Will try again - I was sharing something posted on a friends wall in my last post. Here it is copied. In tribute to the depth of French civilisation, and in the hope that others might profit from their example, I offer the following which is by law posted in all French educational establishments: THE CHARTER OF SECULARITY IN SCHOOLS The nation entrusts schools with the mission of ensuring that the values of the republic are shared by pupils. THE REPUBLIC IS SECULAR 1. France is an indivisible, secular, democratic, and social republic. It guarantees equality before the law to all of its citizens in all of its territories. It respects all beliefs. 2. The secular republic organises the separation of religions and the state. The state is neutral in respect to religious or spiritual convictions. There is no state religion. 3. Secularity guarantees the freedom of conscience to all. Everyone is free to believe or not to believe. It permits the free expression of their convictions, with respect for those of others and within the bounds of public order. 4. Secularity permits the exercise of citizenship, reconciling the liberty of each person with the equality and fraternity of all in pursuit of the general interest. 5. The republic guarantees the respect of all of these principles in educational establishments. 6. The secularity of schools offers pupils the conditions for developing their personality, exercising their free judgement and learning how to become a citizen. It protects them from all proselytising and all pressure which might prevent them from making their own choices. 7. Secularity guarantees pupils access to a shared and common culture. 8. Secularity permits the exercise of pupils’ freedom of expression within the limits of the proper functioning of the school and the respect of the values of the republic and the pluralism of convictions. 9. Secularity implies the rejection of all forms of violence and discrimination, guarantees equality between boys and girls and is based on a culture of respect and understanding of others. 10. It is the responsibility of all personnel to communicate to pupils the meaning and value of secularity, as well as the other fundamental principles of the republic. They ensure their application in the school context. It is their task to bring this charter to the attention of all parents of pupils. 11. All personnel have a duty of strict neutrality: they may not display any political or religious convictions in the exercise of their functions. 12. All instruction is secular. In order to guarantee students the most objective exposure possible to the diversity of visions of the world and to the extent and precision of knowledge, no subject is a priori excluded from scientific and pedagogical critique. No pupil may invoke a religious or political conviction to contest a teacher’s right to study a question or programme. 13. No one is entitled to use their religious affiliation to refuse to conform to the applicable rules of the school or the republic. 14. In public educational establishments, the rules as laid down in the school regulations must respect secularity. The wearing of symbols or garb by which the pupils conspicuously display their religious adherence is forbidden. 15. By their consideration and their activities, pupils contribute to the vitality of secularity within their establishment.
Posted on: Thu, 08 Jan 2015 06:52:17 +0000
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