Assembly vote

We were heartened to hear that hundreds of pupils at North Berwick High School have signed a petition demanding an end to Christian assemblies in the school.

They are understandably concerned that these discriminatory assemblies represent only the Christian religion and are led only by Christian church members.

In an arrogant response Belhaven Parish Church minister Rev Laurence Twaddle has said: “There is weighted emphasis on the place of Christianity because that is what made Scotland.”

The reverent should heed the words of the young people themselves, one of whom is quoted as saying: “Students feel the assemblies are out of touch with the views of today’s society and young people.”

The days of Christians having exclusive and privileged control over the “spirituality” of pupils in our state schools are clearly numbered.

Neil Barber

Edinburgh Secular 
Society