Child let off school for Pagan festival
Child let off school for Pagan festival:
A primary school allowed a mother to take her child out of lessons to attend a summer festival because the family say they are pagans. Newington Green Primary, in the north London borough of Islington, gave permission for the three-day absence last June after the mother of the six-year-old argued that the child should be allowed to attend the celebrations because of her faith. Paganism, which is based on the belief that there is divinity within all living things, is not generally recognised as an official religion. The family visited the solstice festival that is held each year in Avebury, Wiltshire, near Stonehenge.
"When she asked originally, the school turned her down," a source said. "Then she said she was a pagan and it was a religious festival, and they said OK, because they give other children time off for religious holidays." Jennifer Slocombe, a learning mentor at the school, confirmed that the parent's request had been granted, but said that since the incident there had been a clampdown on absences.