As a principal teacher of many years' experience and an ex-minister in the Church of Scotland, I disagree utterly with Andrea Steele and her views on the veto over jobs issue. Once again, we have separate issues being lumped together and considered as a whole. The different slant to religion found in non-denominational schools, it seems, is inferior by inference. This seems to be because it takes account of all religions; surely this is not bad but to be commended. If members of the Roman Catholic faith wish to recognise important parts of their religious calendar with the appropriate leader of that faith, it should be possible to accommodate this within any school. This could also include the celebration of such days as the Buddhist Wesak festival; there are not so many as to make this impossible.

Religious education is another matter and is separate from worship of a particular denomination. Religious, moral and philosophical education is recognised to be an academic study on a par with all other subjects and examined on a par with all other subjects. It is not about indoctrination and requires a teacher capable of separating their own views and opinions from such academic study. It may well be the case that such a study makes worship more meaningful, but that would be a consequence of a study that has challenged pupils to question their own moral and religious stances. I know many RMPS teachers of many faiths and none who day in and day out achieve just this with their pupils and enable them to enter society with an understanding of other faiths and cultures.

The time has come for us to treat all people equally in all respects, and this includes all within the teaching profession. The place for faith leaders is conducting worship for members of their community, not saying who should be involved in the teaching within schools.

Rev T R Taylor JP, 79 Struan Place, Inverkeithing.