Scottish parliament hands children the power to choose religious education

The Scottish Parliament has just passed legislation that changes the rights of parents and guardians to remove their children from Religious Observance or religious education in school.

In short, if a parent or guardian has asked for their child to be withdrawn from Religious Observance (which is like Collective Worship in England and Wales) or from religious education lessons, the school will have to inform the child, and that child then has the right to object and request to continue to be included. The school has to demonstrate that they are satisfied the child is ‘capable of forming a view’ and will respect the wishes of the child over those of the guardian.

Interestingly, both religious and secular groups object to this, for understandable and quite different reasons.

The Scottish Catholic Education Service expressed concerns both about the narrowing of interpretation and also about the erosion of parental rights to guide their children in matters of religion. The Humanist Society Scotland’s key objection is that the legislation fails to give pupils at Scottish schools the right to opt themselves out of religious education. Others have concerns that the bill leaves too many questions open.

The key question of consent

In much of a child’s life we do not consider that they have ‘consent’ until they reach 16, although they can be considered ‘criminally responsible’ at age 10 in England & Wales, and 12 in Scotland. In terms of ‘typical’ psychological development between 7 and 11 years old children are able to understand other points of view and show that they agree or disagree and can keep a conversation going by giving reasons and explaining choices. One imagines it is children of this age and above that are those that would be able to overrule the wishes of their parents. Certainly children from that age and above disagree with their parents at times, but one would always hope that dialogue at home is something that encourages a child to know WHY their parent holds a particular viewpoint.

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I can’t help but be a little excited about the nature of this bill. Although, as a parent, I would be acutely disappointed if I felt my wishes were being undermined by my child’s school (although I also recognise that I would still have the option to remove my child from a school should I feel strongly enough), as a youth worker who sees the level of interest that children and young people have in enquiring about matters of faith, I admit to being excited about the thought of children (whose parents have requested that their children do not learn about the impact God might have in their lives) opting BACK IN to these opportunities! This has to be something that all Christians who care about children and young people in our communities can surely get behind.

it is a joy to stand in front of children and young people and invite them to explore the wonder, beauty and joy of the Bible

Then there has to be the thought of ‘If this is happening in Scotland now, what is going to happen in the other countries?’ Humanists UK have long argued for a removal of the requirement for Collective Worship in England and Wales claiming that they are not inclusive enough. As someone who has spent a large portion of my working life for the past 9 years providing Collective Worship for both church and community schools, I have found it helpful in all schools to keep in mind the Church of England’s helpful guidance (which draws from their Vision for Education) about acts of Collective Worship, stating they should always aim to be “inclusive, invitational and inspiring.” When those invited in to schools consider carefully these three words, it is a joy to stand in front of children and young people and invite them to explore the wonder, beauty and joy of the Bible while also encouraging them that often what it teaches can help them in their everyday lives.

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So much of what children and young people hear through RE in schools might be considered ‘seed sowing’ – and we then get to pray that the Holy Spirit will work in the hearts and minds of those who have heard the word to bring them to want to find out more through a local church or Christian they know personally… or even that they will investigate the Bible for themselves!

Surely this is what we need to do about the current bill… bring it, and all those it impacts, to the Lord in prayer, knowing that He is sovereign over all.