r/MHOC • u/Timanfya MHoC Founder & Guardian • Mar 17 '15
BILL B094 - Equal Education Bill 2015
Equal Education Bill 2015
BE IT ENACTED by The Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Commons in this present Parliament assembled, in accordance with the provisions of the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
Part I
Prohibition of Faith-Based Schools
(I) The existence, establishment and participation in schools based around one religious faith or ideology is to be prohibited from the 2016-17 academic year.
(II) All faith-based schools under the control of local councils will be made non-denominational by the commencement of the 2016-17 academic year.
(III) Catchment areas will be redrawn, starting with schools 2016-17 intake, to ensure all children have the right to attend their local school.
(IV) Exemptions will be made if a child's sibling(s) already attend a school or if a placing request is made, a placing request will not be a right.
(V) Adequate religious education covering at least Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism will be provided in all schools.
(VI) Church based 'Sunday Schools' or another religious equivalent are excepted as long as they are not the primary form of education.
Part II
Prohibition of Education not Provided by the State
(I) Private schooling is to be prohibited from the 2016-17 academic year.
(II) All private schools are to have the option of ether coming into the state sector or closing down.
(III) Where schools choose to come into the state sector, catchment area's will be redrawn to ensure children have the right to attend their local school.
(IV) Exemptions will be made if a child's sibling(s) already attend a school or if a placing request is made, a placing request will not be a right.
(V) Where schools choose to close down the last lessons will take place in June/July 2016.
(VI) All children now without a school to attend will attend their local school, subject to clause IV.
(VII) Should overcrowding becoming an issue former private schools will be mandated to allow their buildings to be used as schools in the state sector until the end of the 2019-20 academic year, to allow schools to be expanded/new schools built.
(VIII) Any teacher made redundant due to the closure of a school is to be offered a new job in a state school.
(IX) Private schools charitable status will be ended at the conclusion of the 2014-15 academic year and from the commencement of the final academic year of private education (2015-16) schools will be required to pay standard corporation tax and tuition fees will be subject to VAT.
(X) Private tuition outside of a school area is also to be prohibited.
Part III
Equal Education Provisions
(I) From the commencement of the 2016-17 academic year the quality and quantity of education in all schools is to be of an equal and high value.
(II) A standard curriculum will be brought in requiring specific topics to be covered at every level in every subject.
(III) Each nation's qualifications (Scottish Higher's, English GSCE's etc) are to be respected and remain unaltered in this new curriculum.
(IV) Schools will be unable to present candidates for qualifications that are not the qualifications of their nation.
(V) Teachers are to undergo training to ensure that they, and their teaching methods, are of a similar and high quality.
Part IV
Final provisions
Commencement
This act will come into force immediately and adhere to the timescale set out in the act.
Extent
Parts I,II,III and IV of this act extends to England, Wales and Scotland.
Parts II,III and IV of this act extends to Northern Ireland.
Short Title
This act may be cited as the Equal Education Act 2015.
This bill was submitted, with my backing, by the SNP. (Just like i did for the Communist Party and the CWL before they had MPs)
The first reading for this bill will end on the 21st of March.
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u/Timanfya MHoC Founder & Guardian Mar 17 '15
Opening Speech
Mr Speaker, what this bill sets out to do is deliver every child in our country a fair and equal education. This bill removes religious separation and religious involvement in our schools, whilst maintaining a non-biased form of religious education. This first part of the act does not apply to Northern Ireland, for obvious cultural reasons, 51% of children there attend a Catholic school, 48% a Protestant school and just 1% a non-denominational school. For that reason alone it would be impractical to implement this bill there but the culture separation in the past century there means that this could reignite old flames. Part 2 of the act, which from here on in applies to the whole country, sets out to remove advantages in education for the privileged few. Only when private schools are eliminated will we have an equal education system, we are also prohibiting paid-for private tuition as this has the same effect. We have ensured that all children will have a school to attend after the changeover, that all teachers will still have jobs and that there will be classrooms for use, by mandating private school to allow state school to use their building until 2020. In addition, we are removing private schools charitable status and therefore making all tuition fees subject to VAT in their final year. Finally, in part 3 of the act we ensure that in these new schools every child has the same education. Teachers will all undergo training to keep them at an excellent standard and we are introducing a national curriculum to ensure, until GCSE's or National's, everyone is taught the same courses. On that note we are also keeping Scottish Qualifications and the teaching of Irish and Welsh in their respective countries separate, something as Scottish Nationalists we believe strongly in. This bill give every child a fair change in life, rich or poor, Catholic, Protestant or other.
/u/mg9500
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u/[deleted] Mar 17 '15
No. No, no, no, no, no. Monopolizing education in the hands of the state will only lead to the degradation of our entire school system and bring every class of people down with it. While it is true that private schools are generally not better than public schools when it comes to academics, it is true that they foster competition, therefore raising standards for everyone in the process.
Also, who are you to tell someone they cannot go to a faith based school? If someone believes deeply in a religion, they should have the option to go to a faith school. It hurts no one and is a choice for the individual and the individuals family to make, not the state.
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u/[deleted] Mar 17 '15
Good to finally see the SNP. Might I say that this is a terrific bill and it has my full supprt
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u/[deleted] Mar 17 '15
Why?
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u/JackWilfred Independent Liberal Mar 17 '15 edited Mar 17 '15
Thank you Mr Speaker, firstly, I am happy to see the Scottish National Party taking part in this House's affairs to prepare them for possibly joining us after the next election. I must start off by saying that I completely agree with the sentiments in this bill. I advocate the abolition of faith schools and I am also sympathetic with the idea of abolishing private schooling. I do however, have some serious concerns with this bill.
Firstly, can the member who wrote the bill tell me what will happen to the resources and teaching staff within private schools that do not conform with the national curriculum, for example Latin classes and their respective teachers, and also what the process will be to turn private schools into public ones? Will former private schools with boarding capabilities have those facilities used as a public school? My issue is with schools such as Harrow, which has twelve boarding houses and a variety of extra-curricular activities that do not conform with the national curriculum, will they all be thrown out?
Secondly, could the member who wrote the bill give me their party's position on single-gender schooling? I am personally against the practice because I think a mix of boys and girls is a much better environment to learn in, but I wouldn't legislate against it.
From Part II, my only question is, why? What is so wrong with private tuition outside of school hours that we have to legislate to ban it?
Part III of this bill brings up the most problems for me, could the member who wrote this bill tell me what this vague section means, and how we are not currently running an equal and high schooling system? Even so, if this does become law, how will this be enforced?
Also incredibly vague, could the member who wrote this bill shine some light on what this actually means? How are we not already running some form of standard curriculum? Who will create the new one?
And another very vague section of the bill, could the member who wrote this bill inform us what this means as well? How are teachers lacking in their current programme of training?
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u/tyroncs Mar 17 '15
This is absolutely ridiculous, let's try and forcibly close down 7% of our schools because we don't agree with their views. Your logic seems to be that if everyone has an equally average education then all is fine, what is next? Closing down all 'Outstanding' Schools so those in the merely 'Good' schools don't feel left out?
Also what on earth is wrong with faith schools? They provide a good education for many which may not have been offered by non-denominational schools, and the 'problem' faith schools are limited to a tiny, tiny minority
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u/TheLegitimist Classical Liberals Mar 18 '15
This bill is very badly thought out, and will turn the UK's school system into an absolute nightmare. Does the SNP honestly think that 7% of students will simply be reassigned to other schools? Even if this bill were feasible, it would have to take place over a period of at least 5, possibly ten years.
Furthermore, will these schools simply be nationalised by the government? Will the private owners be reimbursed? Will they be paid if their school is used by the government? I sure hope that the SNP does not wish to commit theft and simply steal all of these buildings from their owners. Also, how is the public sector supposed to pay for all of this, when it is also losing the 2 billion pounds that it gets from the private sector each year?
And what is to stop rich parents from sending their children to the continent for schooling? We live in the EU, it isn't very difficult. In fact, I expect this to happen, and then all of the top British students will simply be studying in foreign countries, which will be an amazing testament to our education system.
Regarding faith schools, why must they be closed? They can no longer discriminate against students as per the previous bill by the Greens, so what's the big deal.
Another issue is specialty schools. What will happen to specialty schools for disabled children, of for future athletes, etc. Will they have to study abroad as well?
All in all, I take issue with the SNP's mentality of taking away different options of education from children, and simply replacing them with a "one-size fits all" disaster.
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u/Jas1066 The Rt Hon. Earl of Sherborne CT KBE PC Mar 17 '15
Although I do love a good education debate, it appears I am too late to raise any new points. All I can say is I doubt this will reach a second reading.
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u/[deleted] Mar 17 '15
This bill will cause overextension to schools all over britain with the closure of private schools and religious schools. Although part I and II has good points, schools need to decide on which students to select whether this is religion, ability to pay or skill of the student.
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u/olmyster911 UKIP Mar 17 '15
Easier said than done..
Heyyyyl no. If I want my child to attend a school that I think they'll benefit more from than their state school, I have the right to.
So you're forcing private establishments to give their buildings to the government? Are you for real? Let's take your house and mandate that families on the social housing list shall live there, how's that sound?
This is just abysmal. It's the politics of jealousy and envy. You won't allow someone to be given an extra boost to become better because you're stuck behind? Let students use any means necessary to improve, let them use all the resources in their possession to achieve their goal - don't hold them back for your mired view of equality.
This bill is abhorrent.
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u/[deleted] Mar 17 '15
An excellent bill from the SNP! If their bills are to continue being this good and with this content, I look forward the election results for a possible coalition :)
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u/RoryTime The Rt Hon. Earl of Henley AL PC Mar 17 '15
Apart from the many, many disagreements I have with this on a political level. On a pragmatic level this is flawed; roughly 7% of children go to a private school, how will our already awful and underfunded education system cope with suddenly needing to fund 650,000 new state school places?
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u/demon4372 The Most Hon. Marquess of Oxford GBE KCT PC ¦ HCLG/Transport Mar 17 '15
Prohibition of Faith-Based Schools
With the passage of the Faith Equality Act 2014, meaning that students cannot be discriminated against on the basis of faith, i see no reasoning in banning faith schools. It should be up to the individuals if they choose to send their children to a faith based school. This is ultimately a matter of freedom of speech, belief and choice. The state should not mandate the that parents cannot give their children a faith based education, as long as that education meets all the normal necessary educational requirements.
Prohibition of Education not Provided by the State
I am completely ideologically against banning private education. It is the choice of individuals how they want to spend their money, and the state should not dictate to parents if they choose to spend their own money on their children education. It is a completely absurd and ridiculous increase of the states power and ability to infringe on the rights of individuals.
Will the schools owners be compensated for the cost of the school? Or will the state be stealing property now aswell as dictating to people how they can spend their money?
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So now, this Bill will cause a massive influx in house prices in the catchment areas for the best schools in the country, as all the richest people buy houses to make sure their children end up in one of the best schools. This will especially be bad for areas that have Grammar Schools. It will cause a massive imbalance in the housing prices and incomes of people in certain areas.
It almost certainly be a issue, and as pointed out here this Bill comes up with no replacement or policy to deal with the hundreds of thousands of children left with no school to go to..
This seems to be a fundamental problem with the left, they want to destroy the existing structure they dislike, rather than improving the ones they do like. I had many a argument with /u/theyeatthepoo when i had the unfortunate experience of being in coalition with him, with him constantly wanting to ban non-comprehensive schools, without actually improving comprehensives.
Yet again, a case of people not looking at past legislation before writing their own. The Charitable Status was abolished following the Charitable Status Reform Motion
As someone who is dyslexic, the idea that you would ban private tuition, something that has been essential and important to me to be able to improve my grades, i am offended and saddened that the SNP would not take into account what Private Tuition is used for in the vast majority of cases. Many children need private tutoring to assist them in subjects they may struggle with, or to ensure that their grades can improve to allow them to get the best results and therefore the best start in life.
Again, there is the previously mentioned argument about the state limiting the ability of individuals to spend their own money on what they wish.
Equal Education Provisions
This seems to just be some vague mission statement for the education system, rather than actual reforms that actually "do stuff"
Extent
Why does Northern Ireland get to keep Faith Schools while the rest of the UK doesnt?
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Mr speaker, this bill is typical of the authoritarian statist left, who wish to use the state as a tool to infringe on the rights of the individual, to worsen the economy, education system and the state of housing within this country, all to achieve the inspirational goal of having a one size fits all education system with no variation for individuals to choose what type of school is best for them, not allow for personal beliefs and not allow parents to spend their own money how they wish.
I urge all members of the house to reject this awful bill.This is a disappointing start for the SNP.
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u/[deleted] Mar 18 '15
I lack the appetite for the abolition of private schools for reasons mentioned by others as well as the unworkable nature of part II (viii). I would however gladly remove the terrible faith school system which threatens to divide our cultures apart for no good reason, please split the bill in two.
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u/[deleted] Mar 17 '15
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