The NUT backed the "continuing existence" of faith schools
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Teachers have rejected calls to end state funding for faith schools.
The National Union of Teachers was urged to campaign to abolish faith-based state education amid warnings of extremism.
But delegates at the union's annual conference ditched
the motion, voting instead for an amendment backing their continued
existence.
Proposals in the government's education bill could give faith groups a much bigger role in the running of schools.
The NUT supported a call for a campaign to ensure
that parents' religious beliefs do not affect whether children are
given places at faith schools.
Objections
The original motion, proposed by Hank Roberts, from
Brent in north London, read: "The Government's policy of increasing
numbers of faith schools will hinder integration, foster religious
divisions and provide fertile ground for religious and ethnic
conflicts, even terrorism."
The debate was the first on the issue in the union's history.
But several delegates expressed strong objections to the wording.
Andrew Baisley, from Camden, north London, described the sentiments behind the motion as "insulting".
"I would not want our members who work in faith schools to think that the NUT has got it in for them," he said.
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