School boards’ call on religion

Your editorial (Religion in state schools, May 10), expresses ‘‘astonishment’’ that Christian religious education classes are held in 600 state primary schools.

But elected school boards freely choose to hold these, so surely this is a good measure of wide public support. They are not part of the official curriculum or compulsory.

An understanding of Christianity is essential for New Zealand and European history, literature, music and art. Teachers are often afraid or unable to discuss religious topics and this leads to gaps in essential knowledge.

While it would be good to have the study of religions in social studies courses, this should not replace the well-resourced, trained, certificated and monitored voluntary teachers in the present programme.

Secularism is not neutral to religion but is itself a religious stance. To abolish these programmes makes a strong, intolerant anti-religious statement. To be consistent, it would also apply to the prayers (karakia) in Maori classes and to schools participating in Anzac services. RON FOUNTAIN Wilton