Yes, have preachers visit schools.

Religion is not going to go away. Either we have it in the schools or in churches. If it's in churches, children will not see any more than one faith. They won't go along to their friends' church. Other faiths remain a mystery and a source of division. But if it's in school, and any child can go along to hear any preacher, they will see different faiths. Some may convert, some may lose faith. But they will all see that their friends are not alien monsters when it comes to matters of faith.

Preachers in schools would be an step in the right direction for social cohesion.

Norman, Anstruther, UK

There are few subjects more divisive in our present day society than religion. What possible good can come out of letting into our schools a bunch of hotheaded, god-bothering preachers, each with their own agenda, is hard to imagine.

By the way, 'Agnostic from New Zealand', Atheism does not require proof, it is the lack of proof that defines it.

Paul London

Paul Tilling, London, UK

I am a Canadian and when I was a child, we said the Lord's prayer every morning. We stopped saying it because there were other religions. I thought that was sad. Why stop any religion from coming into the schools because they are different?

I became a teacher and I had ESL students who would leave every Friday to go to Jumma prayer. I thought he was crazy, because he wasn't doing well. I doubt he passed English. But that is the problem. Jewish people get Saturday off and Christians get Sunday off, but Muslims don't get Friday off, so what are they supposed to do? It is the practice of the Holy Prophet, pbuh, to go do Friday prayers. It is called Little EID, because it is the weekly sermon with prayers. It is compulsory, not optional. If the schools provided a place for students to pray, the students can return to class in twenty minutes.

Allison Knight, Powder Springs, Georgia, USA

I live in Georgia and the social workers here tell me that the biggest problem in my county is Meth users. It is ruining families and they don't have enough homes to take in kids who have lost homes due to Meth use. Guess what fixes the problem of Meth addiction? A faith based program! It's something Alcoholics Anonymous has known for years. Believing in God brings healing. If you call God--Allah or Yahweh, God is still a blessed presence in the schools. Belief in God gives one hope.

I find the comments on the web are geared towards keeping Islam out. Why? There are such beautiful prayers in Islam. For example, the prayer for going into the bathroom is "Oh my Lord, I seek refuge with Thee from all that is impure and unclean." What a lovely prayer! A prayer that the fifth caliph taught his followers is: "I seek protection from all the bad things in the earth and sky." I used to long for such knowledge. The Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam says "seek after knowledge." Isn't this knowledge?

Allison Knight, Powder Springs, Georgia, USA

Athiests don't want religion in school. This is understandable. They don't believe in God or the Day of Judgement. Christians can pray when they like, but they don't do it at work. If we are to show respect for the Muslims, how can you tell them that they cannot pray, when their religion prescribes for them a five times a day prayer? God has told the Muslims that in order to keep clean spiritually, they should take a bath five times a day. That is what the five prayers are for--keeping spiritually clean. It is apparent from the other blogs that there is no respect for Muslims or for prayers--and ultimately no respect for God. God, or Allah, says in the Holy Quran "I have perfected this religion for you." The prayers are His prescription and protection from spiritual ills. In Islam, it is a sin to quit praying, which is akin to saying, never give up--always hope that your prayers will be answered.

Allison Knight, Powder Springs, Georgia, USA

Public education is a wonderful thing. It gives the opportunity to learn about many religions. If the schools cannot or will not accomodate Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs, they can break off into small schools and abandon public education altogether because they can enjoy respect among their people, but apparently aren't enjoying much respect in Britain, from the comments I have read.

Has anyone read the Quran? Read it instead of throwing stones in ignorance. Allah says "This is a perfect book." The bible has been adulterated, but not the Holy Quran. Allah says "it is a guidance for the righteous." It isn't a guidance for those who are not aspiring to righteousness...that includes Muslims.

Allison Knight, Powder Springs, Georgia, USA

no priests gurus should be allowed to indoctrinate and try to make our children into followers of any faith. That is wrong. Our children should be taught morality and the golden rule and honesty and the hippocratic oath. These rules for living lead to helping our children develop a love for themselves and a love for other people and a love for God our creator who loves us more that any other person can. This will give them a reason for living in peace and with compassion and having faith that when they need help someone will be there for them as they would be for others.

Patricia Spillman, Glendora, California

We should never indoctinate our children by forced teaching. That is not the way God wants anyone to have faith in him. Freedom of the exercisng of ones faith without government interfrence is a firts ammendment right. The government shall have no right to force a religion an anyone is also part of the first ammendment. Bringing in leaders of any religion in order to teach their religion to our children violaes the first ammendment

Patricia Spillman, Glendora, California

This is good policy. Only religious value can change our society from all evils thing. This propsoed policy would improve character of the children.

Sohul, London, England

As an agnostic, I take the view that any dogmatic position that cannot be proven is irrational (which includes atheism).
From this perspective, all people who are dogmatic are suffering from a mental disorder.
I think that young and impressionable minds should not be exposed to the irrational and biased rantings of the sick.
That is not to say that ethical values and spiritual concepts should be ignored - far far from it - we desperately need to teach people how to live in harmony with all things. But a reasoned and open minded approach is fundamental to clear thinking.
Blind faith is responsible for most of the worlds conflicts; please don't pour this poison into schools.

Bob, Auckland, New Zealand

I think it is fair to do this and vetting should take place as to who should be allowed in. I think such instruction should supplement current RE which is highly unegaging at best. I believe if we are talking of a tolernant society then Priests, Inmans ,Rabbi's etc should be allowed into schools. We do not do this at our peril.

It would help remove prejudices that hopefully make us a more respectful society. They know there faiths better than anyone even teachers. I also think it would be right to devote more time to RE.

So some are scarred that their children will become a person of faith. It may happen, it may not. It really is highly irrational to be scarred of faith. In of itself it is highly benficial to health and happiness, and contributes greatly to society. There are those on the extremes of the faiths who are not so nice but there are Atheists who are dangerous. It is our failure to deal with our humanity that is the problem and teaching tolerence to faith is the way!

Steven, Buckhurst Hill,

I would welcome the chance to confront a preacher about his or her beliefs in my school, as I am a strong-willed athiest. But I suspect it is the agnostics who will be convinced. This is unfair - we should allow an informed choice to be made.

Ben, York,

Amazing really! The ignorance the majority here want to enforce on their children.

The VAST majority of the world's people believe in a god and have a faith. We ALL hold personal faith and theological positions, whether they are theistic or atheistic.

People come to these positions through a variety of routes, it is one of THE fundamental questions of human existence and YOU want to deny your children the information and opportunity to learn, examine and investigate for themselves!

Shameful! Are you just scared of your own shaky theological commitments; pathologically fearful of perspectives you don't understand / want to understand or marxist like theological dictators?

Why are you so determined to instil in your children that same fear, that same insecurity or even ignorance? If knowledge is power, why do you want to disempower them?

Give the children the information. Allow them to form their own conclusions.

Nathan, Inverness, UK

Why are we even discussing this nonsense? Are the Pastafarians going to be invited into my son's school to make him aware of the flying spaghetti monster? Perhaps the Jedi Knights would also like to address him? Maybe the government could find a talking Badger to make him aware of Aslan? (Oh I forgot, none of these three actually exist. Unlike Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Mohamed, Buddha, Gabriel etc. Come to think of it, the one point that Il'l concede to Muslims is that their 'prophet' is the only factual flesh and blood figure in this paragraph. Now theres a scary thought).

E Skelton, cardiff, wales

No, no, no, keep them away from schools. I have children and if they had these supernatural believers talking to them I would pull them out of the school. The religious myth needs to be kept out of schools and preferably the rest of our lives as well.

Edward D, Cheltenham,

Take it out of education altogether.
Isn't society split enough along the lines of whichever religion a child's parents choose to buy into without actively encouraging yet more such fractures in our educational system?????

Rob, Paris, France

What is this nonsense
"The common decency ... is founded on Christian charity"
Go read some history Edmund Burke and then some more about how moralities evolve in societies. It is this very MINORITY conceit that most religions have, believing that they OWN anything that they see as desireable in human nature ... that causes much of the world's most serious strife !

We do not want sectarian teaching in schools, or anywhere.
We want tolerance and you won't find that in many priest's repertoires.

Sean, Coventry, U

Graeme, of Warrington, classifies religion in schools as belonging to "minority interests". I find it puzzling that so few contributors to this column are aware of the 1944 Education Act, which provides for a daily act of worship and the teaching of the Christian faith in state schools. The common decency which holds our way of life together, without a written constitution, is founded on Christian charity. This does not belong to "minority interests", but affects us all. The secular American constitution has no legal validity whatever in the UK.

Edmund Burke, Kingston upon Thames, England

This is too dangerous now, and will only confuse children.
However as this is still a Christian country, there should be a assembly first thing in the morning, with a short service of Christian worship. This surely must be a good thing, and helps set the day in the right atmosphere. If other faiths do not like it, well they can opt out until it is over.

Mrs Margaret Elward, Bridgend, Glam

Except for the faith schools I am in agreement with no religion taught by priests and imans, etc, but a teacher with no particular leaning must teach the basics about each leading religion. I found out nothing about Islam until I went to Aden (RAF) and made friends with local Arab businessmen with whom I socialised. But they were not radicals and were tolerant and would come to my home for a meal and I would go to theirs. But for a child to leave school with warped information about each religion is not right as it is part of a good education. But I agree that my religion, Christianity has helped me to lead a life with respect and love for my fellow man, has helped me over some tough times. Such teachings, which are similar in other good religions, as the ten commandments, and the stories that have meanings to practice in life (The good Samaritan) are essential for children to learn so religion is a good thing if it is taught by true believers, not the murderers who use it.

B J Deller, Marbella, Spain

This is a perilous proposal. Extremists tend to to more energetic on the whole than well balanced people. I can't see this idea making it more likely that the meek will inherit the earth!

Paul Padley, Shrivenham, England

I don't think it is the best idea to invite particular faith people in the school to teach about religion to our kids.In my view faith is simply the personal matter and should deal privately, not in school where innocent kids are taught.Religion is opium, a kind of addiction which it engulfs kids blindly in the name of religion and spreads negative spirit among the kids rather than the unity.
Moral education is better than religion study.Moral education teaches the kids how to respect other and other religion.In Britain if we are able to restore our moral values to our kids then there is no necessary to give important to religion.Lets try to keep a free school from those kinds of stupidity thoughts because a school must represent the whole nation and community and shouldn't encourage to segregate among different faith kids.

Yubaraj Gurung, Reading,Berk., UK

I am a muslim, converting back to christianty, i have been a muslim for 30 years, no doubt i will go straight to hell, or a fatwa issued on me.
I have been listening to hate in my household against ALL other faiths,execpt Islam, im confused.im going mad!!!!
No religeon should be taught in schools, leave that to the churches, mousque and synagogs etc etc.... peace to all and happiness annie

s. ahmed, croydon, uk

This is the complete opposite of what should happen. They should remove all forms of religion from schooling and make it purely academic rather than faith related. And religious schools should be for spare time only (such as sunday school) and should not be allowed as a mainstream place of education.

rob, London,

Surely this is the perfect compromise between parents who want a religious ethos in their child's teachings, and society which wants to promote integration of subgroups?

Harriet, Nottingham,

Religion should have no place in schools, I find it absolutely mind-boggling that such minority interests are pandered to by the NUT. If children require religious tuition it should be done in their own time at an appropriate location and not on state school property.

Graeme, warrington,

Religious instruction should be kept out of schools, there is enough tension in Bradford schools between different groups without religion becoming a rallying point. I suggest that those pupils having to take so called unbiased religious classes now be allowed to opt out instead. My grandaughter was totally incensed at having to learn about other religions with christanity barely mentioned. My grandaughter decided to ignore the religious lessons, she sat in class and studied another subject, she wasnt the only pupil to do so. When parents complained about the lack of teaching on Christianity and the teaching of over religions they were told by school that it was a requirement laid down by government to include other religions to help promote integration and understanding, so how about the other religions learning about christianity then? After all we are supposed to be a christian country and these immigrants/migrants should be fitting in to our society, not us into theirs.

Patricia Kenny, Bradford, Uk

There is no room in the national curriculum for religious dogma of any denomination.

It's about time ALL religious instruction is removed from every school. If people want to teach religion, they should do it outside of any school curriculum. "Faith" schools should be banned.

Malcolm, Blackpool, UK

Twenty years ago this would have worked. Now you'll get rival gangs of Muslims and Hindus in the same school, with Sikhs and Buddhists for good measure, playing out geopolitical tension in miniature on the school playground.

Malcolm McLean, Bradford, UK