As the news spread of the scandalous treatment of a Hertfordshire
girl who has been told that she can’t have a place on the school
bus because she isn’t “baptised” http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/09/07/nreligion307.xml
it has also emerged that parents in Wiltshire could face a religious
inquisition to decide whether their children are entitled to ride
on the bus.
Priests will be quizzing parents who apply for assistance with transport to the denominational school of their choice to see how committed they are to the church. The new regulations will be implemented in 2007.
Originally, the authority was proposing to withdraw free transport, but it came under sustained attack from the churches and had to water the idea down. Under the new scheme, the council will need confirmation that parents “are adherents to and practising members of the religious denomination stated”. This means undergoing questioning from a panel made up of church representatives who will decide which families are genuine adherents and which aren’t. Their decision will dictate who gets public money and who doesn’t.
At present, parents sign a transport application just before their child starts school, confirming whether they are practising members of the appropriate church. That is signed by a priest or vicar, who confirms the child's attendance is for genuine denominational reasons.
A report to councillors from education director Bob Wolfson says: “No clear definition of ‘practising member’ has been required until now. And there is no requirement for the statement to be reconfirmed during the period of the child’s attendance at the school. Action is already in hand to check the provision for those who are currently claiming transport assistance on denominational grounds. A sample of those in one area suggested that more than 40 per cent are not practising members of the church.”
Dr Robinson added that many Catholic schools were now over-subscribed and he said officials were not expecting the new checks would affect the viability of any of the schools. The new arrangements will involve some subsidies for new students choosing to attend Catholic schools in the county.
By 2013-14 the council will save £170,000 a year, but will still pay around £250,000 a year subsidy to the religious schools.
Keith Porteous Wood, Executive Director of the National Secular Society, said: “This blatant discrimination is scandalous. It is another way for the church to leech money out of the public purse and use it to favour its own members. The churches are quick to cry religious discrimination when things go against them, but happy to practice discrimination against others. Given that the entire running costs of these schools, and the transport system, is being paid for out of the public purse, it represents an outrageous discrimination against the non-religious.”
See also: Banned from the bus because of their religion http://www.irishpost.co.uk/news/story.asp?j=4583
Teacher at Islamic school was asked about her virginity http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/09/07/nreligion07.xml