I share Christine Jardine’s unease, but in more ways than one, because, like so many other 
parents, I was able to read about her concerns over the undue 
influence and promotion of 
political dogma and the threat to the neutrality of the classroom with a disturbing sense of familiarity.

All of this is already going on in our schools, as part of the
religious observance assemblies and related activities that all children are automatically 
enrolled in.

All you need to do is replace the political references with
religious ones.

Jardine asks the question: “Do we need to ensure our schools are protected from political dogma?”

Yes, we absolutely do. But that is not enough.

Children have the right to be educated in an environment which is neutral and free from any form of ideological infiltration, whether it comes from a political party or a religious organisation.

Other countries, such as Sweden, protect children from undue influence during their education, by law. When will the children of Scotland get that right?

There is currently a petition to remove religious observance from the non-denominational schools in Edinburgh.

The petition is available on the City of Edinburgh Council’s website and can be signed by 
Edinburgh residents.

I would like to thank everyone who has supported the petition so far, and would be grateful for any new signatures.

Veronica Wikman

Malleny Avenue

Edinburgh

View online here.