Govt climb down over 100% selective religous schools, but plans
Leicester SECULARIST Journal of the Leicester Secular Society Summer 2018 - no 78 TWhe sHchoEolN wit hW the I“uLnLlaw fIuTlly dBiscrEim iCnaLtorOy” ScurEricDulu?m
Ofsted have found the private Leicester Community Islamic School, to be almost totally inadequate. This is the second time that Ofsted have made such a finding. The Ofsted report describes the school's curriculum as “unlawfully discriminatory.” It found that girls had no any access to a library and that the curriculum's “insular ethos” meant pupils were “ill prepared for life in British Society.” T h e i n s p e c t o r s f o u n d “Inappropriate” reading material in Please pay The Leicester Community Islamic School on Overton Road occupies former your annual the boys' library: one book condoned factory premises. There are no playing fields or car park. (Google street view) violence towards women by their Subs husbands if the wife was deemed not choice to socialise with the opposite refused planning permission with Dear Member, sex with the consequent loss of the result that the City Council took to be fulfilling her duties. It said that If you have not yet paid your subs a husband had no recourse but to educational benefit. enforcement action. It refused yet, please pay now and save our “divorce his wife” if she refused to Local Parks planning permission once again Treasurer from having to chase you. The subs for 2018 are being frozen at bear a child. The school's website says that before eventually giving conditional the same level as 2017. They are: Strict Segregation seeking of knowledge is obligatory approval in 2006. 5/5 for Inadequate Individuals £21, Low income £7 The school operates a policy of strict upon every Muslim. Thus for a Household (multiple members) £28 segregation by sex. The building is Muslim there is no distinction between In 2014, Ofsted found the school to be Please send your cheques, made on two floors, the girls being religious and secular education. inadequate. Its overall effectiveness, payable to Leicester Secular Society, to: the achievement of the pupils, the educated on the ground floor and the The school uses local parks for break John Catt, 32 Bramcote Road boys on the first floor. There are times and the Spence Street Sports quality of teaching, the behaviour Loughborough LE11 2 SA separate entrances for each sex. Boys Centre for physical education. The and safety of pupils, leadership and If you use internet banking, you can and girls have different starting and fees for this Sunni Muslim school are management were all judged to be credit the Society’s bank account as finishing times and do not mix at £1,680. inadequate. It is almost impossible to follows ACCOUNT NO 20195380 break or lunch times. The school's Former Factory get a worse Ofsted report. Four years SORT CODE 60-83-01 website states that there is 'no mixing later, the school was judged to The Leicester Community Islamic Please confirm such transfers with an of the pupils at the secondary level.' beinadequate in four out of those five School was established in 2003 in a email to: [email protected] The Ofsted report says this policy of a r e a s , t h e f i f t h r e q u i r e d former factory and furniture John Catt (Membership Sec/Treasurer) segregation by sex denies pupils the improvement. depository. It opened despite being Leicester Secularist 5 Inside: Deathbed Conversions - Sexual Etiquette - Threats to the NHS
Leicester
9 Govt climb down over 100% selective religous schools, but plans
Proprietor
W H AT ’ S O N In its most recent report, Ofsted asks that the proprietor holds the school’s at the leaders to account for the quality of education that the school provides. This seems a somewhat daft S e c u l a r H a l l recommendation since the head teacher of the totally inadequate Sunday May 27th 6.30pm school in 2014 was Ahmed Abdul Hai Growth Busters: Hooked on Growth Dadipatel and he is now chair of the This documentary film examines the beliefs and behaviours which stop Leicester Educational Trust which our civilization from becoming sustainable. It asks why a roaring runs the school. economy is more important to us than a survivable planet. Rules for Private schools JUNE Sunday June 3rd 6.30pm What happens to private schools Arnold August - US-Cuba relations – back to the future with Donald which are rated 'inadequate'? Those Trump that do not meet the standards must Arnold will speak about USA – Cuba relations under Trump plus the improve or close, but it is not the local recent election results in Cuba. Arnold August is a renowned Canadian council that deals with the issue. author and expert on the Cuban electoral system. (A joint LSS/Cuban When a private school fails to Solidarity event) improve, the DfE in Whitehall can Sunday June 10th 6.30pm take the school off the register. It is a Jonathan Davies - Worlds of Austerity criminal offence to operate an International lessons on governance and resistance from eight cities unregistered school, so removal from Jonathan will talk about the international experience of austerity and resistance in eight cities: Athens, Baltimore, Barcelona, Dublin, Leicester, the register would force the school to Melbourne, Montreal and Nantes. He is Director of the DMU Centre for close, although it does have a right of Urban Research on Austerity. appeal. Sunday June 17th 6.30pm Darul Uloom Islamic High School Ash Pryce - How to talk to the Dead In 2016 the Leicester Mercury Magician Ash Pryce presents an illusion filled, interactive look at a reported that the Darul Uloom history of Spiritualism. Ouija boards, levitations and fun galore. Islamic High School, private school Sunday June 24th 6.30pm on Loughborough Road, was to be Please pay Ipek Demir - Brexit, the Left-Behind and the Middle Classes: The ordered to shut for not preparing your annual Untold Story pupils for life in 'modern British Subs Dr Demir considers the role of race, culture, class and loss of privilege in society.' Inspectors also found the Brexit debates. She is Associate Professor in Sociology at the University Dear Member, school itself was "unsafe, shabby, and of Leicester. If you have not yet paid your subs JULY dirty", with poor hygiene. The school yet, please pay now and save our avoided closure by lodging an appeal Sunday July 1st 6.30pm Treasurer from having to chase you. in the courts and then, managed to get The subs for 2018 are being frozen at David Bell - Reds, Rebels & Radicals of the East Midlands more favourable inspection reports. the same level as 2017. They are: A look at some of the courageous men and women of Leicestershire, Failing Faith Schools Individuals £21, Low income £7 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire who took on the establishment. David Household (multiple members) £28 Bell has been writing books for the last 29 years. He is a member of Latest figures show 49% of private Please send your cheques, made Leicester Secular Society. faith schools inspected by Ofsted payable to Leicester Secular Society, to: Sunday July 8th 6.30pm were judged less than good at their John Catt, 32 Bramcote Road most recent inspection and 26% were Roy Smart - Amy Johnson – Queen of the Air Loughborough LE11 2 SA Roy Smart tells the story of Amy, her flying machines and her disastrous i n a d e q u a t e . 8 1 o u t o f 1 3 9 If you use internet banking, you can marriage, then unravels the mystery of her disappearance. Roy Smart independent Muslim schools were credit the Society’s bank account as was a Fleet Air Arm pilot and air director of many great national found to be less than good at their follows memorial events. most recent inspection, while 39 were ACCOUNT NO 20195380 Sunday July 15th 6.30pm inadequate. One-third of Christian SORT CODE 60-83-01 Summer Feast Please confirm such transfers with an schools were judged less than good, email to: [email protected] A social event to mark the end of the year's programme. Food, drink, and of 58 Jewish schools, more than John Catt (Membership Sec/Treasurer) good company and entertainment. h a l f w e r e e i t h e r “ r e q u i r e s improvement” or inadequate. Leicester Secularist 5 2 Leicester Secularist
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9 Govt climb down over 100% selective religous schools, but plans
from the editor PRIVATE RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS - A PUBLIC DISGRACE - Secularists are united in opposition to schools being run by religious groups. However, Secularists have different views 100% selective faith schools plan dropped about private education and how education should be provided. GOVT CLIMBS DOWN, BUT...... The well known atheist A.C. from the National Secular Society Grayling engaged Richard Dawkins to teach at his private The Government has abandoned well-being amongst their pupils. £18,000 fee paying university. plans to lift the 50% cap on faith “Children from all faith backgrounds Both Grayling and Dawkins (like admissions in new free schools – should be educated together and allowed Christopher Hitchens) are former but will still pave the way for a new t o d e v e l o p t h e i r o w n b e l i e f s public school boys. wave of religiously selective independently.” Since private education is about "Voluntary-aided" faith schools. The NSS has expressed strong separation, other Secularists The National Secular Society, which opposition to the plan to expand believe that private education has campaigned vigorously to keep Voluntary-aided schools, which can caters for and perpetuates elites the cap, said the u-turn on the lifting select up to 100% of pupils on the and divisions in society. If of the admissions cap was "positive basis of faith. Voluntary-aided stockbrokers can pay to keep news for integration" but called schools are almost exclusively run their children apart from the hoi plans to provide funds for local by religious groups, mainly the poloi, sectarian religious groups authorities to create more VA faith Church of England and the Catholic see no reason why they should schools "regressive". Stephen Evans, Church. As well as imposing not do the same - even if it is NSS chief executive, said: religious criteria on 100% of within a converted factory with "The decision not to scrap the 50% cap admissions, a religious test can be rudimentary facilities. Please pay for faith admissions in free schools is applied on all teaching positions. The discriminatory curriculum at your annual positive - and a victory for the work the The NSS believes that this some private Muslim schools is Subs National Secular Society and our d i s c r i m i n a t i o n i s w h o l l y shocking, but then some of the Dear Member, supporters have done to campaign unreasonable. values inculcated in our public against it. If you have not yet paid your subs Rather than providing broad, schools are also a challenge to a yet, please pay now and save our " H o w e v e r, e n c o u r a g i n g m o re balanced and inclusive education truly democratic society. Treasurer from having to chase you. voluntary-aided schools, which are able about religious and non-religious There are a few who argue that The subs for 2018 are being frozen at the same level as 2017. They are: to select up to 100% of pupils on the world views, VA schools teach all state schools should be secular, basis of faith, is a regressive step and a confessional RE in accordance with Individuals £21, Low income £7 and all faith schools should be Household (multiple members) £28 back-door attempt to expand faith school the teachings of their religion. A private. However, if we are to end Please send your cheques, made education and increase the number of recent NSS investigation into sex sheer disparity in life chances payable to Leicester Secular Society, school places allocated on the basis of and relationships education in faith created by private education, to: faith. schools also found that many only the abolition of the fee- John Catt, 32 Bramcote Road Loughborough LE11 2 SA "Facilitating more voluntary-aided Voluntary-aided schools are failing paying principle and integration to provide pupils with clear and If you use internet banking, you can schools will lead to a negative impact on of private schools into a national credit the Society’s bank account as accurate information. social cohesion, foster the religious and secular system will suffice. follows social segregation of children, and Mr Evans warned that any local In the mean time, instead of ACCOUNT NO 20195380 undermine choice and equality. authority planning to open a allowing these private religious SORT CODE 60-83-01 Please confirm such transfers with an "Voluntary-aided faith schools are discriminatory faith school would schools to continually fail their email to: [email protected] discriminatory, antithetical to British "face opposition every step of the inspections (and their pupils), we John Catt (Membership Sec/Treasurer) values and harmful not only to cohesion, way". should do our utmost to see that but also the standard of education and they are closed. Leicester Secularist 5 Leicester Secularist 3
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9 Govt climb down over 100% selective religous schools, but plans
Anthony Matthew THREATS TO THE NHS The one-woman play to be performed by Jackie Walker on Sunday 29th April was cancelled at short notice and instead Dr Sally Ruane agreed to talk about the severe pressures facing the N a t i o n a l H e a l t h S e r v i c e , particularly in England. Dr Ruane is director of the Health Policy Research Unit at De Montfort University and with little time for preparation, or even notes to refer to, she gave a detailed and very well informed talk about this critical issue. Dr Sally Ruane is director of the Health Policy Research Unit at De Montfort Competition University Across England (health is a devolved (CCGs), which are collections of possible, speeding up discharge responsibility for other parts of the general practices, dispense two from hospital and through UK) local sustainability and thirds of the NHS budget and there intensive community services transformation plans (STPs) are are three of them in the area of our providing care at home. Some GP being drawn up, in our case covering STP. The two hospital trusts, services would be concentrated in a Leicester, Leicestershire and University Hospitals of Leicester few centres and nurses or other Rutland. The structure created by and Leicestershire Partnership (for health staff would substitute for the 2012 Health and Social Care Act mental health) receive money from doctors at some general practices. promotes competition between CCGs for patients sent to them. No Evidence h e a l t h p r o v i d e r s , m a k i n g Social care is provided by local These plans were presented as an cooperation difficult. STPs are authorities and that has suffered a Please pay improvement but the basic intended to enable more efficiency reduction in funding of £2.5bn. Care your annual requirement was to save £400m. No in the way that the health budget packages can be difficult to organise Subs evidence has been shown to prove (£126bn for England and Wales) is and care companies are reluctant to that the service would be Dear Member, spent. cover rural Rutland because of the improved, that hospital beds could If you have not yet paid your subs Falling Finance cost and time required for travel. be safely closed nor even that it was yet, please pay now and save our Across the UK 7.3% of GDP is spent Closures really cheaper. Once no longer in Treasurer from having to chase you. on the NHS. (There is a relatively The subs for 2018 are being frozen at STPs are required to fit into a need of acute care patients tend to the same level as 2017. They are: small private expenditure as well.) constrained budget. A first draft of recover better at home but that Individuals £21, Low income £7 That is a declining fraction because the local STP was reluctantly requires adequate care. Any Household (multiple members) £28 whereas between 1949 and 2010 published in November 2016. It was deficiencies in care at home would Please send your cheques, made there was an average increase in the proposed to close Leicester General not be publicly visible, unlike those payable to Leicester Secular Society, to: health budget of 4% in real terms, for acute cases and St Mary's current in A&E departments. The John Catt, 32 Bramcote Road since then it has been only 1.2%. The (birthing centre) Melton. Altogether social care experience suggests Loughborough LE11 2 SA former rate kept pace with the 243 acute beds would go (an earlier companies contracting to provide If you use internet banking, you can increasing costs for an ageing reconfiguration had 427). In care at home tend to use a lower credit the Society’s bank account as population and development of new addition, 43 community hospital skill mix of staff, who may be follows treatments, but now finance is falling beds would close, with Lutterworth under-trained and under-paid. ACCOUNT NO 20195380 SORT CODE 60-83-01 behind the demand. The STP and Rutland Memorial Hospitals Not Published Please confirm such transfers with an restructuring required by NHS closing entirely and beds halved at The critical appendices on the email to: [email protected] England is intended to bridge that Hinckley & Bosworth. This was to be workforce and the finances for the John Catt (Membership Sec/Treasurer) gap. achieved by trying to prevent November 2016 STP were not Clinical commissioning groups unplanned admission where Leicester Secularist 5 4 Leicester Secularist
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9 Govt climb down over 100% selective religous schools, but plans
contribution would conflict with the fundamental principle of the NHS, that care is provided according to need, not ability to pay. General taxation should be the source of NHS finance, where we all pay in continually for the benefit of a health need which may arise from time to time. As the sixth richest country in the world we can certainly afford a comprehensive and universal system of health care. published. The Nuffield trust medical staff a patient sees and the Paul Kinsella calculated in 2014 that without difficulty in getting a home visit. The substantial efficiencies 14000 more target is to have 0.58 GPs per 1000 of beds would be needed in England by population but the present figure is 2022, not fewer. The OECD average below that. In January and February (i.e. for developed countries) is 4.8 1,600 operations in Leicester were per 1000 of population while the cancelled in order to allow enough figure for England is only 2.6. beds for emergency admissions. Legal Challenge Between November and February hospitals were on a black alert for Simon Stevens, the head of the NHS, one day out of every two. This has proposed Accountable Care means they could not provide Organisations which despite the “If your god made humanity in comprehensive health care, with his image, why are we not name are not accountable to the potential risk to the safety of invisible?” public and are groups of various patients. The 85% bed occupancy providers, some of which will be rate, which is the target so as to allow private. If the ACOs go ahead they Please pay emergency admissions and to will have the power to decide local your annual reduce cross-infections, is regularly health policy – which treatments are Subs exceeded. to be provided by the NHS for example – since they will be able to How to Pay Dear Member, If you have not yet paid your subs decide on the allocation of resources. The government's excuse for failing yet, please pay now and save our This is potentially an opening for to fund the NHS is that increased Treasurer from having to chase you. A m e r i c a n h e a l t h i n s u r a n c e borrowing would impede the The subs for 2018 are being frozen at companies to get a grip on the NHS. economy. In fact investing in the “Your god had the opportunity to the same level as 2017. They are: The government has attempted to NHS, a significant component of the forbid slavery. But instead he Individuals £21, Low income £7 introduce this innovation without economy, would do the opposite. chose to forbid women in Household (multiple members) £28 authority, bacon and Because of that government Please send your cheques, made primary legislation but a judicial masturbation. Clearly he wanted payable to Leicester Secular Society, review (promoted by Stephen argument, some have proposed us to be miserable.” to: Hawking, a grateful beneficiary of other ways of funding the NHS, in John Catt, 32 Bramcote Road the NHS) is expected to determine particular through National SECULARIST Loughborough LE11 2 SA whether that is legal. As for the STP, Insurance. However, NI is a N e x t E d i t i o n If you use internet banking, you can credit the Society’s bank account as the second draft is being kept secret regressive tax, a smaller proportion We welcome new articles, letters, follows of income for the rich than for the and no papers have been published jokes, poems, news, cartoons, ACCOUNT NO 20195380 to allow public participation. poor, because it is applied only up to photos etc. Send to: SORT CODE 60-83-01 Black Alert a cap and it applies only to earned [email protected] Please confirm such transfers with an income, not dividends, capital gains email to: [email protected] The deficiency in local GP services is Please include photos where you or rent. Furthermore, a system more John Catt (Membership Sec/Treasurer) seen by the long queues for a have them. Aim to write less than h e a v i l y w e i g h t e d t o w a r d s 700 words. Ned Newitt (editor) consultation, lack of continuity in the Leicester Secularist 5 Leicester Secularist 5
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9 Govt climb down over 100% selective religous schools, but plans
Ned Newitt LYING FOR JESUS: DEATHBED CONVERSIONS
“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour" is one of the Ten Commandments seen as a moral imperative by Jewish and Christian scholars alike. According to the New Testament, obedience to the prohibition against false testimony is a requirement for eternal life. When it comes to the deaths of well- known atheists and secularists, religious zealots have paid little heed to their sacred commandment. In 2011, Stephen Hawking declared: “We are each free to believe what we want and it is my view that the simplest explanation is there is no God. No one created the universe and no one directs our fate. This leads me to a profound realization. There is probably no heaven, and no afterlife either. We have this one Oil painting by R. Pistoni (Wikimedia Commons) life to appreciate the grand design of the universe, and for that, I am extremely objectionable.” grateful.” Soon after Hitchens’ death, Richard This has not stoppeda Facebook page Dawkins wrote that: "Insulting a called Catholics Online from claiming dead hero who now can't defend himself: that Hawking uttered “I believe” after I suppose they think that's OK if you're a meeting with Pope Francis in 2016. lying for Jesus," Please pay They even posted a picture to your annual Charles Bradlaugh's daughter “prove” it. Hawking was given a Subs Hypatia took the precaution of funeral in an Anglican church and getting signed testimony, from all his ashes interred at Westminster Dear Member, those who had been attending her If you have not yet paid your subs Abbey where a commemoration of father to the effect that during his yet, please pay now and save our his life takes the form of a “Service of illness he was never heard to utter religions. The 'lying-for-Jesus' tactic Treasurer from having to chase you. Thanksgiving.” It is possible that The subs for 2018 are being frozen at one world “either directly or indirectly alleges that the person in question Professor Hawking would have been the same level as 2017. They are: bearing upon religion or any religious didn't really mean what they wrote, highly amused at the thought of Individuals £21, Low income £7 subject.” Despite this, she was still said or believed for their entire life. people giving thanks for his life to a Household (multiple members) £28 forced to take a successful court What makes this practice so Please send your cheques, made god that he was certain does not action to stop the constant slanders dishonest is that because of the death payable to Leicester Secular Society, exist. of a deathbed conversion. of the person in question, no one is to: A book entitled “The Faith of John Catt, 32 Bramcote Road Evangelist Elizabeth Cotton, a friend able to expose these religious zealots Christopher Hitchens,” has led to some Loughborough LE11 2 SA of Charles Darwin, claimed that he as liars and cheats. It is almost a false claims that Hitchens had made If you use internet banking, you can recanted his theories and embraced certainty that when Richard Dawkins credit the Society’s bank account as a d e a t h b e d c o n v e r s i o n t o “Christ Jesus and his salvation” in his dies, someone will claim that he follows Christianity. In an interview made last moments. Christians, naturally, turned to god in his last moments. ACCOUNT NO 20195380 whilst he was terminally ill, Hitchens SORT CODE 60-83-01 celebrated. Evidence to the contrary, If the pain and discomfort of a fatal described the practice of sending Please confirm such transfers with an however, suggests that no such illness is the necessary requirement religious people round the wards of email to: [email protected] recantation occurred. for a deathbed conversion, it says hospitals to put pressure on people John Catt (Membership Sec/Treasurer) something about the fundamental who were in extremis as being “very These alleged deathbed conversions are the most cynical aspect of some premises of that religion. Leicester Secularist 5 6 Leicester Secularist
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9 Govt climb down over 100% selective religous schools, but plans
Anthony Matthew Lord Macaulay and God
Thomas Macaulay, later Baron General's Council for India and went Macaulay of Rothley, was a very there in 1834. His Minute on Indian successful Victorian historian and Education of 1835 advocated English essayist as well as having a political as the medium of education for an c a r e e r . R o b e r t K n i g h t o f elite who would rule the country on Loughborough University gave a behalf of the Empire, replacing the talk on 18th March on Macaulay's existing education in Persian and a t t i t u d e t o wa r d s G o d , t h e Sanskrit, the literature of which he established church and secularism. regarded as worthless in comparison Thomas Babington Macaulay was with European. He advocated born in 1800 at Rothley Temple, now prohibition of the Hindu practice of Rothley Court Hotel, which was sati (the burning of widows) and owned by his uncle, Thomas formulated a penal code for India Babington, a leading campaigner which was largely adopted after the against the slave trade. His father, Indian Mutiny of 1857. Zachary Macaulay, was also an Support for Church Photogravure of Macaulay by the abolitionist and a strict evangelical He returned to England in 1838 and French photographer Antoine Claudet Christian. Thomas was a child to Parliament for Edinburgh. He (Wikipedia) prodigy, learning Latin and Greek at regarded the Church of England as an early age. an important institution, under Churchill in 1940, 'The Darkest At Cambridge he studied law and attack at the time both from Anglo- Hour'. Churchill is shown in the was called to the bar but started on a Catholic Tractarians and science, London Underground trying to career as a writer, publishing essays and ridiculed Quakers, regarded gauge public opinion on whether in the Edinburgh Review. He religious reformers as “cant” and Britain should seek accommodation identified with the Whigs in politics, was dismissive of the Jewish with Germany or should resist. He basing that on utilitarian principles, religion. He regarded the church as a recites the famous passage from Please pay following Jeremy Bentham. He was defender of the existing order and Macaulay's 'Lays of Ancient Rome' your annual against slavery, regarding it as a was opposed to any further where Horatius volunteers to defend Subs moral blot on the British Empire but parliamentary reform, while he also the bridge over the Tiber from the Dear Member, its abolition as a sign of moral despised the attitudes of Tory Tuscan army. If you have not yet paid your subs superiority. He advocated Catholic squires. "To every man upon this earth yet, please pay now and save our emancipation and the integration of Voltaire was praised but Macaulay Death cometh soon or late. Treasurer from having to chase you. t h e J e w s . H e s u p p o r t e d The subs for 2018 are being frozen at was hostile to revolution or the rule And how can man die better parliamentary reform but before the the same level as 2017. They are: of the mob and the worship of a Than facing fearful odds, Great Reform Act of 1832 he entered Individuals £21, Low income £7 goddess of reason was absurd. He For the ashes of his fathers, Parliament for an unreformed Household (multiple members) £28 had no sympathy for the lives of the And the temples of his gods?" Please send your cheques, made constituency. less fortunate and described Thomas A particularly unlikely feature of the payable to Leicester Secular Society, India Paine as “a stupid, worthless, to: scene is that the verse is completed by John Catt, 32 Bramcote Road There is no reference to spiritual drunken, dirty Beast”. So despite his a West Indian passenger sitting close Loughborough LE11 2 SA questions in his essays. His History defence of toleration there would be to Churchill, presenting Britain as If you use internet banking, you can major differences with secularists of of England portrayed a pageant of leading a united empire against its credit the Society’s bank account as the present day. He was awarded his national progress towards toleration, enemies, a picture that would have follows peerage in 1857 and died in 1859. ACCOUNT NO 20195380 William III being his great hero. His appealed to Macaulay as well as SORT CODE 60-83-01 support for enlightenment was The Darkest Hour Churchill, both of whom have been undercut by nationalism and his Please confirm such transfers with an Macaulay has recently come back to criticised for writing history with a email to: [email protected] toleration did not extend to the Irish public notice through an implausible strong ideological slant. John Catt (Membership Sec/Treasurer) or Indian Hindus. He was appointed scene in the recent film about as the law member of the Governor- Leicester Secularist 5 Leicester Secularist 7
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9 Govt climb down over 100% selective religous schools, but plans
Alice Sluckin A Life Dedicated to Helping Children
LSS member Alice Sluckin talks about development we discovered that her long career in psychiatric social these children were just shy and work and her continuing interest in the frightened, sometimes with a condition 'selective mutism'. (This degree of learning disability. article first appeared in the Initially the condition was known as Leicestershire Age UK magazine) selective mutism because it was “I was 96 when my most recent thought the children were choosing book, 'Tackling Selective Mutism', not to speak but I found that by was published in 2015. The book is trying little by little to help children used in schools and universities by to be less fearful, the issue could be academics, students and teachers resolved. studying, researching and teaching After the revolution, I went back to children affected by the condition. Czechoslovakia and met with This is something I became psychologists and social workers, interested in during my career in the introducing my work on selective country which I have called home mutism. Several of them came to for most of my life. England on a research visit to extend I came to England during the their knowledge of the condition Munich crisis of 1938. I had grown and I am still in contact with them up in the German speaking part of Alice showing her most recent book, now. 'Tackling Selective Mutism' Czechoslovakia because my father I retired at 65 and sadly lost my was a medical officer there. I went to husband around that time, so for that time as I could work part-time a grammar school so I learned to about 15 years I travelled around whilst I raised my two sons. speak English alongside German and carried on with my work on and Czech. My parents and my In 1960 we moved to Leicester selective mutism. I still get some Please pay younger brother stayed there which where I became a Senior Psychiatric referrals but I guide them towards a your annual meant that I was the only one of the Social Worker for the City in the support group I established with Subs family who survived because, being Child and Family Guidance Service academics from the University Jewish, they were all killed by the and this is where I stayed until I called SMIRA (Selective Mutism Dear Member, Nazis. I didn't hear about this until retired in 1988. It was here that I I n f o r m a t i o n a n d R e s e a r c h If you have not yet paid your subs yet, please pay now and save our after the war but it's a long time ago became interested in psychiatric Association). Treasurer from having to chase you. now and you've got to live with it. problems that other people weren't I have had an interesting life. I was The subs for 2018 are being frozen at the same level as 2017. They are: I had already been to England and interested in, such as selective very proud to be awarded an OBE in mutism, and I wrote papers on Individuals £21, Low income £7 realised that there was a shortage of 2009 for my work with children and Household (multiple members) £28 these specific issues. With the nurses so I applied to work at families. By and large, people have Please send your cheques, made Southampton hospital and this is support of a number of professors at been kind and I have had plenty of payable to Leicester Secular Society, how I came to England in 1939 at the Leicester University, they were opportunity to make the best of to: John Catt, 32 Bramcote Road age of 19. Three years later I met my published in academic journals so I things. I think that the more you do Loughborough LE11 2 SA future husband and we married in could add to the knowledge on the as you get older, the more likely you topic and help others to help these If you use internet banking, you can 1942. After I married I completed a are to be able to carry on much credit the Society’s bank account as course in social work at the children. longer. For now, I am looking follows University of Leeds and then a few Selective mutism is where children forward to visiting Leicester ACCOUNT NO 20195380 years later I qualified as a will speak in some situations but are University Medical School as I am SORT CODE 60-83-01 Please confirm such transfers with an Psychiatric Social Worker at the silent in others. These children were officially opening the Sluckin Room email to: [email protected] London School of Economics which considered at that time to be in memory of my husband who John Catt (Membership Sec/Treasurer) led to a job looking at the home care naughty and stubborn but in fact worked there for many years.” of psychiatric cases, ideal for me at looking at other aspects of their Leicester Secularist 5 8 Leicester Secularist
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9 Govt climb down over 100% selective religous schools, but plans
Anthony Matthew Lord Willy Bach Willy Bach is the Police and Crime increase the precept on council tax by Commissioner for Leicester, up to £12 per household, which will Leicestershire and Rutland and gave provide for an extra 24 officers. a talk on Thursday 22nd March on A duty of commissioners is to his work in that role. He started by produce a police and crime plan, saying that he was in support of the setting key priorities, which has current Assaults on Emergency recently been completed with a few Services Bill, which would increase copies at the meeting. There is an the penalty for such attacks to one emphasis on crime prevention, year's imprisonment, even though particularly on re-offending, where generally he was not in favour of mental health problems and drug i n c r e a s i n g s e n t e n c e s . I n abuse can lead to criminal behaviour. Leicestershire, eight police officers Small grants will be available to have recently been assaulted. organisations working to prevent re- The turnout in the last election for offending, which may have been commissioner was only 20% in this exacerbated by cuts in the youth area, though that was an increase service. Domestic violence, modern from 15% in the previous election. slavery and the sexual exploitation of His role is to serve as a bridge children are crimes of which the Lord Bach dealt with several between police and public. He holds police have become more aware. searching questions: whether the the budget for policing, though 98% There is an aim to make the police chief constable gave sufficient of that passes to the chief constable to more accessible, not only by officers priority to female genital mutilation; spend, the remainder partly spent on on the beat, but by improving the 101 whether he would stand for re- community safety. He does not want phone service. Victims of crime will election in 2020 (the answer was no); to take on responsibility for the fire be supported and a strategic on the effectiveness of harsher service, though the government is partnership board will bring together sentences (again, no); the importance encouraging that. Funding for police the various services that have of regional cooperation; on the police Please pay has not been protected in the years of responsibility for the more attitude to fox hunts and saboteurs; your annual austerity because of the effect of vulnerable such as the elderly. The on the arming of police; and on Subs inflation and the number of officers inspectorate of police has recently coordination with mental health Dear Member, has decreased by 23%. This year reported on Leicestershire Police and work. commissioners are allowed to rated the force as good. If you have not yet paid your subs yet, please pay now and save our Treasurer from having to chase you. Paul Kinsella The subs for 2018 are being frozen at the same level as 2017. They are: Individuals £21, Low income £7 Household (multiple members) £28 Please send your cheques, made payable to Leicester Secular Society, to: John Catt, 32 Bramcote Road Loughborough LE11 2 SA If you use internet banking, you can credit the Society’s bank account as follows ACCOUNT NO 20195380 SORT CODE 60-83-01 Please confirm such transfers with an email to: [email protected] John Catt (Membership Sec/Treasurer) Uh-oh! Leicester Secularist 5 Leicester Secularist 9
Leicester
9 Govt climb down over 100% selective religous schools, but plans
Hypatia Bradlaugh - Bonner Christianity and Conduct: WOMEN This abridged selection is a chapter range of their activities contracted, from her book Christianity and and their character lowered. Conduct, first published in 1919. Christianity is sometimes described It is difficult to exaggerate the as an essentially feminine religion, adverse influence of the precepts inasmuch as the Mother of God is a and practices of religion upon the chief object of worship, and women status and happiness of woman. have had a conspicuous place Owing to the fact that upon women allotted to them as saints and devolves the burden of motherhood, martyrs; and also because in the New w i t h a l l i t s a c c o m p a n y i n g Testament there is much which disabilities, they always have been, appeals to the peculiarly feminine and always must be, at a natural emotions of tenderness and pity. It is disadvantage in the struggle of life as very certain that Christianity has Photo: LSS archives compared with men. Men have had always found its chief supporters 2018 is the 160th anniversary of the courses open to them in regard to among women, although, with a few birth of Hypatia Bradlaugh Bonner women: (1) to minimize the recent exceptions, they have never (31 March 1858 – 25 August 1935) disadvantages so far as it lay in their been permitted to aspire to the She was a peace activist, opponent power to do so; or to (2) take priesthood, and have been strictly of the death penalty, author, atheist advantage of the natural disabilities forbidden to allow their voices to be and freethinker and the daughter of in order to impose artificial ones, and heard as Christian teachers. Charles Bradlaugh. Her bookfroms the Nabytio thisna lmeans Secu ltheirar S ownocie powty er and include Charles Bradlaugh: A Record Tertullian, who lived in the third of His Life and Work, The Gallows authority. century, described women as “the and the Lash (1897), Penalties Upon The first course is the moral course, devil’s gateway,” and declared that Opinion (1912) a catalogue of tending to the common good; the they ought to go about in humble various blasphemy trials, The second is the immoral course, in garb mourning and repentant for the Christian Hell (1913), Christianity which the selfish interests of one part sin of their mother Eve. The Canon and Conduct (1919). of the community are made to law could neither forget nor forgive Please pay In 1910, Bonner became the chair of triumph at the expense of the other the seduction of Adam. St. Ambrose the first secular peace society, the your annual Rationalist Peace Society. The aim of part. It is the second course which puts this forward as the reason why Subs the society was to "protest against usually has followed. With certain woman should take man as her ruler, ideas and methods which are utterly rare exceptions, women all the world so that he may not fall a second time Dear Member, If you have not yet paid your subs opposed to reason and the interests over have been relegated to a through female levity. The saint yet, please pay now and save our of social progress." After she died, a position of inferiority, greater or less evidently thought that, with man Nottingham Secularist wrote: Treasurer from having to chase you. according to the religion and the and woman on equal terms, the man The subs for 2018 are being frozen at “Mrs Hypatia Bradlaugh Bonner was social organization of the people; the would stand a poor chance. At a the same level as 2017. They are: a very able lecturer and advocated Individuals £21, Low income £7 the philosophy of secularism and more religious the people the lower Church Council held at Macon at the the status of the women. end of the sixth century there was a Household (multiple members) £28 humanism with all the fervour that Please send your cheques, made bishop who expressed a doubt characterised her illustrious father. In a recent book, which professes to payable to Leicester Secular Society, She seemed proud, as well she see in history the working of whether woman was a human being to: might, of being his daughter of the Christian principles, it is claimed at all; but the Council decided that, in John Catt, 32 Bramcote Road great champion of liberty. that through “the faith of Christ, and spite of all her shortcomings, she Loughborough LE11 2 SA Mrs. Bonner was regular visitor to that alone, that the position of woman really did belong to the human If you use internet banking, you can the Leicester Secular Hall, in species. credit the Society’s bank account as Humberstone-gate, and one her was bettered, and respect for woman follows lectures there entitled "Belief, increased in the later Roman Empire and At a Council held at Auxerre, women ACCOUNT NO 20195380 Unbelief, and Make-belief" was in the dark ages that followed.” But the were forbidden to receive the SORT CODE 60-83-01 published as a pamphlet. ” (1920 ed) records bear witness that on the Eucharist in their bare hands; and Please confirm such transfers with an Her son Charles Bradlaugh Bonner advent of Christianity, with its some of the Canons of the Church email to: [email protected] also lectured at the Secular Hall in doctrine of the inferiority of women, forbade them to approach the altar John Catt (Membership Sec/Treasurer) the 1950s.. their liberties were curtailed, the during the celebration of Mass: in the Leicester Secularist 5 10 Leicester Secularist
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9 Govt climb down over 100% selective religous schools, but plans
Hypatia Bradlaugh - Bonner What has Christianity done for the women of Abyssinia?
slave. Too often both lived and died in a condition scarcely better—in s o m e r e s p e c t s , i n f i n i t e l y worse—than that of the cattle in the fields. Where humanity is sunk so low as this it is the bitterest irony for the Christian apologist to talk of the betterment of the position of woman and the increase of respect in which Christian influences caused her to be held. The “faith of Christ” which could bring wealth to the coffers of t h e C h u r c h a n d e n a b l e i t s ecclesiastics to live in splendour with huge followings of courtiers and At the 50th anniversary of the Secular Hall in 1931. Hypathia Bradlaugh Bonner courtesans availed nothing to (centre) with Sidney Gimson (left) and Arthur Bonner. At the back, (left to right) alleviate the lot of the man and are Harry Hassell, Chapman Cohen and Herbert Anderson (LSS Secretary) woman who tilled the soil and sowed Middle Ages the Church even generally. And there is very little the seed. employed eunuchs in the cathedral doubt that this contemptuous and What has Christianity done for the choirs in order to supply the soprano hostile attitude adopted towards women of Abyssinia? Abyssinia is voices, which otherwise belong only them by official Christianity has one of the oldest of Christian to women. In parts of Europe women been largely responsible for the countries, and its late ruler, Menelek, were obliged to enter the church by a heavy disabilities under which traced his descent back to the Queen separate door, and to sit and stand women have suffered even in the of Sheba. In Abyssinia there is no apart from the men—a practice most progressive Christian States. development of rationalism to Please pay which still prevails in certain The Pauline doctrine of the dispute the claims of Christian your annual churches at the present day. subjection of women is alone influence. Whatever unaided faith in Subs answerable for much that is evil in It is notorious that the early Church Christ could accomplish, we might the conduct of society towards took a very coarse and detestable expect to see it there. The Abyssinians Dear Member, women. If you have not yet paid your subs view of marriage, and advocated care a great deal about their religion, yet, please pay now and save our celibacy as a far higher state. If we look at the position of women and believe that they are the only real Treasurer from having to chase you. Marriage, said the Fathers, in Europe at any time between the Christians; they would not admit that The subs for 2018 are being frozen at prevented a person from serving rise of Christianity and the dawn of the English who visited them were the same level as 2017. They are: God perfectly, since it induced him to Rationalism at the end of the Christians at all. They may be quite Individuals £21, Low income £7 occupy himself with worldly affairs. eighteenth we find them generally in right; there are so many varieties of Household (multiple members) £28 Please send your cheques, made After a prolonged struggle, the a very low state of culture and Christians, each professing to be the payable to Leicester Secular Society, condition. There have, of course, Church succeeded in establishing only true one, that it is difficult for to: the institution of celibacy, which, been exceptions. There always have o u t s i d e r s t o d e c i d e . T h e John Catt, 32 Bramcote Road with its nominally celibate clergy been individual women who, Abyssinians, at any rate, are Loughborough LE11 2 SA and its congregations of nominally through force of circumstances and described as being extremely If you use internet banking, you can celibate monks and nuns, was one of sheer driving power, have risen religious, and the clergy hold the credit the Society’s bank account as above their fellows; but these were follows the most frightful sources of people in their power by threat of ACCOUNT NO 20195380 the exceptions, the rare exceptions. immorality which it is possible to excommunication and other clerical SORT CODE 60-83-01 conceive. This position taken by the Too often both men and women of anathemas. A favourite subject for Please confirm such transfers with an Christian Church towards marriage the rural populations were sunken in church decoration appears to be email to: [email protected] was accompanied by the most misery and degradation, and then martyrdom on earth and torture in John Catt (Membership Sec/Treasurer) odious views concerning women the woman was just the slave of a hell; all the good people are Leicester Secularist 5 Leicester Secularist 11
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9 Govt climb down over 100% selective religous schools, but plans
Hypatia Bradlaugh - Bonner ‘when women cease to kiss the rod that chatises them....’ represented as white, and all the bad from Christianity which bettered the of the Christian countries of the people and the devils as black. ... condition of the cultured classes and world. The wider education of In Abyssinia, where Christianity has then increased respect....One good women should do much to improve been the prevailing religion for close result of the movement towards their condition; it should make them upon sixteen hundred years, and i n t e l l e c t u a l a n d p e r s o n a l more respected, and, of equal where Rationalism is utterly emancipation was the break-up of importance, it should make them unknown, the women folk are no the old despotic great family system respect themselves more. The more better than beasts of burden. a n d a wa k e n i n g i n t e r e s t i n women know, the less they will education; but emancipation was “believe.” And once released from Russia is another very Christian still very partial and tentative when the thralldom of belief, they will be country untouched by Rationalism the War came; then followed the free to prove their own worth. The until quite modern times. In Russia, revolution and then chaos, out of more heretical women become—i.e., among the so-called upper classes, it which a new and greater Russia may the more they think, criticize, and was the custom two hundred years be born. make up their minds for themselves, ago for the husband’s horsewhip to instead of humbly asking their hang over the bed of the married The case of Russia and that of husbands, as enjoined by St. couple; and we are assured that it Abyssinia are extreme instances of Paul—the sooner will they reach a was no empty symbol. The treatment the worthlessness of “faith of Christ” p o s i t i o n o f d i g n i t y a n d of female serfs was often infamous to as an influence in the betterment of independence. the last degree. There were nobles humanity; both in their brutal who “plied a regular trade in young despotism towards women and in peasant girls, whom they sold to the unquestioning credulity of the brothels. Gangs of serfs were taken to the people. The Russians doubted southern markets, where Armenian neither Christ nor Mary, neither merchants bought them for the purpose Heaven nor Hell, neither witchcraft of exportation to Turkey.” Until well nor sorcery; their faith had no within the last century the Russian bounds, for it was commensurate peasantry lived in great families with their ignorance. Please pay composed of twenty, thirty, or The rise has taken place recently in your annual sometimes as many as sixty the status of women in certain Subs members, all subject to the absolute countries most wholly, if not entirely, authority of the eldest man, usually due to the decline in religious belief. Dear Member, If you have not yet paid your subs Among our own people, where the eldest grandfather, unless he was yet, please pay now and save our too feeble to keep order. The despotic circumstances have been specially Treasurer from having to chase you. authority in such families fell most favourable to the growth of the spirit The subs for 2018 are being frozen at heavily upon the women, upon the of liberty, the independence of the same level as 2017. They are: last new daughter-in-law; each women and the equalization rights Individuals £21, Low income £7 generation was a slave to the elders, have come only little by little; every Household (multiple members) £28 Please send your cheques, made step has been gained in defiance of and the last comer was a slave to all, payable to Leicester Secular Society, scolded, cursed, and without mercy.’ the Church and the teachings of the to: These Russians were intensely Scriptures, and in no way through John Catt, 32 Bramcote Road The Thinker's Library was a series of 140 pious, living on terms closest their aid. Loughborough LE11 2 SA small hardcover books published intimacy with God, the Holy Virgin, When women cease to kiss the rod If you use internet banking, you can between 1929 and 1951 for the credit the Society’s bank account as and the saints - if one may judge from which has chastised for the past Rationalist Press Association by Watts & follows their folklore, folk songs, and s i x t e e n c e n t u r i e s , t h e i r Co., a company founded by Charles ACCOUNT NO 20195380 traditions. The gross superstitions emancipation will be still further Watts. Aimed at a mass audience, they SORT CODE 60-83-01 of the peasants were kept up and h a s t e n e d , t h e i r c h a r a c t e r s consisted of a selection of essays, Please confirm such transfers with an even fostered by the Church. strengthened, and their activities literature, and extracts from greater email to: [email protected] works by various classical and John Catt (Membership Sec/Treasurer It was the intellectual movement, not given full scope, in England, but in ) c o n t e m p o ra r y h u m a n i s t s a n d Christianity, but the movement away France, Italy, Spain, and in the other rationalists. Leicester Secularist 5 12 Leicester Secularist
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9 Govt climb down over 100% selective religous schools, but plans
Helen Everett Why did Women Want the Vote? Cynthia Brown, historian and adult tutor for the Workers' Educational Association gave an enlightening talk recounting the history of campaigns for votes for women from the mid-19th century to the early 20th. This year being the centenary of some women being granted the vote, Cynthia set out to answer the question firstly, Why DID women want the vote? Then, Why did it take so long for women to get a vote? Why Somewhere in Leicester, an unknown Suffragette speaks at a street meeting. was it granted in 1918 and what did they do with it once they had it? children if their husband died. Did the Suffragettes do more harm Quite simply, women wanted Previously all guardians had to be than good to the cause? They equality with men. They paid taxes, male. certainly held mass meetings, in but could not vote, so the slogan No Cynthia then took her audience Hyde Park London and elsewhere, taxation without representation through some local history. the adopting the colours of purple, white applied. They also wanted equality formation of the Leicester and and green. within the law and an end to unjust Leicestershire Women's Suffrage In February 1913 a national campaign marriage laws. The wanted access to Society with notable women of vandalism of 16 golf courses took education - University degrees, including Edith Gittins, Fanny place, including one in Leicester. The needed to enter so many professions, Fullagar and the Ellis sisters of Royal Mail was attacked by setting were not awarded to women. As the Belgrave Hall. Edith Gittins was a fire to letterboxes, and Blaby Railway WSPU pointed out, politics and public speaker and active Liberal. Station burnt down. Why Blaby? economics go hand in hand. Fanny Fullagar became the first Why not? Please pay As Mary Wollstonecraft, author of female Poor Law Guardian in In May 1913 the Leicester Daily Post your annual the seminal 1792 work, A Vindication Leicester in 1889. reported a meeting with 7,000 or Subs of the Rights of Women believed, men However, the Women's Suffrage 8,000 people in the Market Place Dear Member, had inherited improper privileges movement, consisting largely of where men shouted and hooted If you have not yet paid your subs over women. Mary herself was middle class, educated women, had drowning out the speakers' voices. yet, please pay now and save our vilified as a wanton woman having little success in persuading male During the 1914-1918 War Mrs Treasurer from having to chase you. borne an illegitimate child, before politicians to give them a vote. In Pankhurst directed the Suffragettes The subs for 2018 are being frozen at the same level as 2017. They are: her marriage to William Godwin. 1903, many campaigners' patience to support the war effort, though her Individuals £21, Low income £7 was exhausted, and Emmeline On marriage, women lost their now estranged daughter Sylvia Household (multiple members) £28 identity, as in "He and She are One, and Pankhurst founded the Women's continued to campaign. In 1918 the Please send your cheques, made I am He". As early as 1858 a meeting Social and Political Union (WSPU) in vote was granted for women payable to Leicester Secular Society, at the Guildhall in Leicester was on Manchester with the motto 'Deeds householders aged over 30 (perhaps to: the subject of domestic violence. It not Words' which became the slogan it was thought they were mature John Catt, 32 Bramcote Road Loughborough LE11 2 SA took until the 1880s to achieve the of the so-called Suffragettes - a term enough by that age). So what did of abuse, a diminutive of suffragist, If you use internet banking, you can repeal of marriage laws, including women do with their vote when they credit the Society’s bank account as the passing of the Married Woman's coined by their critics. got it? follows Property Act 1882. Previously In 1907 the Leicester branch of the The answer, disappointingly, is that ACCOUNT NO 20195380 married women could not own or WSPU formed following a visit from we do not know. There were no SORT CODE 60-83-01 Please confirm such transfers with an inherit property, everything being in Annie Kenny. This was the start of opinion polls then, and voting was in email to: [email protected] the husband's name. campaigns using violence to secret, with ballot papers not John Catt (Membership Sec/Treasurer) Only in 1886 did women gain the property, window-breaking, arson identifiable by gender of voter, not right to be the guardian of their own and hunger strikes. then and not now. Leicester Secularist 5 Leicester Secularist 13
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9 Govt climb down over 100% selective religous schools, but plans
Anthony Matthew SEXUAL ETIQUETTE AFTER #MeToo
Dr Greg Scorzo is editor of the online are likely to offend many women by magazine Culture on the Offensive presenting a physical ideal which (http://www.cultureontheoffensive. they feel themselves to fall short of, com/) and runs monthly Art of whereas pin-ups of men are unlikely Thinking events at the LCB Depot in to be taken by men as at all Rutland Street. These discuss threatening. A few years ago a controversial issues using empathy, physicist, Matt Taylor, presented clarity and courage (either to news on the Rosetta project wearing maintain one's position or admit one a colourful shirt decorated with was mistaken). pictures of near-naked women and Dr Greg Scorzo: a skilful presentation The #MeToo movement in social caused great offence in the media, media was initiated by the for which he made an abject apology. accusations of sexual misconduct Freedoms handle it. against Harvey Weinstein, the There has been an increase of sexual That assumption had provoked an powerful Hollywood producer. Its freedom for women since the 1960s. objection from Germaine Greer that it aim has been to counter such They are allowed to reveal more depicts women as inevitably weak. conduct by powerful men by flesh in public but that is freedom Subjective Criteria publicly shaming them, rather than only if they are left alone when doing The #MeToo philosophy is that by the justice system. so. Aspects of that freedom are that because men have more power, they Assumptions they can commodify their sexuality, take advantage in the workplace and engage in sex for pleasure, including Greg set out to explain how the issue that allows harassment. Proof of guilt pre-marital sex, they have access to has arisen and to consider the is difficult and so the justice system abortion and contraception, and justifications for the movement and should be circumvented by using when working alongside men there to the objections to it. He argued that publicity instead. Oprah Winfrey is the opportunity for propositioning today in western society there is a declared that if a woman feels or being propositioned for sex. Each general assumption that the sexes uncomfortable she is justified in of these carries a corresponding risk deserve to be treated equally (not complaining. That is a subjective Please pay for the woman: that she will not be in that they are so treated) but that criterion for action but it is argued your annual control, or have a bad experience, or assumption does not apply to the that society needs to protect the most Subs get an unwanted pregnancy, or have behaviour in which people engage vulnerable, even though some an abortion later regretted, or have Dear Member, with and react to the opposite sex in women feel much less vulnerable e n c o u n t e r s w h e r e s h e i s If you have not yet paid your subs “hooking up”. Men typically have than others and can deal with yet, please pay now and save our uncomfortable or threatened. greater physical strength than i n a p p r o p r i a t e b e h a v i o u r b y Treasurer from having to chase you. women and so their approach to The aim of the #MeToo movement is themselves. Particularly confident The subs for 2018 are being frozen at women needs to reassure them that to eliminate such risks through a women such as Lionel Shriver have the same level as 2017. They are: Individuals £21, Low income £7 they are not threatening, while a change in culture. Critics of the argued that #MeToo undermines Household (multiple members) £28 direct approach by a woman to a movement accept that women sexual freedom for women and is in Please send your cheques, made man is not seen as such. This norm should not tolerate such behaviour effect repackaging old prudery in payable to Leicester Secular Society, applies even in the exceptional case and should counter it but not by progressive wrapping. to: where the man is physically weaker making it public. It has apparently John Catt, 32 Bramcote Road As one might expect, this exposition than the woman. been well concealed till now when Loughborough LE11 2 SA provoked a wide variety of questions What is Tasteless? George Clooney and Matt Damon If you use internet banking, you can and points of view, handled very credit the Society’s bank account as claim to have been unaware of Hence there are differences in what skilfully by Greg. Allan Hayes made follows Weinstein's behaviour despite is acceptable in the objectification of the point that there was a need for ACCOUNT NO 20195380 working closely with him. If the the sexes. An advert for Coca-Cola education on sex and relationships in SORT CODE 60-83-01 genders had been swapped in that Please confirm such transfers with an showing women eyeing a handsome school – but the difference in views case, it is hard to imagine the email to: [email protected] man appears as amusing while the about #MeToo shows that there behaviour would have continued John Catt (Membership Sec/Treasurer) converse would be tasteless. Pin-ups would be disagreement on what that because it is assumed that men could in the workplace showing women education should contain. Leicester Secularist 5 14 Leicester Secularist
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9 Govt climb down over 100% selective religous schools, but plans
Gilian Lighton WHAT'S ON AT THE SECULAR HALL SUMMER 2018
After successful talks from Greg resistance from eight cities'. Jonathan is Scorzo, Peter Soulsby, Sally Ruane Director of the DMU Centre for and Cynthia Brown, what can we Urban Research on Austerity and expect in the rest of the summer Professor of Critical Policy Studies. programme? He will talk about the international Well, quite a variety, promising to be experience of austerity and resistance equally interesting and thought in eight cities: Athens, Baltimore, provoking. On 20th May, we have Barcelona, Dublin, Leicester, Max Malik's talk entitled 'The Heart Melbourne, Montreal and Nantes. of a Terrorist: The Butterfly Hunter, a On a lighter note, on 17th June, we novel by a rationalist writer'. His have entertainment from magician first novel, it won the Best Published Ash Pryce, 'How to talk to the Dead'. He Novel Award in 2011 from the Brit promises an illusion filled, Writers Awards. Max tells us that interactive look at a history of the main strand running through all spiritualism, featuring an array of his writing has been the aim of magical treats including levitating helping to create a more tolerant and tables, Ouija boards and spirit fishmonger's daughter from Hull, just society based on rationalist and communication. Part magic show, taught herself the basics of aviation humanistic values. part comedy, part rational inquiry, and with little experience flew half way round the world solo in a fragile It is some time since we showed a this is an event not to be missed! little biplane. Hear her story and the film, and, on the 27th May, we have Despite several attempts on my part, story of her flying machines. Roy 'Growth Busters: Hooked on Growth'. we haven't yet managed any 'Brexit' then unravels the mystery of her This documentary examines one of events, but on 24th June we welcome disappearance. Roy was a Naval the most important issues of our Dr Ipek Demir, Associate Professor in Officer, Fleet Air Arm pilot and air time, the beliefs and behaviours Sociology at the University of director of many great national preventing our civilisation from Leicester. She will critically examine memorial events. becoming a sustainable one. It asks the argument that the 'left behind' Please pay why population conversations are so brought about Brexit, despite the Finally, on the 15th, to round off the your annual difficult to have and why a roaring typical Brexiteer being middle class, programme, a social event – food, Subs economy is more important to us and will consider the role of race, drink and entertainment from than a survivable planet. culture, class and loss of privilege in members – an opportunity to Dear Member, If you have not yet paid your subs Brexit debates. socialise with fellow members and June begins with a joint event on 3rd yet, please pay now and save our supporters. We then take a break for with the Cuba Solidarity Campaign, We are always pleased when we are Treasurer from having to chase you. the summer before returning at the 'US-Cuba relations – back to the future able to include talks by members in The subs for 2018 are being frozen at beginning of September. with Donald Trump', a lecture by the programme and on July 1st, the same level as 2017. They are: Individuals £21, Low income £7 Arnold August. Arnold will update David Bell will speak on 'Reds, Rebels I feel I should say that the first programme I organised was almost Household (multiple members) £28 us on the current situation in Cuba, and Radicals of the East Midlands'. Please send your cheques, made entirely my own, my ideas, my speaking about USA-Cuba relations David has been writing books for the payable to Leicester Secular Society, under Trump plus the recent election last 29 years, including the story of friends, acquaintances and relatives! to: results following the retirement of the Dirty thirty, heroes of the miners' I couldn't have kept that up, so I am John Catt, 32 Bramcote Road Raul Castro. This is part of a UK strike. On this occasion he will be very happy to say that this time it has Loughborough LE11 2 SA wide speaking tour and a rare taking a look at some of the been as I think it should be – only one If you use internet banking, you can of my ideas, one volunteer and the credit the Society’s bank account as opportunity to hear from this courageous men and women of follows renowned Canadian author, who is Leicestershire, Derbyshire and rest suggestions by other people. So, ACCOUNT NO 20195380 an expert on the electoral system in Nottinghamshire who took on the thank you Gush, Lynn, Harry, SORT CODE 60-83-01 Cuba. establishment. Michael, Mo, Eleanor, Anne, Frank, Please confirm such transfers with an Matt, Ambrose, David and Andy! email to: [email protected] 10th June brings Jonathan Davies On July 8th, a rather different talk Keep the ideas coming – the quality of John Catt (Membership Sec/Treasurer) speaking on 'Worlds of Austerity: from Roy Smart entitled 'Amy the programme depends on you! International lessons on governance and Johnson, 'Queen of the Air'. Amy, a Leicester Secularist 5 Leicester Secularist 15
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9 Govt climb down over 100% selective religous schools, but plans
Secular Society Contacts Memorial to those who died fighting Fascism All can be reached by post via the Hall address
President: Mo Abbas [email protected] Chairperson: Gillian Lighton [email protected] Membership Secretary/Treasurer John Catt Tel: 01509 211468 [email protected] Company Secretary: Pete Stone [email protected] Hall bookings/maintenance Mike Burden Tel: 07722 782727 [email protected] Secularist Editor: Ned Newitt [email protected] Above: Marlene Sidaway, president Library and archives of the International Brigade Gillian Lighton Memorial trusty unveils the new [email protected] plaque in the Market Place. Right: the Keyholders: plaque Mike Burden and Gillian Lighton On Good Friday a plaque was Audio-visual kit unveiled in Leicester’s Market place Normally held by Mike Burden to honour three young men who Events Coordinator: Gillian Lighton were killed fighting fascism in the Leicester Secular Society Spanish Civil War. Their names are Registered Office: Roy Watts, Fred Sykes and Jack Please pay Secular Hall, 75 Humberstone Gate, Watson. They were killed trying to your annual Leicester LE1 1WB stop Franco’s attempt to topple the Cavalls) This is a mountainous area Subs Email: democratically elected Republican of Catalonia which was the scene of [email protected] Dear Member, Government. bloody battles during the Battle of the Website: Ebro. This was the International If you have not yet paid your subs www.leicestersecularsociety.org.uk Fred Sykes was a local Communist yet, please pay now and save our Brigades’ last action and they were Leicester Secular Society is a company activist who lived in Dryden Street. Treasurer from having to chase you. withdrawn midway through the limited by guarantee Reg. No 06292639 In the early 1930s, he was active in The subs for 2018 are being frozen at battle. In nearby Serra de Pàndols the unemployed and anti-fascist the same level as 2017. They are: stands a monument to those who Individuals £21, Low income £7 Disclaimer, Code of Conduct and Copyright movements and volunteered to fight died in the battle on Hill 705. Household (multiple members) £28 The Leicester Secularist is a not-for-profit with the International Brigade. He Please send your cheques, made undertaking of Leicester Secular Society. left Leicester with Jack Watson. Fred In Leicester, the permanent memorial payable to Leicester Secular Society, Please note that the views and proposals can be found in front of the Corn to: expressed in this journal are not necessarily was killed in the battle of Jamara in those of the Editor or the Board of the Society, February 1937, just months after his Exchange - a short distance from John Catt, 32 Bramcote Road and the Editor, the Society and its officers arrival. Jack, aged 32, was a shoe where Fred Sykes was once arrested Loughborough LE11 2 SA accept no liability for views expressed. As the If you use internet banking, you can repairer and one time chauffeur of whilst speaking in the Market Place. journal of a Freethought organisation any credit the Society’s bank account as The Red Leicester Choir performed at member’s views may be published subject to Gopsall Street. He was killed in follows the usual constraints of avoiding libel, December 1937 on the Pozoblanco the ceremony to unveil the memorial, ACCOUNT NO 20195380 occasional editing to fit the space available and front. and Chris Willars, President of the SORT CODE 60-83-01 intrinsic merit. Leicester and District Trades Council, Please confirm such transfers with an The contents may be reproduced at will unless 24 year old Roy Watts was a member told the crowd: “Their fight was just email to: [email protected] the item is accompanied by a copyright symbol. of the Secular Society who worked as and courageous and it is right we John Catt (Membership Sec/Treasurer) An acknowledgement of the source (for a Co-op salesman. He was killed in original material) would be appreciated - with a remember them.” link to the Society website. the Sierra de Caballs. (Serra de Leicester Secularist 5 16 Leicester Secularist
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