CHRISTIAN BREAKING NEWS: 🚨 Humanist Report: Preaching Is NOT Teaching! Scotland Schools Controversy
CHRISTIAN BREAKING NEWS: 🚨 Humanist Report: Preaching Is NOT Teaching! Scotland Schools Controversy
The Humanist Society Scotland’s new report, Preaching Is Not Teaching, reveals major concerns about Christian bias in non-denominational schools. Parents and students report pressure to join religious observance, lack of opt-out awareness, and stigmatization. Should Scotland replace traditional worship with inclusive reflection?
Hi everyone,
The Humanist Society Scotland has released a groundbreaking report titled Preaching Is Not Teaching: Insights into Religious Observance in Non-Denominational Schools.
The findings highlight concerns about Christian bias, parental rights, and the lack of meaningful alternatives for non-religious students in Scotland’s education system.
Many parents say schools fail to inform them about their children’s opt-out options, and children feel embarrassed when refusing to participate in prayers and worship.
In this video, we will answer these 3 questions.
Question #1: What does the report reveal?
Question #2: Why does it matter?
Question #3: What is the current state of debate in Scotland about faith, education, and human rights?
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Question #1: What does the report reveal?
The Humanist Society Scotland’s report, Preaching Is Not Teaching, reveals that many non-denominational schools in Scotland still promote Christian worship under Religious Observance (RO), rather than offering a neutral and inclusive “time for reflection.”
The findings show that prayers, hymns, and church services often dominate school activities, creating a clear Christian bias in practice. Parents are frequently not informed about what RO involves or that they have the right to opt their children out, which points to a serious lack of transparency.
Children who do not participate in RO often experience stigma, feeling embarrassed, excluded, or even punished for their choice. Those who are opted out are rarely given meaningful alternatives, and are often sidelined or left without constructive engagement.
Furthermore, students themselves cannot legally opt out, which conflicts with international guidance on children’s rights.
To summarize, the report argues that schools are “preaching” instead of “teaching,” and calls for reforms to ensure education is fair and inclusive for all beliefs.
Question #2: Why does it matter?
This issue matters because it affects fairness, inclusion, and children’s rights in education. Schools are meant to be neutral spaces where students from all backgrounds—Christian, non-Christian, or non-religious—feel equally respected. When religious observance is dominated by Christian practices, it risks alienating students who do not share those beliefs.
It also matters because parents are not always informed of their legal rights to withdraw children, and students themselves have no direct right to opt out. This raises issues of transparency, consent, and freedom of belief.
On a broader level, the debate reflects Scotland’s changing society, where the majority of young people now identify as non-religious. The report challenges whether the current model of religious observance, rooted in 19th-century law, is still appropriate for a diverse 21st-century nation.
To summarize, it matters because this is about respecting freedom of religion, protecting children’s rights, and ensuring schools are inclusive for all.
Question #3: What is the current state of debate in Scotland about faith, education, and human rights?
The debate centers on how Scotland’s schools should handle religion in an increasingly secular society. Census data shows that most Scots—especially young people—now identify as non-religious, yet many schools still hold compulsory Christian-based Religious Observance (RO). Critics argue that this outdated law, rooted in the 19th century, no longer reflects Scotland’s diverse population and conflicts with international standards on children’s rights.
A key concern is that students themselves cannot opt out of RO, leaving the decision entirely to parents. Humanist groups and rights advocates say this undermines young people’s freedom of belief and stigmatizes those who are excluded. In response, many campaigners—including the Humanist Society Scotland and even the Church of Scotland—support replacing RO with an inclusive “Time for Reflection” that welcomes all beliefs without promoting one faith.
Ultimately, the debate highlights a broader struggle: how to balance tradition with fairness, children’s rights, and inclusivity in Scotland’s education system.
QUESTION: Should schools move toward more neutral and inclusive “time for reflection” instead of mandatory Christian practices? Type “REFLECTION” or “CHRISTIAN”. Let us know your thoughts in the Comments section.
🚨 Humanist Report: Preaching Is NOT Teaching! Scotland Schools Controversy | Christian Breaking News!