Council denies atheist children free school bus
Published: 2013 March 10 16:27:37 (4744 Views)
In what is thought to be the first move of its kind in the UK, children in Flintshire, north Wales whose parents are non-believers will be denied free transport to school.
Parents and Roman Catholic priests in the area have united to accuse the council, which is making cuts, of discrimination against people without religious faith.
It comes in stark contrast with controversy elsewhere in the UK where councils have scrapped subsidised travel to faith schools – worth around £500 a year per child – across the board.
In such cases councils have been accused of introducing a “tax on religion” and discriminating against people of faith.
But in Flintshire, the council proposes to single out parents who do not profess religious faith but want their child to benefit from education in a church school.
Under the proposal, due to come into force next year, children would have to produce a baptism certificate, a letter from a priest or other “suitable evidence of adherence to the faith of the school”.
But the task of working out exactly how parents would prove their child’s religion is to be left to the schools.
One mother said: “My children have not been christened, through my choice not theirs, but the school faith is all they have ever known.
"Just because a child has a baptism certificate it does not mean they are any more active believers than those who haven't.
"It is prejudiced to ask parents of non-baptised children to pay for their transport."
A council statement said: “Like all councils, Flintshire County Council is under considerable pressure to make savings on its public spending.
“As a result, the council has had to look at every aspect of its work, especially where it is not compulsory for us to provide services and to consider how they can be delivered more efficiently and cost effectively.”
- Telegraph
Parents and Roman Catholic priests in the area have united to accuse the council, which is making cuts, of discrimination against people without religious faith.
It comes in stark contrast with controversy elsewhere in the UK where councils have scrapped subsidised travel to faith schools – worth around £500 a year per child – across the board.
In such cases councils have been accused of introducing a “tax on religion” and discriminating against people of faith.
But in Flintshire, the council proposes to single out parents who do not profess religious faith but want their child to benefit from education in a church school.
Under the proposal, due to come into force next year, children would have to produce a baptism certificate, a letter from a priest or other “suitable evidence of adherence to the faith of the school”.
But the task of working out exactly how parents would prove their child’s religion is to be left to the schools.
One mother said: “My children have not been christened, through my choice not theirs, but the school faith is all they have ever known.
"Just because a child has a baptism certificate it does not mean they are any more active believers than those who haven't.
"It is prejudiced to ask parents of non-baptised children to pay for their transport."
A council statement said: “Like all councils, Flintshire County Council is under considerable pressure to make savings on its public spending.
“As a result, the council has had to look at every aspect of its work, especially where it is not compulsory for us to provide services and to consider how they can be delivered more efficiently and cost effectively.”
- Telegraph
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