I WAS delighted to read that Exeter's St Leonard's Church of England Primary School is doing so well, but disturbed to read that "strong Christian leadership ensures that distinctive Christian values are applied to all strategic decisions..." Echo, March 11.

I hope that this is not coded language for indoctrination of the young as that would be wrong.

It need hardly be said that we live in a secular society, and the values we wish to pass on to our kids are humanistic and caring rather than doctrinal.

I know of schools where children are subjected to quite manipulative methods, based on fear, to make them believers.

Religious faith is a matter of choice and should not be taught as if it is proven fact — which it isn't.

Values of morality can be taught to children without the associated dogmas of religion, though I accept that a C of E school is bound to sell its wares.

I can do no better than quote the Scottish philosopher David Hume (1711-76) who said, among many other memorable things: "If we take in our hand any volume, of divinity or school metaphysic, for instance, let us ask, does it contain any experimental reasoning concerning matter of fact and existence? No. Commit it then to the flames: for it can contain nothing but sophistry and illusion."

Raymond Berger

Thornton Hill, Exeter