LONDON - Jewish leaders in London say it's increasingly difficult to operate a school that is faithful to the ways of God.
A private Jewish girls' school which teaches children aged 3 to 8 has failed three Ofsted inspections because it does not teach pupils about homosexuality or gender reassignment. Vishnitz Girls School, an Orthodox school in Hackney, north London, failed its third inspection last month after inspectors found that it does not give its 212 pupils "a full understanding of fundamental British values."
The inspection, the third made less than a year, found that pupils "are not taught explicitly about issues such as sexual orientation." "This restricts pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and does not promote equality of opportunity in ways that take account of differing lifestyles."
According to Schools Week, Vishnitz was not the only religious private school to fall short of the Ofsted checklist standards. Three schools have seen their Ofsted grades drop due to “lack of progress for pupils.” Bnos Zion of Bobov, also in Hackney, failed the Ofsted inspection because the school made “no reference to protected characteristics for sexual orientation and gender reassignment.”
According to British regulations, private schools that do not meet the Ofsted standards will have their school taken off the independent school registrar, which means that it will be a criminal offense for them to stay open.
Gill Robbins of Christians in Education, a pro-religious campaign group, wrote that despite school having a stellar reputation, a well rounded staff, and enthusiastic students, the Ofsted test proves that British laws for schools are “hierarchical,” with homosexuality and the transgenderism at the top, and religious belief taking a back seat.
Finally, Ofsted has revealed its true agenda. It doesn’t matter how good your school is in all other respects –simply refusing to teach very young children about gender reassignment will lead to your closure. That is the possible outcome for not only this school, but other Jewish schools which refuse, as a matter of faith, to teach about LGBT issues. All the indications are that the Orthodox community is prepared to stand its ground.
The argument used to justify such sanction is that these are protected characteristics. So is religious belief, but it’s now been made crystal clear by Ofsted that the Equality Act is actually hierarchical, with sexual orientation and gender reassignment at the apex of the Act. All equalities are equal, but some equalities are more equal than others.
Take a good look, friends and get ready for the question that is coming to an Adventist School near you. "Are you teaching your students about sexual orientation and gender reassignment."
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"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:1-4).