The Society has made verbal and written representations to Government departments on legal issues such as the blasphemy law and on the proposal to extend the race relations law specifically to cover discrimination on grounds of religion . The law requires Religious Education to be taught in schools. For many years it was the only compulsory topic in the school curriculum. Sometimes the reason is the practical difficulty of arranging assemblies, but often it is that the majority of pupils and staff do not wish to take part in an act of worship. We have heard of teachers retaliating against requests for withdrawal by excluding pupils from receiving information disseminated during assembly.
Secularists particularly object to religion being taught in schools as fact.
Because they believe religious schools result in increased levels of sectarianism, Secularists would like to see the elimination of denominational or religious schools. This particularly applies to areas of historic tension between Protestants and Roman Catholics, such as in Northern Ireland, the west of Scotland and Liverpool. Communities will best learn to live peacefully together if they grow up - and learn together, respecting each other s differences. If they are separated into religious groupings at such an early age, racism and lack of understanding will inevitably increase. Secularists believe that religion should be a private matter for the home or church or other place of worship - and that those who are not religious should not be disadvantaged because of their lack of belief.