Steve Sinnott and some others have come out to declare that faith education might be taught in state schools as a means to reduce the number of children going to independent faith schools.

I could be cynical and declare that this is an attempt to offset the growing anger amongst teachers concerning government moves on independent sector schools by an otherwise timid leadership. Nor do I agree with the policy document that it is the right of parents to choose what religious instruction their children will receive. Even still, when considering independence of mind and to cultural indoctrination, faith schools absolutely pose more of a threat than a faith education stream within a state school.

As a sop to the pro-religion crowd, in order to pass a motion calling for the abolition of faith schools, I think this policy is the right one. It stops the churches (etc) being able to separate kids off into one religious group and would help with cultural integration. Within state schools, additionally, kids are unlikely to be quite so pressured to take part in extra-curricular religious education. It even open the possibility that some will refuse to attend, lent strength by friends who are non-religious.

Now Conference must deliver the goods and pass the motions, soon to be debated, calling for faith school abolition.

As a footnote, I would like to register my cordial dislike of the way this news has been presented - a rather bigoted, sectarian way in fact. The title of the BBC article was "Schools could offer Koran classes," even though the announcement specifically concerns all the major religions extant in Britain. Sinnott himself, in speaking to the press, mentioned rabbis, imams and priests.

This is another example of how sensationalism is corrupting public discourse; mentioning the Koran is more likely to get attention. It's also likely to distort the actual point of the article. It's not about introducing Islamic education to schools, it's about trying to cut down on faith schools by compromising over all religions equally.