Madam, - Conor Buckley (December 22nd) grossly misrepresents France's attitude to religious expression. He depicts France's current secularism as akin to fascism and prophesies that President Chirac's stance on the wearing of headscarves will lead to a religious pogrom, another Kristallnacht: "Can anyone else hear the sound of breaking glass?" This is disingenuous and a slur on France's proud democracy.
What secularists in France and elsewhere believe is that a child who enters school at the age of four should not have her development of thought stifled by religious dogma. As we well know in this country, religion can restrict the intellect and freedom of expression. France refuses to accept that a child consciously chooses to cover up her hair in school because she has reached a level of independent thinking that tells her that this is immodest.
This decision can be made in adulthood but France would be guilty of hypocrisy as a republic if it consented to allow in the classroom the rule that girls should cover their hair and not boys. Why should they permit a sexist concept to prevail in the state's schools? Furthermore, if France was to concede this fundamental tenet of republican ideology, should it also give up controversial course material if it is judged to be offensive to religious scruples?
The French state has been consistently determined to guard against religious interference in its education system. It strives to uphold the principles of equality between the sexes and independence of thought. - Yours etc.,
EDWARD BURKE,
Rosscarbery,
Co Cork.