Teach "British Values"

[cromwell]

After decades of being told of the wonderful vibrant multicultural nature of modern Britain, the government now wants schools to teach British values.
What are these values?
And why all of a sudden is it necessary to stress them?

[Paddypix]

More gimmicks which will be loudly trumpeted and then quietly forgotten. It's too late to turn back the tide.

[Rodo]

It is necessary because if we don't, then many children will be taught Islam values such as stoning to death and female genital mutilation.

[Workingman]

Gove: the latest fully paid up member of the Soundbite Club.

Does anyone have a definition of these magical British values?

[Paddypix]

It is necessary because if we don't, then many children will be taught Islam values such as stoning to death and female genital mutilation.

Yes, it's necessary Rodo, but will it actually happen? I doubt it. As WM says, Soundbite Man.

[Kaz]

It is necessary because if we don't, then many children will be taught Islam values such as stoning to death and female genital mutilation.

I think you might well be right

[Rodo]

Well I don't know what British Values is as a subject, but I do know that it must incorporate anything that guards against shutting out all other religions; that guards against bombing people because they are a different religion; that guards against treating women like second-class citizens and worse than that.

Teaching British Values must surely instil the knowledge that in this country we do not use our religion to punish, kill and threaten people of different faiths. We treat women as equal citizens, not pieces of meat. We do not segregate the sexes in establishments of learning. We have democracy and freedom of speech. We have the freedom to vote for whom we please. We do not try to force our religious traditions and our eating habits on those of other religions. We do not use gang rape as a means of punishment or manipulation. We do not stone women to death, whatever their perceived crime.

[Kaz]

Well said

Personally, I think that religion should be taken out of school completely - schooling IMO should be secular, as in France......I think fairness, equality and humanitarian values could and should cross all religious divides....

[Rodo]

.....I think fairness, equality and humanitarian values could and should cross all religious divides....

Yes it should, it really should.

[Paddypix]

Yes, well said Rodo. I totally agree that religion should have no place in education, nor indeed in government.