NO - ANDREW COPSON, education officer, British Humanist Association
Good inclusive assemblies have a vital educational role. But this aim isnot best served by a law that requires acts of collective worship. Aschool may do many things collectively but, lacking a shared religion,it is incoherent to require that they worship together. Governmentresearch shows that as many as 65 per cent of secondary school agechildren are not religious. Against such a backdrop of diversity, thecurrent law requiring collective worship is wholly inappropriate.
YES - CANON JOHN HALL, chief education officer, Church of England
By developing students' spiritual nature, they develop an appreciationthat goes beyond the material world, fosters a concern for others andprovides a forum for exploring shared values.
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