Religion in schools?

brians_daughter

Spendless wrote: »

We've just returned from watching him at a mini concert and at the end we were asked to pray to say thanks to God for the music. I am really surprised at that in a non-faith school, more so than celebrating religious festivals. I come from a 'surprised' angle rather than an 'annoyed' one.

Now that does come as a suprise! Infact, i am very suprised, i have never heard of that in a community school - esp in that setting. Oh well, you live and learn- for me anyway, that was quite enlightening. I am actually just about to write a paper on faith school so find this topic of great interest

Indie_Kid

noapron wrote: »

I think religion should be an entirely private matter and thus religious schools be private and no religion taught in state school.

I have no problem with being taught religion - it's having it forced upon me that's the problem.

skintandsad

My daughters school is not religious, but obviously they do have religious education, which teaches about all religions, but more so Christianity, and we have many a lively conversation about the bibles teachings (I am not religious, but encourage her to believe what makes sense to her).

She is currently at the age where PHSE (personal health and sex education) is being taught, and I have talked to her about making babies, personal privacy, and all sorts of things.

She came home from school the other day, as they had been talking about Adam and Eve starting the creation of life.

She had apparently asked the following questions of her RE teacher:

1) if Adam & Eve were the first people on earth, how did we all get to be different colours
2) did Adam and Eve's children have to have babies with each other then? surely thats not allowed!!!

After I picked myself up off the floor :rotfl: I questioned how her teacher had reacted. Apparently she said that the bible was only a guide, and open to interpretation.

My daughter has now chosen to believe the theory of human evolution, as it makes more sense to her.

mummy_Jay

When my DS (5) came home talking about god. Personally I used it as an excuse to talk him through all the historic side of it and about how Queen Elizabeth I created to the church of england to stop different reglions in this country at the time from bullying each other and about the witch trials, that were perpetrated in the name of christianity, to allow him to have to look at it objectively.
I have no problem with them teaching christianity in schools, as strange as it may come across the way I look at it is, as our queen is the head of a church it makes sense to me that her religon is taught in our schools.
I would never stop my DS being taught these things but I do know that if they force it down his throat like me he will turn away from it eventually.

itsallinthemind

mummy_Jay wrote: »

Queen Elizabeth I created to the church of england to stop different reglions in this country at the time from bullying each other and about the witch trials, that were perpetrated in the name of christianity, to allow him to have to look at it objectively

She did not create the Church of England. She re-established it's independance from Rome with the 'Act of Supremacy of 1559' in what is known as the revolution of 1559 or the Elizabethan Religious Settlement. If she created it, how did her Father, Henry VIII become recognised as head of the Church of England in 1531?

mummy_Jay

itsallinthemind wrote: »

She did not create the Church of England. She re-established it's independance from Rome with the 'Act of Supremacy of 1559' in what is known as the revolution of 1559 or the Elizabethan Religious Settlement. If she created it, how did her Father, Henry VIII become recognised as head of the Church of England in 1531?

Fair enough.

I suppose I always think of it as Liz, due to all the regilous craziness before she came into power but I still thinks its a good talking point with a 5 year old and I can't wait for the day it's him thats telling me I got it wrong.:T

itsallinthemind

mummy_Jay wrote: »

Fair enough.

I suppose I always think of it as Liz, due to all the regilous craziness before she came into power but I still thinks its a good talking point with a 5 year old and I can't wait for the day it's him thats telling me I got it wrong.:T

Yuk, just re-read my post and it sounds a bit - oh I do not know,but not as I meant it! Sorry!

Techincally their history could be traced very far back, but it was re-established 3 times by Henry, Mary then Elizabeth during just a few years. However, you would be very correct in saying that she was responsible for re-establishing the Church of England we know today, it could be very different, if not for her actions!:)

Appologies if my post came across wrong, I was posting whilst distracted :D

isitenough

Interesting thread.
My kids went/go to a normal primary school (dd has one more year to go) and they aren't even allowed to pray normally in the assembly. It's called being thankful!

I'm not a religious person but I know the lords prayer etc.. from my childhood and school. My kids only know it because we told them. Not useful in everyday life but going to a wedding or funeral they'll at least know it. I agree with teaching about all religions but surely Christianity should come first? And not forcing opinions on children?

eamon

The phrase "making mountains out of molehills" springs to mind. I would suggest that most of the arguments start from a lack of choice. This is based in the history of education in England (I have not researched Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland). Most primary education originated from the C of E and they have been stout defenders of their position. It is hardly surprising then that a Christian ethos will flow throughout these establishments. I would imagine then that other faith based establishments would have a similar flavour.
If parents have different ideals then their options are limited and even if they elect to opt their children out of the overtly religious parts of school life it must be impossible to erect an ideas barricade.

sueeve

The law for a non church school is that there must be an act of worship every day, of a predominately Christian nature, but non denominational. Frequetly this becomes a celebration of community as much as anything else. Visitors may be invited to lead but it would not normally be the same person week after week. If the visitor is not properly briefed s/he may not understand the normal parameters for this. However, as this is by invitation, a person whose input is inappropriate would hopefully not be invited again. It would be worthwhile discussing concerns with the head, but as the content sounds to have been broadly Christian I don't think there would be grounds for formal objection. It may even have been that on the occasion you mention the head was not happy either. In documentation the gathering is called 'worship' rather than 'assembly', so it is not a time for the objective teaching which should be the aim of the RS lesson.

For these lessons the syllabus is set by a committee at County level, called the SACRE, which will have representatives of the main Christian denominations in an area, also those other faiths found locally, also from the Board of Education, County Council and so on. I used to be on a SACRE which was chaired by a Jewish man, with Muslim, Sikh, and Hindu members as well as Christian and agnostic.

It is possible towithdraw your child from this. However it tends to be those from small sects who do this, and I think your child mind feel isolated if this action were taken. As he gets older he will be encouraged to discuss different points of view at school, as you are clearly willing to do at home. Good luck