Children should have the right to opt out of religious observance

Parents have held the right to withdraw their children from religious observance for more than 150 years. There is no proposal to allow children to decide whether to opt out – rather, the Government aims to give them a “voice” on the topic.

Conspiratorial whispers suggesting a deep-state-style agenda to abolish Catholic schools by “weaponising children’s rights” border on paranoia.

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As a teacher, I am well-versed in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The 54 articles include rights such as the right to play, the right to an education and the right to be protected from abuse

 Also included are the rights to freedom of thought, belief, and religion. Article 14 states that: “Every child has the right to think and believe what they choose and also to practise their religion.”

Surely, these rights apply to all children, not just Christians? The consultation addresses withdrawal from religious education and that is something I am uncertain about.

When taught impartially, religious education can offer valuable opportunities for children to understand those who are different and explore their own beliefs.

Lessons on Islam and Judaism have been particularly important in challenging hate directed towards minority groups. However, even the non-denominational religious education curriculum centres on Christianity, labelling the rest as “world religions”, implying they are less relevant to Scottish society.

There is also a lack of acknowledgment for other belief systems, such as atheism and humanism. Given that the Scottish census highlights our increasingly secular society, with spiritual paths such as Paganism gaining popularity, aren’t other beliefs worthy of respect?

I come from a mixed Catholic and Protestant family but Christianity played no significant role in my home life. As I grew older, I became increasingly uncomfortable with prayer in school, feeling as though I was talking to myself. This dilemma resurfaced when I became a teacher.

Christian worship is still a fixture even in non-denominational schools and I often wonder whether any other jobs compel atheists to attend church services and participate in prayer.

Even as an adult, the pressure to conform to this can be substantial. Is it fair to impose this on children?

Over the years, many children have told me they do not believe in God or prefer other ideologies, such as Buddhism, and do not wish to be compelled to pray.

Some find religious observance a waste of time or simply boring. Others have expressed that hymns upset them, questioning why a loving God would allow suffering.

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As a teacher, my hands are tied unless parents specifically request a withdrawal. And what about those who are withdrawn? Are they given meaningful alternatives or just supervised?

While many children enjoy attending churches for end-of-term services, we can surely do better than this homogeneous approach.

It is disappointing that the consultation is not about giving children themselves the right to withdraw from religious observance, as this discussion is long overdue.

How committed are we to freedom of – and freedom from – religion?