Atheist sending kids to a church school?

indebtinsussex

Beastface wrote: »

If religious texts are presented as 'some people believe this but there is scientific evidence which proves it not to be true' then crack on.

However, having any religious concept presented as fact will be damaging to a child's education. How can you grow up having a balanced view on the world having been failed at the most fundamental level on the nature of our universe and how our planet came to be.

although my sons school is c of e, they're taught evolution. I assumed most schools were taught evolution, its what I was taught at my primary school.

although we're practising christians, ds is told that evolution is the way the planet was created, and that the story in genesis is a very old story from years ago to explain to people how the world was created when they didnt have the technology to help them understand.

MX5huggy

Alinwales, you are focusing on the wrong issue. (I jest slightly).

Have you considered the Welsh education option? In my county there are 8 secondary schools only 1 got a score a 1 (on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being best) all the others get 3 or 4. The good school is the welsh school. The only way for my little man to have an option of going is to go to welsh primary now. In 8 years time the secondaries may have changed but I am keeping the options open. If he does not cope with the welsh the primary he is at has English stream as well.

I know the scores of 1 to 5, are over simplistic but the OFSTED reports back them up and as I say it can all change.

Mrs_Arcanum

Bad schools can get turned around by a good & able Governing body.

Sadly too many people see this as someone else's role, so schools struggle to improve.

Hermia

indebtinsussex wrote: »

although my sons school is c of e, they're taught evolution. I assumed most schools were taught evolution, its what I was taught at my primary school.

although we're practising christians, ds is told that evolution is the way the planet was created, and that the story in genesis is a very old story from years ago to explain to people how the world was created when they didnt have the technology to help them understand.

Two of the schools near me seem to be heavily influenced by what is happening in American schools. I have no idea if this is known by the local authority or not. They try and stay away from teaching kids about dinosaurs because that would contradict their teachings about the age of the earth.

alinwales

I do think it makes an interesting debate. Los of viewpoints and I appreciate the input.
Obviously I wouldn't send a child to a church school without giving them the support while there.

as for..

MX5huggy wrote: »

Have you considered the Welsh education option? In my county there are 8 secondary schools only 1 got a score a 1 (on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being best) all the others get 3 or 4. The good school is the welsh school. The only way for my little man to have an option of going is to go to welsh primary now. In 8 years time the secondaries may have changed but I am keeping the options open. If he does not cope with the welsh the primary he is at has English stream as well. .

We live across the playing fields from the local 2nd. They may have even rebuilt it before the kids start there. We currently have no intention of bussing them off somewhere else at this stage. And no, it's not a welsh school. Though the missus is learning welsh, as even the non welsh schools have to do a bit! (personally i'd rather they get taught about God et al. than learn to speak welsh, but don't get me started!)

steve-L

Gloomendoom wrote: »

How does being given a Bible, qur'an or scientology text stop them getting a good education? I would have thought the opposite was true.

IMHO All children should be able to access good education, irrespective of their parents' beliefs, or lack of them.

I'm in a very similar position to the OP (albeit in Surrey).....
and I AM an atheist.... but not militant.

I think the thing any believers (with some exceptions) fail to see is how a book is treated as fact and referred to as fact.

From an atheist perspective it appears as a truly circular argument that it's true because its in <insert holy book>.
The only way I can explain this is big three monotheist views are taught on an understanding that there is a 'God' only one God and what is being taught assumes this is the case.

When 'we' write about Vikings we talk about their beliefs and rituals as if they are NOT fact.... but when we talk about Jesus it is talked about as if he really did cure lepers, walk on water and rise from the dead not 'this is what Christians believe'.

Teachers are especially influential in children's development.... in some areas more than a parent. My child is welcome to develop their own beliefs but I'd like that to be equal. Not have a bias just because they grew up in a specific country.

Equally, I'd like him to have a proper education and many Church schools do provide that.


I personally went to a C of E school...... and this itself caused me problems at the time. I find it hard to reconcile my child being taught something I believe wholeheartedly is false as an absolute truth. I got in a lot of trouble at school for stating my views rather than act a hypocrite simply writing Christians believe before my answer rather than answer as fact.

I got dragged to the Cathedral.... and morning assembly non of which I think did any harm but I do feel like being taught 'the Bible' as fact is something that leaves a very deep scar.

My school at least taught evolution as FACT..... and I think I may end up sending my child to a Church school out of desperation.

Quite separately
the whole OFSTED rating thing also seems like a religion to me......
It seems a lot like there is an OFSTED belief system in how children are taught .... and unless the school believes the same thing they get marked poorly. At reception how else can you judge?

This all seems a bit contradictory as surely all children are individuals and there is no singe best way to teach them all?

(I attended an open day yesterday to be shown round by a couple of ... perhaps 9-10 year olds???)
Much as I think their independence was a great advert ....they obviously couldn't answer any questions a potential parent to a reception would want to ask.......

onlyroz

indebtinsussex wrote: »

There is also a very good non religious school in the same catchment area which they could have sent their child to, but wasnt convenient to the mum for her gym sessions.

Unfortunately, in this country there is no such thing as a non-religious school.

MX5huggy

alinwales wrote: »

Though the missus is learning welsh, as even the non welsh schools have to do a bit! (personally i'd rather they get taught about God et al. than learn to speak welsh, but don't get me started!)

Go on do start......... Whats your thinking? Any 2 languages from early on seems to be generally a good idea. I wasted 5 years plugging away at French in secondary school to get an F, (abc's in everything else), because I started too late (11).

JimmyTheWig

MX5huggy wrote: »

Go on do start......... Whats your thinking? Any 2 languages from early on seems to be generally a good idea. I wasted 5 years plugging away at French in secondary school to get an F, (abc's in everything else), because I started too late (11).

You could argue, however, that that's a reason to teach French, Spanish or Mandarin at primary age. Would seem to most people to be more useful than learning to speak Welsh.

Aimless

I went to a catholic primary, despite my parents not being believers, mass and confession within school time and everything. They were happy to have us and knew we weren't catholic, we just sat at the back at communion time, and could pop along for a chat with the priest instead of confession (I did to get out of lessons for a bit!).

I got quite interested in it at the time, my parents just left me to it, and I grew out of it.