Salmond blamed for 'cancer of bigotry'..

[coppercrutch]

Disgrace.

 

http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/latestnews/-Salmond-blamed-for-39cancer.4489962.jp

 

To think he calls himself a Hearts fan. I reckon he is just a Hun without the bus fare. He should drag his knuckles along the M8 where he belongs.

[Peebo]

Separate state-funded schools based on religious division is the real disgrace, and has a greater impact on the issue than any of these clowns ever will

[coppercrutch]

Separate state-funded schools based on religious division is the real disgrace, and has a greater impact on the issue than any of these clowns ever will

 

I would agree. Powers that be apparently trying to make everything 'inclusive' whilst funding a system that defines you by the badge on your school Uniform.

 

Everyone should go to the same Schools. If they want extra teachings based on Religion do it after. Simple.

[Coco]

I would agree. Powers that be apparently trying to make everything 'inclusive' whilst funding a system that defines you by the badge on your school Uniform.

 

Everyone should go to the same Schools. If they want extra teachings based on Religion do it after. Simple.

 

Why shouldn't people choose what schools they send their children to?

 

I suspect that the greatest ever increase in literacy in Scotland was when Church of Scotland schools were set up a couple of hundred years ago.

 

Time to remove the State's dead hand from education entirely other than finance.

 

As for the comments from McConnell they are laughable. What good did his committee ever do?

[The Mighty Thor]

Why shouldn't people choose what schools they send their children to?

 

I suspect that the greatest ever increase in literacy in Scotland was when Church of Scotland schools were set up a couple of hundred years ago.

 

Time to remove the State's dead hand from education entirely other than finance.

 

As for the comments from McConnell they are laughable. What good did his committee ever do?

 

Exactly.

 

How McConnell can have the gall to rasie the issue of the 'fight' against bigotry is laughable.

 

He did nothing of note other than set up talking shop after talking shop from 2002 until his lot were emptied in 2007. In fact the Labour party in Scotland have had both the majority and the time to set about bigotry for the last 50 years and have done nothing. Now this political lightweight employs the 'last man frees all' mentality to blame the current government who are 18 months into their tenure. Good one.

 

Interesting to see the article was written for a catholic paper, i'm sure that's stoked the persecution complex felt by many yet further when in fact both sides in this whole ridiculous situation are as odious as the other.

 

There's no place for it in a modern multi-cultural, secular Scotland.

[MacDonald Jardine]

Why shouldn't people choose what schools they send their children to?

 

I suspect that the greatest ever increase in literacy in Scotland was when Church of Scotland schools were set up a couple of hundred years ago.

 

Time to remove the State's dead hand from education entirely other than finance.

 

As for the comments from McConnell they are laughable. What good did his committee ever do?

 

So the taxpayer should pay to allow folk to run schools according to their own particular beliefs?

If you follow that through you'll have as many schools as pupils.

[Sherlock]

So the taxpayer should pay to allow folk to run schools according to their own particular beliefs?

If you follow that through you'll have as many schools as pupils.

 

Correct.

 

Schools are for education not religious instruction.

[BigC]

What utter twaddle from Jack McConnell.

 

It is blatantly obvious to anyone with half a brain, that religious schools are the main reason for sectarianism in Scotland.

 

Rather than try and stop this social apartheid, the governments in Westminster and Holyrood have continued to allow faith schools to flourish, cherry picking pupils from wealthier families (particularly in England) in order to ensure their schools are further up the league tables.

 

They then falsely correlate their pupils success with their "spiritual wellbeing" and instead of looking at it objectively, idiotic politicians like Tony Blair just lap it up and fund more and more faith schools.

 

If you want parents to have the right to choose which school to send their children to, there are 1000's of ways in which you could differentiate between schools ahead of religion. You could have schools that specialise in sports, others that have renowned drama and music departments, other schools that specialise in science.....

 

That would be REAL choice.

 

Deciding on which modified version of the same fairy tale your child should be force fed is not a real choice.

 

Faith schools say that they do encourage social cohesion because they teach children respectfully about other religions. But that is no substitute for having mates from other religions. Playing football with them, going back to their house to play FIFA '09.

 

Children need to be able to ask blunt questions to their mates in the way that only children can. Asking them why they've got a big gold elephant in their house, or why they've got a dude being executed round their neck. That's how you really come to understand someone elses culture.

 

We will never get rid of sectarianism in Scotland until we allow our children to mix freely, teach them about all religions equally, and let them discuss their own views and how they have come to them.

 

64% of parents agree that religious instruction should be a matter for the home and not a matter for schools but the view of the majority is continually ignored, because religions groups have their foot in the door and will never compromise because they know that if they don't get the kids young and indoctrinate them then their number will continue to fall and their outdated dogmas will pale into insignificance.

[Toggie88]

I agree with the majority regarding religous schools.

 

They're pointless and imo I wasn't taught anything different whilst attending a Roman Catholic than any of my friends who attended a non-demonational school.

 

I think a lot of people don't really understand what actually happens in Catholic schools. Maths, English, Science, Social Sciences, Physical Education etc all get taught in the exact same way. The only difference I would say is that there is a cross in most class rooms. You don't get taught about creationism in science and you don't even get taught about catholicism in Religous Education (to a greater degree that any other religion). I honestly learnt more about Budhism and Judiaism in Relgous Education.

 

However, religous schools is only a small factor in sectarianism in Scotland. The main factor, like it or not, is the Old Firm. That is where it breads from.

[BigC]

I agree with the majority regarding religous schools.

 

They're pointless and imo I wasn't taught anything different whilst attending a Roman Catholic than any of my friends who attended a non-demonational school.

 

I think a lot of people don't really understand what actually happens in Catholic schools. Maths, English, Science, Social Sciences, Physical Education etc all get taught in the exact same way. The only difference I would say is that there is a cross in most class rooms. You don't get taught about creationism in science and you don't even get taught about catholicism in Religous Education (to a greater degree that any other religion). I honestly learnt more about Budhism and Judiaism in Relgous Education.

 

However, religous schools is only a small factor in sectarianism in Scotland. The main factor, like it or not, is the Old Firm. That is where it breads from.

 

But you do get religious assemblies where children are told that the world was made in 7 days, which blatantly contradicts the teachings that they may or may not get in science class. So to say that it's the same as a non-denominational school is not strictly true.

 

You also get told that condoms are bad. (Based on a book written by a bunch of superstitious desert nomads 2000 years ago, 1980 years before the appearance of the HIV virus).

 

Teaching chlidren that they will go to hell if they use condoms is as irresponsible as teaching them to juggle with knives.

 

The OF are a big part of the problem, but faith schools are just as much a part of it. Rangers and Celtic just bring out the worst in the people who have been brought up in either religion (whether in school or out of school).

[Sherlock]

I agree with the majority regarding religous schools.

 

They're pointless and imo I wasn't taught anything different whilst attending a Roman Catholic than any of my friends who attended a non-demonational school.

 

I think a lot of people don't really understand what actually happens in Catholic schools. Maths, English, Science, Social Sciences, Physical Education etc all get taught in the exact same way. The only difference I would say is that there is a cross in most class rooms. You don't get taught about creationism in science and you don't even get taught about catholicism in Religous Education (to a greater degree that any other religion). I honestly learnt more about Budhism and Judiaism in Relgous Education.

 

However, religous schools is only a small factor in sectarianism in Scotland. The main factor, like it or not, is the Old Firm. That is where it breads from.

 

I think you're underestimating the importance that separate education for RC's plays in Scotland's sectarian shame.

 

RC adult's voluntarily mark their kids as 'different' from other kids by sending them to a 'different' school, whether that view is right or wrong doesn't really matter. What really matters is that view exists.

 

If the only difference is a cross in the classroom's, then why do they not integrate into the general education system?

 

Surely doing anything that helps eradicate sectarianism is worth the price of not having your kids educated in a classroom with a cross?

[Toggie88]

But you do get religious assemblies where children are told that the world was made in 7 days, which blatantly contradicts the teachings that they may or may not get in science class. So to say that it's the same as a non-denominational school is not strictly true.

 

Not true. There is schools masses, which take place infrequently. On average I would say 4 or 5 a year. Technically in some schools they are compulsory and some they are not. However, in practise none of them are compulsory.

You also get told that condoms are bad. (Based on a book written by a bunch of superstitious desert nomads 2000 years ago, 1980 years before the appearance of the HIV virus).

 

Teaching chlidren that they will go to hell if they use condoms is as irresponsible as teaching them to juggle with knives.

 

Not true. I've never been taught that contraception is wrong. In school contraception was actively promoted and I believe it continues to be.

 

The OF are a big part of the problem, but faith schools are just as much a part of it. Rangers and Celtic just bring out the worst in the people who have been brought up in either religion (whether in school or out of school).

 

Sorry, I disagree.

[Toggie88]

I think you're underestimating the importance that separate education for RC's plays in Scotland's sectarian shame.

 

RC adult's voluntarily mark their kids as 'different' from other kids by sending them to a 'different' school, whether that view is right or wrong doesn't really matter. What really matters is that view exists.

 

If the only difference is a cross in the classroom's, then why do they not integrate into the general education system?

 

Surely doing anything that helps eradicate sectarianism is worth the price of not having your kids educated in a classroom with a cross?

 

I completely agree that 'religious schools' should be eradicated. I don't think they play as big a role in sectarianism as some believe, as I don't believe they are that much different to other schools.

 

At my school, the percentage of catholic in the school was about 40-45%. Out of my 'core' group of male friends, 3 of them attended catholic primary schools and 4 of them did not. Their parents didn't send them to a catholic high school because they wanted to teach them that the world was created in 7 days and that contraception was wrong, because we never ever got taught that. They were send to the school because it was believed to be a better school with better education that the alternative non-denominational school.

 

So as I've said, I do think that schools should be completely non-denominational but a lot of people do not understand that there is actually very very little difference between the two. They do add to the sectarian climate in Scotland but they are not the over-arching factor.

[The People's Chimp]

Disgrace.

 

http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/latestnews/-Salmond-blamed-for-39cancer.4489962.jp

 

To think he calls himself a Hearts fan. I reckon he is just a Hun without the bus fare. He should drag his knuckles along the M8 where he belongs.

 

LOL.

[BigC]

Not true. I've never been taught that contraception is wrong. In school contraception was actively promoted and I believe it continues to be.

 

 

That's good news then. I didn't know that. I assumed that Catholic schools would have followed the Catholic doctrine.

 

But it still begs the question asked by an earlier poster (which I'm not specifically asking you as you seem to agree). If there is no difference then why the need for Catholic schools?

 

To me, not getting rid of faith schools is like setting up a talking shop on racism in South Africa without getting rid of Apartheid. That's essentially what McConnell did.

 

What Salmond did was say, there's no point talking about this unless we actually weed out the root cause... So the Catholic Church decided they were taking their ball and playing elsewhere.

 

The reason Salmond hasn't pursued it any further is because he will alienate a section of the electorate if he tries to seculaise the education system.

 

Things will only change if the silent majority become as loud as the churches.

[MacDonald Jardine]

I completely agree that 'religious schools' should be eradicated. I don't think they play as big a role in sectarianism as some believe, as I don't believe they are that much different to other schools.

 

At my school, the percentage of catholic in the school was about 40-45%. Out of my 'core' group of male friends, 3 of them attended catholic primary schools and 4 of them did not. Their parents didn't send them to a catholic high school because they wanted to teach them that the world was created in 7 days and that contraception was wrong, because we never ever got taught that. They were send to the school because it was believed to be a better school with better education that the alternative non-denominational school.

 

So as I've said, I do think that schools should be completely non-denominational but a lot of people do not understand that there is actually very very little difference between the two. They do add to the sectarian climate in Scotland but they are not the over-arching factor.

 

Noone is suggesting that children are specifically taught to be bigoted at RC schools but the very fact kids are being marked out as different by being sent to different schools because of their religion lays the ground for conflict.

You'll know better than me but I'm also not so sure that the teaching is as similar as you make out. for example, I understand the history curriculum is different.

You also have things like the shared school campuses in Lanarkshire where the RC church insisted there were separate entrances etc. That suggests an attitude which promotes bigotry.

 

The story also has a quote along the lines of this isn't a sectarian problem it's an anti catholic problem.

That would be staggering at the best of times but this man is a Professor and an advisor to the Executive on sectarianism

[Toggie88]

That's good news then. I didn't know that. I assumed that Catholic schools would have followed the Catholic doctrine.

 

But it still begs the question asked by an earlier poster (which I'm not specifically asking you as you seem to agree). If there is no difference then why the need for Catholic schools?

 

To me, not getting rid of faith schools is like setting up a talking shop on racism in South Africa without getting rid of Apartheid. That's essentially what McConnell did.

 

What Salmond did was say, there's no point talking about this unless we actually weed out the root cause... So the Catholic Church decided they were taking their ball and playing elsewhere.

 

The reason Salmond hasn't pursued it any further is because he will alienate a section of the electorate if he tries to seculaise the education system.

 

Things will only change if the silent majority become as loud as the churches.

 

I agree with you.

 

SNP policy has always been to keep faith schools as long as there is a demand for them. I can see the sense behind it but I don't agree with it (yup, Toggie disagrees with SNP shock!).

 

The problem is effectively votes. If any party comes out and says "we want to abolish faith schools" there would be an uproar in the Catholic and non-Catholic community and that party would alienate a significant number of their vote. Sad but true, I'm afraid.

 

Eradicating/banning the OF would have the same effect imo.

[BigC]

Very true.

 

There's demand for a lot of things, but that doesn't mean that the government is duty bound to provide them.

 

If people want their children to have a daily dose of indoctrination alongside the Three R's they should have to pay for it with their own money.

 

As a taxpayer I object strongly to my money going into schools that promote divisions in the community.

[Toggie88]

Noone is suggesting that children are specifically taught to be bigoted at RC schools but the very fact kids are being marked out as different by being sent to different schools because of their religion lays the ground for conflict.

You'll know better than me but I'm also not so sure that the teaching is as similar as you make out. for example, I understand the history curriculum is different.

You also have things like the shared school campuses in Lanarkshire where the RC church insisted there were separate entrances etc. That suggests an attitude which promotes bigotry.

 

The story also has a quote along the lines of this isn't a sectarian problem it's an anti catholic problem.

That would be staggering at the best of times but this man is a Professor and an advisor to the Executive on sectarianism

 

My point is that in many cases it doesn't come down to religion or it doesn't any more. Many of my friends went to my school because it was seen as a better school than the alternatives on offer [modedit].

 

I'm unsure if the history curriculum is different. If it is I didn't notice it having any religious overtones. In Higher History I studied 'Women and the Vote', 'Liberal Reforms 1906-1914' (my specialty), 'German Nationalism & Unification', 'Early British Democracy' and 'The welfare state' - I don't know if this is any different that a non-denomination school?

 

The Catholic Church in Scotland has always promoted separate schools and is probably scared of losing them. They've accepted joint campuses and the sharing of some facilities but I can't see them wanting any more integration - which is very wrong imo.

 

Schools have actually shared campuses for decades. Many of you will be unaware that Fox Covert (at the top of Corstorphine Hill) is two schools; Fox Covert RC and ND. It's been like that since the school opened (1966 IIRC) and there has always been shared football teams/shared play grounds/shared netball teams etc.

 

Imo it works quite well and there is, imo, more religion taught in Primary School. So I think what could work is getting rid of all Catholic High Schools whilst keeping the Primaries.

[andrew]

Disgrace.

 

http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/latestnews/-Salmond-blamed-for-39cancer.4489962.jp

 

To think he calls himself a Hearts fan. I reckon he is just a Hun without the bus fare. He should drag his knuckles along the M8 where he belongs.

 

And you've decided this based on what?

 

McConnell is an erse of the highest order and I'd take anything that comes out his mouth with a pinch of salt.

[Drew Busby !]

JKB in mindless verbatim regurgitation of Scotsman propaganda headline shock-horror.

[coppercrutch]

And you've decided this based on what?

 

McConnell is an erse of the highest order and I'd take anything that comes out his mouth with a pinch of salt.

 

Everyone else on this site who has any remote link to bigotry* is told the same thing. I don't see why Salmond should be any different..

 

BTW I actually agree with most of Toggie's comments today...Strange goings on in JKB land...

 

* Whether justifed or not.

[Toggie88]

Everyone else on this site who has any remote link to bigotry* is told the same thing. I don't see why Salmond should be any different..

 

BTW I actually agree with most of Toggie's comments today...Strange goings on in JKB land...

 

* Whether justifed or not.

 

Ohh god.

[BigC]

The first thing that struck me when I saw this thread was: Wow I agree with coppercrutch!

 

It's a bit of a no-brainer really. Even many religious people are against faith schools.

 

Check out the Accord Coalition:

 

http://www.accordcoalition.org.uk/

 

The Chairman is a Rabbi, but he's campaigning against faith schools for many of the reasons we have already mentioned in the thread.

[Coco]

So the taxpayer should pay to allow folk to run schools according to their own particular beliefs?

If you follow that through you'll have as many schools as pupils.

 

What would be wrong with that?

[Boab Mugabe]

Perhaps in credit to Salmond (a rarity from me!) he's seen that McConnell's crusade against non-Catholics is flawed in acknowledging that sectarianism is more than a one way street and that it's big bad proddies who are always at fault whilst an RC can essentially absolve themselves of any responsibility by playing the victim card.

 

There are some folk who equate it to an apartheid education system and although I don't quite agree with that analogy I see where they're coming from.

 

It's interesting fuds like Cardinal O'Brien have gone silent on the sectarian summits once they've started questioning the validity of Faith Schools in modern Scotland.

[MacDonald Jardine]

What would be wrong with that?

 

I suppose it would cut down on bullying.

[Coco]

I suppose it would cut down on bullying.

 

I think what you would get is that good schools would get a lot of business and that there would be an incentive for poorer schools to improve their standards.

[269miles]

Having lived down south for almost half my life (most of my adult life) I find it amazing that the idea of religious (forget the PC 'faith' bowlox) schools is such an issue in Scotlsnd snf even more , that the notion that religious (ie RC schools) somehow exacerbates the problem.

 

I live in a small town in rural England which has a sizeable RC population due to historical reasons when a load of Irish workers settled in the area. My town has a RC primary school and a large RC church. There is a RC secondary in the nearest large town - to which my mate sent his daughter (they are C of E) because her school at the time was failing her badly (and the RC school had/has a vey good reputation).

 

The point of my post is that even after 30 years I meet guys who grew up together , some went to the local comp and some went to the RC school. Religion has never been discussed , sectarianism is unknown and they laugh at the OF shenanigans. Interestingly , none of the RC guys I know (and I know a lot ) have any affiliation /affection for Sellick. None has any great 'connection' with Ireland even though the majority of them are of Irish ancestry.

 

Why is it so different in Scotland ?

[jack D and coke]

Salmond might not be everybodys cup of tea but he's the first person in over 300 years who thinks about whats best for Scotland imo and cares not a bit about upsetting westminster whereas Jack McConnel is a complete c*ck who done the square root of feck all for us.

 

Staying out of the religious debate is a smart move. You cant win regardless of what you do.

[coppercrutch]

Having lived down south for almost half my life (most of my adult life) I find it amazing that the idea of religious (forget the PC 'faith' bowlox) schools is such an issue in Scotlsnd snf even more , that the notion that religious (ie RC schools) somehow exacerbates the problem.

 

I live in a small town in rural England which has a sizeable RC population due to historical reasons when a load of Irish workers settled in the area. My town has a RC primary school and a large RC church. There is a RC secondary in the nearest large town - to which my mate sent his daughter (they are C of E) because her school at the time was failing her badly (and the RC school had/has a vey good reputation).

 

The point of my post is that even after 30 years I meet guys who grew up together , some went to the local comp and some went to the RC school. Religion has never been discussed , sectarianism is unknown and they laugh at the OF shenanigans. Interestingly , none of the RC guys I know (and I know a lot ) have any affiliation /affection for Sellick. None has any great 'connection' with Ireland even though the majority of them are of Irish ancestry.

 

Why is it so different in Scotland ?

 

That is interesting. I have no idea why that would be. In Scotland in my experience there is a very close Irish/Catholic/Celtic connection.

[Guest]

Theres no need for separate RC schools. Brainwashing can be done at Church on a Sunday if you choose to go there. School should be about practical education.

 

Too many teachers at RC schools like to claim the moral high ground. Just because you play the guitar and sing about Jesus doesn't make you a good person.

[Das Root]

Regular summits? Are we negotiating a plan to rid the 3rd world of debt or maybe dealing with global warming?

 

If it can't be sorted with a nice sit down and a chat over a cup of tea and a rich tea then I just don't think McConnell's summits are worth much.

 

Surely though McConnell could see himself clear to continue these things even though he's out of office? It's not as if any laws are going to be passed, so if he feels so strongly about it he should be able to carry on no matter that he's no longer First Minister.

 

Or could just be he's gearing up to release a book and wants a bit of free publicity eh?

[BigC]

That is interesting. I have no idea why that would be. In Scotland in my experience there is a very close Irish/Catholic/Celtic connection.

 

It is interesting and I don't know the answer either.

 

Allowing myself to speculate, it could have more to do with the fact that they came over in much larger numbers over a shorter period of time to the West of Scotland than they did in England and were more spread out because there was more of a variety in the industries that existed at the time (whereas in Scotland they pretty much all went to work in the shipyards).

 

Again that's just speculation based on not very much knowlegde of Catholic immigration is Scotland.

 

I'd like to hear more from someone who knows more about it.

[Louise]

Religion has no place in schools other than to give a basic grounding of all the major religions so as to attempt to curb racial hatred that stems from ignorance of other faiths/cultures.

I went to non-denominational schools where we were taught, in my opinion, far more about Christianity than is necessary. The Asian kids were usually taken out of the RE classes.

I don't agree with having separate schools at all (much the same as I disagree with the private school system, but that's a whole other box of frogs) and I think it is just as bad for non-denominational schools to force their pupils to go to Christmas services as it is to have RC schools at all.

 

 

 

I'm completely atheist btw..

[I.J]

Religion has no place in schools other than to give a basic grounding of all the major religions so as to attempt to curb racial hatred that stems from ignorance of other faiths/cultures.

I went to non-denominational schools where we were taught, in my opinion, far more about Christianity than is necessary. The Asian kids were usually taken out of the RE classes.

I don't agree with having separate schools at all (much the same as I disagree with the private school system, but that's a whole other box of frogs) and I think it is just as bad for non-denominational schools to force their pupils to go to Christmas services as it is to have RC schools at all.

 

 

 

I'm completely atheist btw..

 

I agree totally.

 

Except for craigies.

 

They're all *****.

 

[N User]

Having taught at a RC school, I've got to say - they vary very little from regular schools.

The only major differences are a small prayer during some assembleys, major religious holidays and things like like ash wednesday.

If a RC family wish to send their kids to a RC school, then I don't have a major problem with it. It doesn't set them out from the rest any more than a parent choosing to send their kids to Balerno when all their mates are going to Tynecastle.

 

With regards to McConnell, it seemed that he was all talk and very little action with sectarian issues. Wow, he got people high up in both churches to go to the old firm game together- who gives a rat's arse?

[Colonel Kurtz]

Do you think the timing of Mcconnells article in a catholic publication is coincidental.

It was done in tandem with The Oirish diplomat complainy yesterday.

Mcconnell when he was at Lanarkshire local authority presided over a regime which had different colour job application forms for catholics..green funnily enough to ensure nepotism and religious discrimination of the worst kind.

Anybdy who has ben to the board room will notice thast celtic are New labour at play and the catholic church are New labour at pray.

[The Mighty Thor]

The cancer of bigotry is alive and well.

 

I note this morning that the moderators of this board have rather belatedly taken the sensible step of removing all traces of the thread over in the shed glorifying the Rangers fans singing the 'famine song'. That was a veritable who's who of the subway loyal and to a man they were nursing chubbies at the ingenious wit of the supporters of their big team.

 

Never mind talking about faith schools, the thing that poisons young minds is the bitterness of old ones.

[Boab Mugabe]

The point of my post is that even after 30 years I meet guys who grew up together , some went to the local comp and some went to the RC school. Religion has never been discussed , sectarianism is unknown and they laugh at the OF shenanigans. Interestingly , none of the RC guys I know (and I know a lot ) have any affiliation /affection for Sellick. None has any great 'connection' with Ireland even though the majority of them are of Irish ancestry.

 

Why is it so different in Scotland ?

 

Great question. My mother who moved from Ireland 30 odd years ago believes that because Scotland isn't really a country that it leaves the populace naturally confused for an identity to cling onto from both sides hence you got a bunch of daft fuds who wear Eire/GAA shirts when they are around 3rd/4th generation or higher. You do have to remember the intertwining of Scottish/Ulster/Irish history does not help the "who are we?" issue either.

 

It's also worth noting that more Irish people migrated to England (tarmacing the driveways and the like, much to the annoyance of my mother when I point that out ) yet these issues are unheard of these days. At the height of IRA bombing campaigns it became a bit dodgy to be heard with an Irish accent in English cities, which is understandable.

 

Oddly, I would always class myself as British and though I do have Irish ancestry I have no time for the plastic paddy garbage that plagues this country.

[Snake Plissken]

Round the corner from me there are two primary schools within 200 yards of each other, one is RC the other non-denomination.

 

I have been here a year so don't know the background but I was told the council wanted to merge the schools only to meet with opposition from the parents.

 

Where I was originally from (Moray) there wasn't anything like that and I never heard so much as a whisper of sectarianism until I moved to Stirling. To be honest I didn't even know what the hell the fuss was about.

 

If you ask me the whole thing is a Glaswegian fart that has been turned into a nationwide sewer by people with agendas.

 

Stupid.

[castlerock]

what a lot of rubbish. as if labour in scotland and at uk level haven't prospered by divisive identity politics for years.

 

as for sectarianism, **** all to do with schools of any kind, and all to do with the old firm; something that labour tosser would never have confronted with any real vigour.

 

catholic schools exist all over the UK, and CoE schools all over england. funny how they only cause sectarianism within the areas where the OF casts it's shadow eh.