A Day in the Life of President Bush - England/Northern Ireland many many Photos and news) 06-16-08

www.yahoo.com/news www.whitehouse.gov/news ^ | 16th June 2008 | Snugs

[snugs]

Very true but the State and church is still very much wound into our fabric and workings of the state and various local and national organisations including government ones.

The Church of England is one of the wealthiest landlords in the country.

Though the majority do not go to church they of course want their children to have the best possible education which often means a school that is partly church funded and run. For example many of the Catholic schools are thought to be best especially the primary schools (5-11 year olds). Many non Catholics send their children to them and often opt out of the religious instruction part that is done by the Catholic church.

There was a row recently regarding a Church of England Primary school. Years ago children were allocated a state primary school nearest their home which in most cases would be affiliated to the local Parish Church. These means that funds from the church are available for the school, the children are often taught religious instruction by the vicar (you could opt out if you are non C of E though as some Catholics and JWs and some evangelicals who did not want their child taught some of the C of E doctrines alway have.)

Nowadays you are allowed more choice so if the better school is a couple of miles away you can choose to send your child there if there are places and you get your name down early enough. It can also work in reverse there was a women who lived next door to a primary school but she was told her son would have to go to school a couple miles away because they were non church family and as places were short for this school priority would be given to families who actually attended the church. At one time priority would have gone to who lived the nearest regardless if they attended church - probably because at one time the majority would have so it was a criteria that 80 - 100 years ago was irrelevant. A great row broke out and she was adamant that as a state school and because she lived next door she should get priority over someone who lived a mile away but attended the church.

I can see both sides of the argument, I think a compromise was reached in the end and a place was found for him but the vicar did want the child to at least attend Sunday school.

[snugs]

Another thing I forgot to add was at times of the year such as Easter, Christmas and Harvest a service is often held in the church organised for the school with the children taking part - again non C of E or other religions can opt out.

[maica]

How opposite of America where the word “God” is practically forbidden in publicly-funded schools.

Catholic schools in the US are strictly privately funded, but even so, many non-Catholic children attend, as parents want to avoid the low/no (moral and educational) standards of many public school systems.

[snugs]

It is a strange paradox as I would say the average man in the street in America if far more religious than in Britain yet still a lot of our structures involve the Church of England.

Here is the website of the senior school in Ashford that although is a church school is is also part of State education system though it does state that children with a Christian background will be given first preference but that only accounts for about 10 per cent of the school.

http://www.ashfordchristchurch.com/wb/pages/school-info.php

[snugs]

Photos from yesterday of Laura Bush in the British Museum and also the Charles Dickens Museum

[snugs]

first lady, Laura Bush, second left, talks to Jan Stuart, Keeper of Asia Department, left, as she tours the Oriental Gallery of the British Museum in London with the wife of British Prime Minister, Sarah Brown, centre, Monday, June 16, 2008

first lady, Laura Bush, right, tours the Oriental Gallery of the British Museum in London, Monday June 16, 2008, with Sarah Brown, the wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

first lady, Laura Bush reacts, as she is shown an artifact during a tour of the Oriental department of the British Museum in London, Monday, June 16, 2008

First lady Laura Bush (R) walks through an exhibition of Asian artifacts at the British Museum with Sarah Brown (C), wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and the wife of the U.S. ambassador Maria Tuttle (L) in London June 16, 2008.

[snugs]

First lady, Laura Bush, second left, is being shown some items from the museum by Director of the Charles Dickens Museum, Andrew Xavier, left, as the great-great-great granddaughter, Lucinda Dickens Hawksley, right, and Maria Tuttle, wife of U.S. Ambassador to UK look on, London, Monday, June 16, 2008

First lady, Laura Bush, centre, and Maria Tuttle, wife of U.S. Ambassador to UK are being shown item from the museum by Director of the Charles Dickens Museum, Andrew Xavier, left, London, Monday, June 16, 2008.

First lady Laura Bush views an exhibition at the Charles Dickens Museum in London June 16, 2008.

[Cinnamon Girl]

What a fun tour of Europe they have had. So many amazing things to see! I would love to visit that museum. Somebody from England has to tell me what are the best places to tour.

[snugs]

I would recommend the British Museum especially the Egyptian Rooms if you are into that they are very special.

They also everyday have a few artifacts under strict control which you can actually touch so you may get to hold something of several hundred or thousand years ago. The day I went last November there was a small item that we could hold from Iran which was about 4000 years old.

Here is a photo of me outside the British Museum last November

[Miss Marple]

I was in the British Museum in 1969. I would love to go back.

I remember seeing the Elgin Marbles, the Rosetta Stone, the Magna Carta, and some original manuscripts by famous authors.

[luvie]

I loved the British Museum when we visited.

My favorite thing? The Rosetta Stone.

[luvie]

Lookit you!!!!!

~~~waving~~~

Hi, Snugs!!! You look so cute!

The Egyptian Rooms were fascinating!

[Cinnamon Girl]

Thanks, snugs! Pretty neat.

[NordP]

Thanks for sharing your pic, snugs! It’s so nice to have our own personal tour guide ;-)