Scottish Catholic Schools Against Secularism

[Kismet]

Monday, 30 January 2006, 12:05 GMT


Schools 'twinned' to beat bigotry

Pupils have been playing their part in tackling sectarianism
Initiatives to "twin" Roman Catholic and non-denominational schools are to be encouraged as part of an action plan to tackle sectarianism in Scotland.
The plan was unveiled by First Minister Jack McConnell, who said "people power" was vital in stamping out bigotry.

The ideas include the introduction of twinning schemes where pupils would play sport together, meet for music and drama classes and go on field trips.

This summer an anti-sectarian play will be performed to hundreds of pupils.

The action plan was unveiled during a visit to St Mirin's Primary School in Glasgow, which is planning to take part in a twinning initiative with Croftfoot Primary School.

It is ordinary Scots who can make the biggest difference

Jack McConnell
First Minister

The Scottish Executive said it would support and expand a range of initiatives which had emerged from the national summit on sectarianism held last year.

The 18 key actions featured in the plan include the funding of an STUC study into the effects of sectarianism in the workplace.

The range of legal options which can be used to crack down on abusive behaviour at marches and parades will be reviewed and the case for football-style banning orders will be examined.

Mr McConnell said: "This is a national effort, and we all have a part to play. But it is ordinary Scots who can make the biggest difference.

"It is in Scotland's communities that bigoted attitudes are born and nurtured. And it is in Scotland's communities that these attitudes can be wiped out for good."

Shared campus

Shared school campuses have already sparked rows in parts of Scotland.

The Roman Catholic Church in North Lanarkshire only dropped its fight against five joint school campuses when the council agreed to its demands on the appropriate use of iconography, the provision of separate entrances and staffrooms in each school area.

In Midlothian, pupils were initially segregated when St David's Roman Catholic High School and Dalkeith High were moved to a shared campus.

We have found this has been a very positive experience

Steven Purcell
Glasgow City Council leader

Glasgow City Council's leader, Steven Purcell, told BBC Scotland's Politics Show that the initiative was an extension of what was already being done in many council areas.

He said: "We are getting schools to work together in a range of areas based in their own community, whether it be joint football teams, running workshops or putting on plays. We have found this has been a very positive experience."

Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said the executive wanted to build on what was already in place.

"We know that if we bring people together we can still have the education that parents want for their children and we can break down some of the barriers that are there and let people understand each other's background better."

[Deeds]

Don't you mean "sectarianism" in the title?

[Kismet]

It is as it was.

[Deeds]

I don't really see how this is fighting secularism but anyway - what exactly do you want people to debate?

Edited January 31, 2006 by Deeds

[Kismet]

Does it have to always be a debate? Can't we just learn from the article? I understand that this section is the "Debate Table" but I didn't place the article here for that reason. I posted it here specifically becuase it is also listed as "Interfaith Dialogue." What better place to post an article like this?