Sharing/conflict resolution at nursery school?

Nicki

notanewuser wrote: »

Erm, I didn't object! Presumably that was part of an RE lesson. I questioned the acting out, not the learning.

You're not great with detail, are you?!

Objected to being taught by acting out is what I said. When jane pig described what had happened you expressed consternation they had acted it out, even though using drama is a normal teaching method for all elements of the curriculum be it history ("fact") or literature ("fiction"). I think you'll find that what you don't like is that I do have a good memory for and grasp of the facts and hold you to the line you take in your posts!

notanewuser

Nicki wrote: »

Objected to being taught by acting out is what I said. When jane pig described what had happened you expressed consternation they had acted it out, even though using drama is a normal teaching method for all elements of the curriculum be it history ("fact") or literature ("fiction"). I think you'll find that what you don't like is that I do have a good memory for and grasp of the facts and hold you to the line you take in your posts!

I didn't object. I questioned whether it needed to be acted out.

lostinrates

*max* wrote: »

For what it's worth, I went to school in France, which is a secular state. State schools, therefore, do not have any religious element to them. We were taught about religionS (plural) in philosophy class in high school, and were of course free to believe in any (or none) of them.

I personally do not feel at any disadvantage whatsoever, socially or intellectually, because of this. I actually agree with the OP on this. I am all for a separation of state and church, as IMO religious beliefs have no place in school in particular. School should be about facts and theories, not beliefs taught as facts.

Theoretically I agree. Had it translated to a tolerant society with less of the religious based hatred friends and family have experienced in Paris primarily, I'd agree more than theoretically I think.

Incidentally and for clarity I am not confusing religion/ aetheism with tolerance or acceptance. I've witnessed rascism in London, Milan and other places with different religious / denominational and racial dominance.

Nicki

You are going to get on well at whatever school your child ends up if you question all their teaching techniques as well as the content of what they are teaching!

Certainly in my kids schools they cater for aural, visual and kinaesthetic learners in all areas of the curriculum and therefore just about every subject will involve a high degree of "acting it out" as well as talking about it, drawing it and writing it. Perhaps you really should think about home schooling if you can't relinquish this level of control over your child?

Arthien

Having read the thread, I would say (in the nicest possible way) that if you have already brought up this issue with the teacher and the head, you will already have been marked with the 'awkward mother' label you were hoping to avoid. This isn't a criticism, it's just stating the obvious.

Personally, I'm not convinced that it's fair on your daughter to make her seem so clearly different by having her removed from any prayers etc. As a previous poster mentioned, any child who does not participate with the rest (even though the words they're saying may well be meaningless to them if a Christian faith is not practised at home) they will be seen as different by their peers and treated as such.

On the one hand, I'm all for a school where all children can feel included, whether they are of Christian/other or no faith, but on the other, given that this is the status quo as it stands, it would be your conscious and personal decision to remove her from those prayer times and therefore make her an obvious 'outsider' in the school, particularly if they have already told you that no other pupil has ever been removed before.

On the plus side, I would imagine that their Christian teachings would at least tie in with your views on Father Christmas

esmerelda98

OP if you want to change the status quo, a situation which the majority support, actively or passively, or are apathetic towards, you need to come up with good arguments to do so and convince the powers that be. I think it was thorsoak who made the important point that this is a policy (or the interpretation of the policy) of a democratically elected government. So you can challenge it in the same way that challenges are usually made to government policy.

Despite your strong opinions, which you share extensively with us, your history on this forum is of a person who struggles to take action. Someone earlier mentioned Emmeline Pankhurst and significant changes in society. Well people who achieve such things don't do so by having a moan now and again on t'internet from the comfort of their chaise. They have to make some effort and often they have to fight. And so it should be if they want a situation that the majority are comfortable with to change.

quidsy

My DS was agog this past Christmas, when sitting down to eat he piped up"we have to say grace", but as none but one adult at the table of 12 beleived in jebus & god we all had a chuckle & I explained to my 6yo that no one except him & uncle believed in god. Once he picked his jaw off the floor he asked why & we all explained our reasons in nice child friendly terms. He then declared that he believed, was reassured that we had no objection to him & uncle saying their own grace & waitied whilst they did (thank you god for the food, thank you god for my family) & we all enjoyed the meal.

Over the last few months he has questioned us about god, jebus, heaven & what not & I always tell him the truth, I don't believe the story & neither does daddy, daddy belives in buddha but that mummy thins they are both silly. That I don't think god is real but if DS does that's fine but he has to accept that not everyone else has the same ideas about things.

It's an important lesson to teach kids, I went to a CoE school & don't even class myself as agnostic or athiest. I profoundly believe in science & nature. My son goes to a private christian based school, my husband is a born & raised buddhist from a 95% buddhist country who was educated by catholics so we are currently a 2 denominational household which is a total no issue.

My son gets "taught" all sorts of religious "facts" but he also gets taught by us to open his mind & look at the story behind what is paraded as fact. He does the christian & buddhist holidays, we also have muslim & jewish friends & he does some of them too if invited.

An open mind but a questioning one is something we try to instill in him in all aspects of his education, formal or otherwise. Religion flourishes because people are told to have faith rather than pursue fact. When my son now says grace I also say my own, "thank you to nature for providing the basis, thank you to farmers to using their skills & tools, thank you to daddy for being able to cook & thank you to my family for being awesome"

It's only fair.

The op has posted concerned about sharing & the kind of education her child will receive. Once a child is out in the world you have to accept that they will be influenced & receive different "care" to what you want. This is call LIFE & by trying to micro manage everything your child sees, experinces, even her play times, will mean she will struggle in life. No parent should want that.

notanewuser

Nicki wrote: »

You are going to get on well at whatever school your child ends up if you question all their teaching techniques as well as the content of what they are teaching!

Certainly in my kids schools they cater for aural, visual and kinaesthetic learners in all areas of the curriculum and therefore just about every subject will involve a high degree of "acting it out" as well as talking about it, drawing it and writing it. Perhaps you really should think about home schooling if you can't relinquish this level of control over your child?

It's not about control. Having grown up with parents that were both educators, I question how things are taught these days, be it religion as fact or that another child's desire for a toy over rides another.

Primary school for me I'd about developing DD as a person. I'm not really interested in academics (although I'm sure Dd will be fine). Nor do I expect that school be responsible for all learning experiences.

It is entirely reasonable that we take an interest in how the school operates, especially when it is going above and beyond the (outdated) statutory requirements.

We're operating a "suck it and see" approach. If it turns out that the school does not work for DD, or that they create problems unnecessarily then we may well send her part time/part days or withdraw her and homeschool. For now school is the default position in order to give her the opportunity to learn Welsh while its easy for her to do so.

notanewuser

quidsy wrote: »

The op has posted concerned about sharing & the kind of education her child will receive. Once a child is out in the world you have to accept that they will be influenced & receive different "care" to what you want. This is call LIFE & by trying to micro manage everything your child sees, experinces, even her play times, will mean she will struggle in life. No parent should want that.

:huh: Where have I intimated that?

notanewuser

esmerelda98 wrote: »

Despite your strong opinions, which you share extensively with us, your history on this forum is of a person who struggles to take action. Someone earlier mentioned Emmeline Pankhurst and significant changes in society. Well people who achieve such things don't do so by having a moan now and again on t'internet from the comfort of their chaise. They have to make some effort and often they have to fight. And so it should be if they want a situation that the majority are comfortable with to change.

:huh:

Explain, please.