Pupils Must Learn the Bible, Says Poet

[23.02.09]

Poet Laureate Andrew Motion has argued that every child should be taught the Bible at school if they are to fully understand British culture and literature. Although an atheist himself, Motion has called for an overhaul of the school curriculum to reverse the "depressing" trend threatening to leave children unable to grasp Milton, Shakespeare or even T S Eliot.

He insisted that parents who do not believe in God should have nothing to fear from their children learning about the Bible. He stated: "If people say this is about ramming religion down people's throats, they aren't thinking about it hard enough. It is more about the power of these words to connect with deep, recurring human truths... it is an essential piece of cultural luggage."

James Robson 23/02/09