THE EDITOR, Sir:

I am an avid and regular listener to Love 101 FM's programme 'The Morning Watch'. Dr Clinton Chisholm's discussions and guests, more often than not, give me a lot of food for thought on my morning drive. Last Friday's discussion on the arguments for mandatory religious education in schools was most interesting.

One guest put forward the point that, as most of Jamaica's educational foundations were developed by churches, Christianity should have a place in the classroom. It is, as I understand his point, the foundation of Jamaican society.

I really hope religious education does not mean that students will be given actual religious instruction in school. In my mind, that is the domain of the family and religious organisations.

The lines become blurred in Jamaica where, to repeat, so many schools were started and grown by socially active churches. Their good works were fundamental in moving Jamaica through Emanci-pation to a society of free and educated people.

In delivering religious education content, I expect teachers to be disciplined enough to withhold their personal opinions when presenting or discussing non-Christian world views. A religious education class in school should not be the forum for evangelism or proselytisation.

So, if the objective is to give students a balanced awareness of the diversity of thought on the big questions of life, proceed. We all need to learn and respect others' right to believe as they will.

MARLON JOHNSON

mhj007@gmail.com