Sharing/conflict resolution at nursery school?

daisiegg

I worked briefly at a school that was, for a time, the best state school in the country (and is still frequently in the top ten) and they were a languages specialist school, and taught subjects such as history, geography, technology etc in French, Italian, Spanish, German. I think it is brilliant to have lessons in a different language and don't see why, if you wanted your child learning Welsh for whatever reason, that wouldn't be the way to do it!

Nicki

I personally struggle to see how if a student comes from a fanatically religious family how exposing them to a range of religious situations in school will make the situation worse! Surely if anything, it tempers extremism and shows that a more moderate approach is possible (and dare one say it more normal?

GobbledyGook

I think this thread is an ideal example of why the issue of the 'daily act of worship' is an issue, because you really don't know what you are going to get until your child is at the school.

It also changes. My DDs recently changed school because we moved house, but when DD1 started their old school religion was very much a 'some people believe' topic. Even in their harvest festivals and the likes where they sang songs, they sang songs that 'Christian people sing'. It was no different to when they celebrated other religious festivals. I really liked the way they did it - there was no real difference.

However, then the HT changed. Christian festivals became 'we believe' and I ended up withdrawing mine from those elements because they totally changed the 'some people believe' angle. It was very frustrating because the children who were withdrawn from events spent time together, with a teacher, doing the same things the other children were doing, but all on a 'Christians/Some people believe'.

I don't see why all religion can't be taught on a 'some people believe' basis. It does bug me slightly that I cannot send my children to school for a true non-denominational education without withdrawing them from some parts of the schools teaching. It also bothers me that how much of a 'daily act of worship' a school has depends entirely on the Head. It gives so much scope for variation.

notanewuser

Nicki wrote: »

I personally struggle to see how if a student comes from a fanatically religious family how exposing them to a range of religious situations in school will make the situation worse! Surely if anything, it tempers extremism and shows that a more moderate approach is possible (and dare one say it more normal?

Ae you confusing learning and participation again?

There is no "range of religious situations" during the school day. So a child from a fanatical christian family will have their beliefs endorsed at a state school where prayers to god and bible lessons are doled out as fact.

A child from a fanatical family attending a truly secular school, learning about all religion in RE, won't be getting that validation, and may well change their point of view over time.

notanewuser

GobbledyGook wrote: »

I think this thread is an ideal example of why the issue of the 'daily act of worship' is an issue, because you really don't know what you are going to get until your child is at the school.

It also changes. My DDs recently changed school because we moved house, but when DD1 started their old school religion was very much a 'some people believe' topic. Even in their harvest festivals and the likes where they sang songs, they sang songs that 'Christian people sing'. It was no different to when they celebrated other religious festivals. I really liked the way they did it - there was no real difference.

However, then the HT changed. Christian festivals became 'we believe' and I ended up withdrawing mine from those elements because they totally changed the 'some people believe' angle. It was very frustrating because the children who were withdrawn from events spent time together, with a teacher, doing the same things the other children were doing, but all on a 'Christians/Some people believe'.

I don't see why all religion can't be taught on a 'some people believe' basis. It does bug me slightly that I cannot send my children to school for a true non-denominational education without withdrawing them from some parts of the schools teaching. It also bothers me that how much of a 'daily act of worship' a school has depends entirely on the Head. It gives so much scope for variation.

Thank you for your post.

Person_one

Nicki wrote: »

Is that how you think it is done in school person one? Not very successfully it would seem given how few children from non Christian families believe in a Christian God themselves.

I don't really think it matters that very few go on to 'join' the religion. Its still wrong to teach children that something is true when you know that its a guess at best and more than likely completely made up.

Look at the posts by onlyroz, her daughter will almost certainly come to the conclusion in a few years that her belief in God, Jesus etc. is not that strong and she'll probably identify as atheist as her family do. Why should she have to go through that process though? It might be a source of worry, confusion or even fear as she grapples with the idea that this 'heaven' she now believes in might not be there.

If schools were faith-neutral it would never have been an issue.

lostinrates

Person_one wrote: »

I don't really think it matters that very few go on to 'join' the religion. Its still wrong to teach children that something is true when you know that its a guess at best and more than likely completely made up.

Look at the posts by onlyroz, her daughter will almost certainly come to the conclusion in a few years that her belief in God, Jesus etc. is not that strong and she'll probably identify as atheist as her family do. Why should she have to go through that process though? It might be a source of worry, confusion or even fear as she grapples with the idea that this 'heaven' she now believes in might not be there.

If schools were faith-neutral it would never have been an issue.

Or it might me the first of many philosophical grapples she makes and make a critical thinker out of her.

moomoomama27

notanewuser wrote: »

So just the 1 alternative then. Not the "plenty" you asserted earlier.

I'm well aware of homeschooling, and that's plan C or D.

Oh I'm sure there are school that don't have as much/any religion in them, but I think you'll be hard pressed to find one which fits all your ideals, especially the sharing part

Leaving you one option, homeschool. I'm thinking perhaps that needs to be plan A. Although given how much time you spend on here...........

Person_one

lostinrates wrote: »

Or it might me the first of many philosophical grapples she makes and make a critical thinker out of her.

So, you think its ok because its character building?

Person_one

moomoomama27 wrote: »

Oh I'm sure there are school that don't have as much/any religion in them, but I think you'll be hard pressed to find one which fits all your ideals, especially the sharing part

Leaving you one option, homeschool. I'm thinking perhaps that needs to be plan A. Although given how much time you spend on here...........

As you only seem to be on the thread to wind up the OP, I think that's a bit rich!