Sharing/conflict resolution at nursery school?

balletshoes

notanewuser wrote: »

But doing so will separate her from her new friends repeatedly through the day. At 3 years old.

yes it will - so the ball is in your court. If you want your child to attend that school, you either authorise your child being out of the class at prayer times, or you authorise her to be in class but not have to take part in the prayers. I don't really see what else you can do, if thats the school you believe is the best one for your child?

FWIW I don't really get why we have schools affiliated to certain churches and religions, my daughter's schools have all been non-denominational, no prayers of any kind as a regular occurrence at school, and in her secondary school they don't insist on RE at GCSE. But it seems in certain areas of the country, you don't really have a choice (for example my niece has gone up through church-affiliated schools all her school life, none of her family is religious and she treats the prayers and religious assemblies as just another kind of lesson).

notanewuser

balletshoes wrote: »

or you authorise her to be in class but not have to take part in the prayers.

They're not giving this as an option.

sarahevie

I was going to reply, but felt it would be ripped to shreds, so I'll wish you well.

Your threads always come across like you believe everybody else is stupid and 'your way is the correct way'.

Perhaps homeschooling is the way forward as nobody else will ever be good enough.

balletshoes

notanewuser wrote: »

They're not giving this as an option.

sorry i didn't read this thread all the way through, just the last couple of pages - have you asked the school if they can sanction your daughter being in class during prayers, and not having to recite them?

Mojisola

Nicki wrote: »

You can't dictate the curriculum for the whole school based on not wanting your child to do something! All you can do is ask for her not to do it if it is important to you.

Why should someone who believes in just one of the faiths from around the world dictate that prayers from that faith are part of the curriculum?

notanewuser

sarahevie wrote: »

I was going to reply, but felt it would be ripped to shreds, so I'll wish you well.

Your threads always come across like you believe everybody else is stupid and 'your way is the correct way'.

Perhaps homeschooling is the way forward as nobody else will ever be good enough.

If you've something to say, please do. I'm very openminded and ready for anyone to bring their view to the table.

Yes, DH and I both feel strongly about this issue. It's not something we'd considered until confronted with it earlier this week. I've had days to think about it, and it still boils my blood. Mainly because nobody can give me even 1 semi-straight reason for it.

The facts are as follows:

• The school are going above and beyond the existing legislation in this area by having prayers through the day and not just during the daily assemblies.
• They are going above and beyond all legislation by applying it to the nursery and reception children who have not yet reached 5 years old.
• They are unable to tell me what the alternative arrangements would be beyond "she would be taken elsewhere"
• Nobody has been able to answer the questions 'why?" and "what for?"
• The nursery teacher's response regarding "people of morals" is unprofessional and unacceptable.

If something isn't right (and others on here have confirmed so I'm not alone) I will attempt to do something about it.

notanewuser

balletshoes wrote: »

sorry i didn't read this thread all the way through, just the last couple of pages - have you asked the school if they can sanction your daughter being in class during prayers, and not having to recite them?

Not yet. It was a bit of a shock and we needed to get back home (was an evening meeting). Been trying to hash out alternatives and that would be a good one. Not sure whether I can trust the nursery teacher/head to not pester DD to take part yet though!

notanewuser

balletshoes wrote: »

FWIW I don't really get why we have schools affiliated to certain churches and religions, my daughter's schools have all been non-denominational, no prayers of any kind as a regular occurrence at school, and in her secondary school they don't insist on RE at GCSE. But it seems in certain areas of the country, you don't really have a choice (for example my niece has gone up through church-affiliated schools all her school life, none of her family is religious and she treats the prayers and religious assemblies as just another kind of lesson).

Aren't you in Scotland? If so, that's why. Their approach to religion as part of daily school life is much more palatable!

balletshoes

notanewuser wrote: »

Aren't you in Scotland? If so, that's why. Their approach to religion as part of daily school life is much more palatable!

no - I'm in the East Midlands.

I was brought up in Scotland, and educated there - my primary school was a church-affiliated one (which to be honest, didn't seem weird to me as a child because we went to church and Sunday school too).

Mojisola

Nicki wrote: »

Could a fundamental evangelical insist that the school refuse to cover homosexuality in the sex ed classes because they don't want their child to hear about this, or to be made to look different by being taken out of classes? Your stance is no different.

In this context, why bring up an issue about sex?

If a fundamental evangelical wanted the whole school to have an hour of bible study every morning and wanted to make the girls all dress "modestly", the school wouldn't accept that, so why should children from no or other faiths have to conform with vague "Christian" ethos and practices?

"Christianity" hasn't ever been just one faith and there's now a wide spectrum of beliefs and sects who all claim to have the one true message about Jesus so the school is choosing to only honour one Christian sect's prayers.