The UK is so anxious to abandon its culture and renounce its history, while its Muslim immigrant population does just the opposite — including those who cling tightly to the idea that the Sharia must rule. The outcome is fast becoming inevitable: Omar Bakri will get his wish. From The Telegraph, with thanks to Anthony:
A C of E school has been told to drop the word “saint” from its name in case it offends other religious groups.
The practice of calling schools after saints or bishops alienates people from other faiths and non-believers, say officials and councillors in Islington, north London.
The row is over the name of the first Church of England secondary school to be built in the borough, which lost control of education five years ago after Ofsted found it was running some of the worst schools in the country.
Islington council plans to incorporate the existing St Mary Magdalene Church of England Primary School into a new City Academy for five- to 18-year-olds.
The church, which is giving £2 million towards building costs, has been told by the local authority – a partner in the scheme – that the name of the new school cannot be religious.
James Kempton, children and young people spokesman for the council’s ruling Liberal Democrat party, said a consultation had been launched because of concerns over the use of the word “saint”.
“We want to create a school that is open to everybody in the community, not a school that selects through the back door,” he said. “We need to ensure this is a school which is appropriate for Islington in the 21st century.
“Church-going is now a much less significant part of people’s lives.”
UPDATE: The Council is backing down; “saint” can remain part of the school’s name. (Thanks to Jeremy Langton for the link.)