‘Exclusive’ Brethren

This paper had its origin in discussions with a group of Exclusive pupils and their parents in the comprehensive school at which my wife, Jean Bigger, was Deputy Head. This was the time when the National Curriculum was being developed, and guidance documentation was appearing thick and fast. The Exclusive parents were suddenly presented with a problem. I had some vague inkling of what this problem entailed from my own upbringing (which had been very negative to Exclusives) but set up some interviews in two Exclusive communities, Oxford and Swindon. The word 'community' is a pertinent one: because of teachings outlined below, Exclusives need to live and work closely together: their rules do not allow association with others, even for eating, so young Exclusives tend to be employed by Exclusive firms. There are several such firms in Oxford, and one in my own village in Swindon. Marriages interlink these communities. The biblical requirement for women to cover their hair when praying is applied to all aspects of the day since the whole of life should be prayerful. So Exclusive girls and women wear a simple headscarf. Education up to 18 is encouraged and valued so long as the content is not corrupt (for example sexually explicit). The media, and expecially television, is regarded as potentially corrupting so parents ask for their children to be excused from lessons involving video (although to listen but not watch is considered acceptable). For teachers in schools today, these issues still apply. The greatest difficulty is with ICT in the curriculum, because this is compulsory and there is no possibility of withdrawal from lessons through parental veto

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