Inclusive assemblies
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Inclusive assemblies
https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/inclusive-assemblies
Of course we do, but does he? If so, it is hard to see how he can really be supporting the continuation of a law that requires collective worship rather than legislating to have inclusive assemblies that would better serve their educational purpose.
Good inclusive assemblies do have a vital educational role - they can bring a school together in celebration of common values, and they can assist pupils in exploring questions of purpose, value and meaning together. These aims, however, are not best served by a law that requires acts of collective worship. A school may do many things collectively but, lacking a shared religion, it is incoherent to require that they worship together.
An amendment which would replace the current legal requirement for collective worship with a requirement to hold assemblies “to further the spiritual, moral, social and cultural education of pupils” in all non-faith schools will be discussed this month be the House of Lords - perhaps the mainstream churches will support it? Then we will have a framework for inclusive and educational school assemblies that everyone with an interest in the development of the whole child - Hindu, humanist, Christian or whatever - can support.
Andrew Copson
Education officer
British Humanist Association
1 Gower Street, London
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