Should they get state support? Absolutely. Remove the religions and their pious idiocy that mars many a visit to a nice cathedral with calls to prayer which everyone's somehow obliged to respect. Here's a piece I did based around a field-recording I made in York Minster - they were turning the organ when the call to prayer came...

York : Prayer & Pilgrimage (aka Cursed Deference) 20th & 23rd December 2013

In Durham Cathedral, you're not even allowed to take photographs. A lot of cathedrals will charge £5 - £10 for a permit , York covers it in the entry free - valid for year if you gift aid it, whereas Norwich is free these days with voluntary donations, which I'm only too happy to give. I once had an unpleasant run-in with a cathedral usher in Bristol who told me I had to stop akin pictures because the service had started. 'But there's no one here!' I protested, which there wasn't apart from a small gathering in the quire. He demanded respect, but I heartily apologised and told told him I couldn't oblige.   

*

Don't forget, the term 'Gypsy' is a misinterpretation - a claim that they originally came from Egypt ,and were a lost tribe of the Jews who fled Pharaoh's wrath.

Seems this teacher took this legend a little too literally - thought that by teaching them about Ancient Egypt she was enriching their heritage.