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UK: Local guide interviews project leader of proposed Maharishi Free School in London
by Global Good News staff writer

Global Good News    Translate This Article
22 February 2012

A double-page spread focusing on the proposed new Maharishi Free School in the Richmond borough of London, UK appeared recently in a local guide which goes to all the parents and all the households in the area.

The Richmond school is one of two new Maharishi Free Schools being proposed in the UK, based on the longstanding success of the original Maharishi School in Skelmersdale, West Lancashire. That school was among the first 24 Free Schools authorized by the British government to open last September.

This weekend marks the deadline for submitting the very comprehensive application to the Department for Education for the next round of Free School approvals; the new schools would open in September 2013.

The Richmond Maharishi Free School and its Consciousness-Based Education programme have received a high level of interest and support from local parents, with available places for pupils greatly oversubscribed—as of a few days ago, 493 families representing 767 students had registered Maharishi Free School as their first choice school.

The guide interviewed school project leader Richard Scott and included quotes from a recent Ofsted (official government inspectors) report about Maharishi School in Skelmersdale, such as:

'Provides an outstanding quality of education for all its pupils.'

'They focus closely on the development of the whole person.'

'The pupils are eager to enjoy learning.'

Perhaps most interesting was the interview with Richard Scott, which asked a series of probing questions which the editors felt would be important to local parents.

The first question was, 'How does the Maharishi School differ from a faith school?'

Mr Scott explained:

'You can learn and practice Transcendental Meditation whether you believe it or not. It's a completely non-faith, non-belief oriented technique. At the existing Maharishi School, we have Sikh, Muslim, Hindu, and Christian children, as well as children from agnostic and non-faith backgrounds. In every case it makes no difference. Each child benefits to the same degree.'

The interviewer then asked, 'Will the Maharishi School be teaching other faiths?'

'As a state-maintained school, by law we have to provide religious education on the curriculum and that has to be ''mainly Christian in nature'',' Mr Scott said.

'We will look at every one of the major religions and give children an understanding of their belief systems, values, and philosophies. In addition, we also plan to invite representatives from each of the main religions and have them do a presentation to the children so they can see firsthand what these religions are about.'

Lastly, the interviewer asked, 'If a parent was considering sending their child to the Maharishi School but wasn't yet totally convinced, what would you say to them?'

Come to a presentation, call, or visit the school's website, Mr Scott said. Learn more about the Maharishi School.

'If there is one common trait among the parents of our pupils, it is that they tend to be better informed about their child's education. The more you know about the Maharishi School, the more likely you are to send your child there.'

© Copyright 2012 Global Good News®

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