Two European countries are moving toward more choice in public schools on religious education. In Wales, schools must provide daily collective worship for all children, unless their parents withdraw them. Wales Online on Thursday reported that Assembly education minister Jane Hutt has ruled that students over 16 years of age can decide on their own to opt out of the assemblies.This brings Wales in conformity with the policy in England. [Thanks to Scott Mange for the lead.]
Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported Friday that in Germany a church-supported group has obtained enough signatures to call a referendum on a 2-year old state law that mandates ethics classes for all students beginning in seventh grade, but makes religious classes elective. The proposal by the group "Pro Reli" would allow parents and students to choose between either ethics or religion courses.
