REGARDING the debate on faith schools, I often wonder why we continue to live in segregated societies -- whites on one side of Blackburn, ethnic minorities on the other. Schools often reflect the same.

Then I read (LET, February 6) that a consensus for the creation of the first local education authority Muslim girls' school does not actually exist. Many important comments had been left out of the council's consultation report, leaving backbench councillors disgruntled.

Just how mad has political correctness gone when it is reported that some people felt they could not speak their mind at consultation meetings for fear of being branded racist? Is nobody in society actually prepared to have an honest, open debate about controversial issues any more -- or is this a reflection of race relations in our community?

My main concern is the arguments for such a provision. The fear for many Muslim parents is that mainstream education is failing their children in terms of identity, moral guidance and academic achievement. This argument could be also extended to many other children regardless of religion.

Muslim parents also claim that if they do want faith-based, single-sex education, they have to pay for it.

The school in question boasts of 75 per cent achieving grades A*-C, in GCSE examinations -- very impressive -- but so are the results from most other private schools.

The fact is, if any parent wants such a high standard of education for their children, they also have to pay for it.

We all want the best education for our children. It would also be nice if they were polite and courteous all the time, morally and socially aware -- but in real life that does not always happen. But to place the blame on mainstream education is inadequate.

These very values -- religion and morality -- firstly need to be in place in the home before the education system can develop them.

As a parent, your attitude towards your child's education will more than likely determine exactly how much your child's education will more than likely determine exactly how much your child receives from education. It is simply not a case of sending children off to school at age four and expecting some 12 years later an educated, moral, social-aware young adult.

The current education system can succeed, but only when schools, parents and children are working together to achieve the same targets.

In a time of increased tensions, is further segregation really the answer? We have at our hands probably the largest facilitator of social cohesion and harmony. Why don't we use it to integrate and educate our children and get rid of the many misconceptions that have already segregated communities?

SARAH LITHERLAND, Hertford Street, Blackburn.