Letter: Flexibility for school worship

AS A teacher, I fully support the right of Islamic pupils to worship in state schools. However, I would suggest a less segregationist solution than funding Muslim schools from government coffers as proposed by the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali ("C of E bishop wants Muslim state schools", 26 July). There is more contact between the different ethnic communities when they are under the same school roof, generating more understanding and tolerance. One of the main difficulties for Muslims in state schools is the daily act of collective worship which must, by law, be broadly or mainly Christian. The legislation showed little recognition of the pluralist nature of modern British society. Nor did it respect the views of those who have no religion at all. It leads many agnostic or atheist teachers and heads into hypocrisy as they expound ideas in assemblies that they themselves do not hold. Indeed, the latest headteachers' conference voted in favour of the daily act of collective worship being scrapped. It should be replaced with more open-minded, flexible guidelines on worship in school that allow for the integration of Muslim worship when required.

Dominic Kelly

Buckfast, Devon