To think a full day trip to a mosque for 6 year old school trip is a bit much?

[Jint]

I'm all for comparative religious education, learning what other religions believe and what they're about, but my daughter is in year 2 and, with her (non denominational) school, has probably been in the Anglican church for maybe 2 hours (1 hour each year for a carol service), never been to a Synagogue or any other place of worship, but is spending a whole day in a mosque. School trip that we have to pay for, and the girls are 'welcome' to wear headscarves, but not compulsory. This is not in any way an issue with the religion, but not sure why it's such a big investment in one religion. There are 3 muslim pupils in the 60 in her year.

[Finola1step]

Is it part of the school curriculum for this term for the year group?

Do you know what the RE topic is?

[Sirzy]

Why not talk to the school and find out what they are doing? they most likely have an educational program at the mosque whereby they will be taking part in a number of activities during the day.

Im not quite sure what the issue is supposed to be really.

[Jint]

No idea, it's not been explained at all. They send an email every week explaining what they're learning but that's just English and maths.

[Mushypeasandchipstogo]

YANBU. My y8 DS spent the whole day at a mosque yesterday and was bored out of his mind. Really object as he has not been to a synagogue, Sikh or Hindu temple nor do the school seem to have any plans to take them to any of these.

[BlueGreenHazelGreen]

So given all the general ignorance and poor state of race relations not just in this country but the world you can't think why the school might think it would be a good idea if a bunch of non-Muslim children learned about Islam and got positive and well presented insight into the working of a Mosque?

Now let me think..

[TheOriginalSteamingNit]

Ours just went to the Thackray museum in Leeds. I'm all for museums, but why that particular one, for a whole day? No mention of the People's History Museum, or the Jorvik, or the MOSI... Why so much invested in the Thackray?

There are no pupils from medical history in her year, either. Seems very unbalanced to me.

[bearleftmonkeyright]

So if they had spent a whole day in a local c of e church that would be ok? Where do you think they should be having their school trip? There is much for a six year old to learn in a mosque that touches many areas of the curriculum. This trip would have been planned to provide learning opportunities in the classroom. When my DC went they had art lessons copying the geometric patterns in the mosque which reinforces shape recognition. So I don't think the teachers thought, I know we will go to a mosque to show how right on we are. YABU and your problem is clearly with the religion.

[Patrickstarisabadbellend]

My dd was told she had no choice but you wear a head scarf when her class visited a mosque.

I let her choose if she wanted to go on the trip. She decided not to go.

[museumum]

presumably the day at the mosque has a whole programme of different activities?
I don't see the problem. And as there are so few Muslims in the school and Islam has never been a majority religion in the uk there will be more to learn than in an Anglican chirch.

I would also assume that synagogue or gudwara (sp?) will happen another year if there's a willing one locally.

[LePetitMarseillais]

Hell would freeze over before I let my dd wear a headscarf so at least it isn't compulsory.

The concentration on one religion would concern me,at ours it's CofE,drives me crackers.

Can you ask school what the plan is re the other religions,maybe they'll be doing more further down the line.

[AuntieStella]

If they never visit any places associated with other major religions, then yes I'd agree with you.

But one religion or other will be the first to be visited.

[OldRoan]

You would be amazed at how quickly a whole day school trip for little ones flies by. Factor in travel time, several loo stops and an hour for lunch/a bit of playing to burn off some energy and I'd hazard a guess you're looking at maybe 90 minutes in the morning and 90 minutes in the afternoon.

How far away is it? The school may feel that they can't justify the travel time for half a day and so are extending the trip to a whole day of activities.

[ghostyslovesheep]

mine went to the Beatles Museum ...and we aren't insects ...none in her class as fat as I know

[LadyLuck10]

Yanbu, equal opportunities should be provided for all religion teachings not just one. I would question the school as to why special attention to one religion only.
I would not be happy for my dd to cover her head or made to feel like it's wrong not to.

[Mushypeasandchipstogo]

Bluegreen YABU if you think that it is appropriate for a Y2 pupil to spend a whole day in a mosque , especially when no other trips to places of worship are on the cards!

[BlueGreenHazelGreen]

Why am I BU Mushy?

[Jint]

Just to be clear, it isn't in any way about the specific religion, and yes bearleftmonkeyright, I would ask exactly the same question if it was a full day in a C of E church or a synagogue or any other place of worship, if I couldn't see that there were other similar trips for other religions. I just can't imagine what on earth they'll do for a whole day in a place of worship. If they do have art lessons copying geometric patterns, that's great. But as I said, I have no idea what they're doing, other than getting on a double decker bus (they sent that detail) and spending the day at a mosque. School trips in my experience have always been to places of geographical or historical interest.
So once again I don't have a problem with the Muslim religion in any way, I'm just not sure why one particular religion has been chosen to spend such a long time on, and I'm interested. If people know why, I'm genuinely interested.

[Finola1step]

Check the school website wrt to their curriculum, this term's topic etc.

I know a Mosque which is very accommodating to school groups, will arrange a range of activities and really enjoys having school children visiting. Shoes are removed where appropriate but girls are not expected to cover their hair. All adults are expected to dress with a degree of modesty but I would expect this of staff visiting any place of worship.

All children should have the opportunity to visit a range of places of worship. None should be closed off to them.

[bearleftmonkeyright]

But Mushypeas, how many places of worship should a child visit in one academic year? Of course its appropriate for a y2 pupil to spend a whole day in mosque. How could it be innappropriate? As I said before, it won't just be a discussion about islam. There will be much to talk about concerning the building itself and the interior. It will be a highly planned trip which will touch on many areas of the curriculum.

[Bragadocia]

Leaving aside where the trip is to as that's not really the issue, a whole day sounds like a lot for 6 year olds. It sounds like it should be more of a half-day outing (but my DS is not yet 5, so I may not be the best person to judge). Personally, I find a whole day in a new environment a bit knackering myself!

[raltheraffe]

I think it is a great idea to learn about Islam, I cannot see the problem.

[bearleftmonkeyright]

OP you know what to do, talk to the teacher. Find out what they will be doing. Ask them how best you can support your childs learning and then back that up yourself if you want with your own outings to maybe a cathedral. Why get so irate?

[Mushypeasandchipstogo]

Because they would be bored out of their brains Bluegreen

[BlueGreenHazelGreen]

Brag a whole day would be fine for six year olds - they have bags of energy (trust me, I have two!)

[BlueGreenHazelGreen]

Mushy why on earth would they be bored?