a news story says schools are breaking the law by not making children pray every day in school:
Schools' failure on daily prayersMore than half the secondary schools in Wales inspected in the past four years break the law by failing to pray every day, a BBC survey has revealed.
All state schools should hold an act of worship each day, either for all pupils in assembly or as a class-based prayer.But in the 149 secondaries inspected, 81 failed to meet the legal obligation.
Some heads have called for a cut in the amount of compulsory prayer, but the archbishop of Wales said instead teachers needed practical help.
The 1944 Education Act promised lessons for children up to the age of 15, created grammar, technical and secondary modern schools - and also placed worship at the heart of school life.
The 1988 Education Reform Act strengthened the legislation, further defining worship in schools as wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character.
It would be idiotic to leave out faith in God in a school when that's part of our society and when it's part of the Christian foundation of this country
But the new law also offered schools greater flexibility, and it meant worship was no longer confined to the morning assembly.
Instead children can pray in smaller groups, during class tutorial time, or indeed at any time during the day.
But research by BBC Wales suggests schools are struggling to remain within the law.
Ysgol Gwynllyw, a Welsh-medium school in Pontypool is one of the 81 secondary schools inspectors said were failing to offer prayers on a daily basis.
Head teacher Ellis Griffiths said it was impossible to fit the entire school into the hall for a daily assembly, and he could not guarantee all his teachers would hold class-based worship every day.
"I think they should make it a requirement that every child should have an assembly at least once or twice per week," said Mr Griffiths.
"That would give all schools the option of coping with the legislation.
Daily collective worship in schools must be "broadly Christian"
"It would keep the present arrangements virtually untouched and reduce the tension between Estyn [Wales' school inspection service] and the schools in that we would be complying with virtually everything that the law states."
But Archbishop of Wales Barry Morgan said instead of changing the law, schools should have more support to enable them to provide worship.
"I think perhaps more practical help could be given in that area in terms of training teachers who've been in post a bit longer," said the archbishop.
"There are resources available - perhaps more money ought to be available for that because actually it affects the kind of society that we are.
"It's not just the hard religious sell in acts of worship, it's asking questions about the meaning of life. It's asking questions about what it means to live in a society where you respect others.
"Now all those, it seems to me, are religious virtues - tolerance, forgiveness, compassion.
"It would be idiotic to leave out faith in God in a school when that's part of our society and when it's part of the Christian foundation of this country."
'Strong reactions'
In a statement on Friday, Welsh Education Minister, Jane Davidson, said she expected "all schools to meet their obligations under the law".
She added: "All registered pupils attending a maintained school should take part in collective worship and it is the head teacher's duty to secure this.
"The systems are in place to identify any shortcomings and to ensure that the appropriate action is taken." School inspection body Estyn added: "The matter of collective worship sometimes evokes quite strong reactions both from those who think it should be absolutely enforced and those who think it should not.
"The job for schools is to find a way that meets the requirements for a daily basis."
do you agree a daily act of worship should be compulsory in schools?
what kind of school did you go to?
did you paticipate in prayers in school?
were there separate prayers for muslims as there were for christians?
share your views
aren't these laws only applicable to welsh schools tho?
[size=9]I NEVER WORE IT BECAUSE OF THE TALIBAN, MOTHER. I LIKE THE [b]MODESTY[/b] AND [b]PROTECTION[/b] IT AFFORDS ME FROM THE EYES OF MEN.[/size] [url=http://www.adherents.com/lit/comics/Dust.html]Dust, X-Men[/url]
what is that supposed to mean?
you got something against the welsh?
Explain yourself!
Prayer is a good thing. If its taught at school, no probs. Even if its christian. It is a foundation that can be built on later.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
lol admin, wot r U on about...?
[size=9]I NEVER WORE IT BECAUSE OF THE TALIBAN, MOTHER. I LIKE THE [b]MODESTY[/b] AND [b]PROTECTION[/b] IT AFFORDS ME FROM THE EYES OF MEN.[/size] [url=http://www.adherents.com/lit/comics/Dust.html]Dust, X-Men[/url]
Our secondary school wasn't a religious school as such. It was approximately 70% Muslims and 30% Christians.
We didn't have any prayers mentioning God. What we had was a "Theme of the Week". At the assembly we were given a theme such as consideration for people, protecting the environment, accepting difference, multiculturism, bullying etc.
It was quite clever in the sense that the themes that were chosen could be applied to both Christians and Muslims.
But be honest i think most people in my year didn't even give it a second thought. It was the boring bit just before the end of assembly, some people would be itching to get off.
Salam
I think that children in schools should pray together in the morning assembly.
Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, all praising Christ and his Holy mother.
Could you wish for more harmony ?
I used to enjoy singing those beautiful hymns.
The morning worship is so important for kids, espeacially in today's atmosphere.
Omrow
That was beautiful. :o
I feel the same way. I thought you also hated non Muslims and thought that they were out to get us.
Salam
Non-Muslims are NOT out to get Muslims.
This is only an imaginary fear that many Muslims themselves hate created since about 1880.
I have never hated those who do not hold same beliefs as me.
Hatred is a path to the Dark Side.
Omrow
Sure, but do you think a 'Christian manner' would permit hymns of praise and not worsship?
Also its wrong to force Hindus and Sikhs into this because they don't agree with it so they would not appreciate it.
Gentleness and kindness were never a part of anything except that it made it beautiful, and harshness was never a part of anything except that it made it ugly.
Through cheating, stealing, and lying, one may get required results but finally one becomes
How intresting. Why do so many Muslims hate non Muslims or think that they hate us? And why do so many Muslims look down and condemn those who may not be as religious as they are?
Does this depend on the person or the grouping system that is very common these days? And how can I find good Muslims or arent hateful or bitter like you?
Salam
No one is forcing anyone to praise anybody.
Remember, there is no compulsion in religion.
The moment you force a child, you have led him, or her, down a wrong path.
I am just saying that it would so nice if parents of these school children from different faiths could be convinced that this kind of assembly would be a step towards harmony among the next generation.
Parents can then come to an agreement on the exact hymns to be used with the school headteachers.
Omrow
Salam
One word: Indoctrination.
Some of our own Muslim clerics, and young spin doctors, successfully manage to twist religious teachings to serve their own interests.
When young children are influenced by such people, they grow up with what is basically a war mentality. They see Christians, Jews, Hindus, Atheists etc, as enemies of Islam.
This is not what our religion teaches at all.
Omrow
Its sad that not everyone is as enlightened as you are.
I think it applies to all schools in England and Wales.
The prayer rule was in the 1988 Education Reform Act. Having been passed in 1988 it would have applied to all schools in England, Scotland and Wales. But anyway, where are the lawyers on the forum?
We used to have prayer in primary school but never in high school. lol, we never even had regular assemblies in high school.