Ofsted would become the state regulator of religion.
The consultation paper says that “undesirable teaching” which is incompatible with British values will be prohibited. Sanctions would include banning people from working with children and closing premises in order to address “the harm caused by extremism”, including “emotional harm”.
The Government envisages a nationwide registration scheme for all out-of-school settings for those under 19 which provide ‘intensive’ education – defined as “anything which entails an individual child attending a setting for more than between 6 to 8 hours a week”.
It would specifically encompass one-off events which, for example, only run during school holidays. So Ofsted would be able to investigate whether holiday Bible clubs comply with British values.
It is possible that individual churches could be targeted if a child’s attendance at midweek youth activities and Sunday services adds up to 6 hours in any week.
These proposals are deeply alarming. The State should not regulate Church teaching. The plans would render churches wide open to false accusations.
Atheists like Richard Dawkins say it is ‘mental abuse’ to teach children that the Bible is true. And Ofsted inspectors have already been caught out questioning school pupils about their views on same-sex marriage and transsexualism.
Churches do not radicalise children. In fact Christians are most likely to be the victims of extremist actions around the world. We are law-abiding citizens who support democracy and are taught to love our neighbour. The Government is looking in the wrong place for extremists.
http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=...b&e=fdfe8e2040
The plans would easily include holiday Bible clubs, church weekends and summer camps. In effect, Ofsted would become the state regulator of religion.
The consultation paper says that “undesirable teaching” which is incompatible with British values will be prohibited. Sanctions would include banning people from working with children and closing premises in order to address “the harm caused by extremism”, including “emotional harm”.
The Government envisages a nationwide registration scheme for all out-of-school settings for those under 19 which provide ‘intensive’ education – defined as “anything which entails an individual child attending a setting for more than between 6 to 8 hours a week”.
It would specifically encompass one-off events which, for example, only run during school holidays. So Ofsted would be able to investigate whether holiday Bible clubs comply with British values.
It is possible that individual churches could be targeted if a child’s attendance at midweek youth activities and Sunday services adds up to 6 hours in any week.
These proposals are deeply alarming. The State should not regulate Church teaching. The plans would render churches wide open to false accusations.
Atheists like Richard Dawkins say it is ‘mental abuse’ to teach children that the Bible is true. And Ofsted inspectors have already been caught out questioning school pupils about their views on same-sex marriage and transsexualism.
Churches do not radicalise children. In fact Christians are most likely to be the victims of extremist actions around the world. We are law-abiding citizens who support democracy and are taught to love our neighbour. The Government is looking in the wrong place for extremists.
http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=...b&e=fdfe8e2040
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