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Education

Calling atheists (and anyone else with an opinion) - am I right to get a bit peed off about this?

168 replies

Tinker · 16/05/2006 18:46

Eldest daughter goes to a state school, no relgious affiliation. However, it does seem to hasve close (too close, for my liking) ties with a local church - Christian. Have tolerated that.

Yesterday, she came home very excited, telling me their school had been picked to sing on a cd. On closer inspection of the leaflet, and then reading the website, it's a Christian thing. I won't stop her doing it but I am a bit peed off that a) I wasn't told about it and b) I feel they are using kids to promote Chritianity.

I'm going to investigate the site (popconnections.co.uk) a bit more when I get a chance and will write to the head but just wanted some perspective on this. Anyone else know about them? Am I over-reacting?

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scienceteacher · 16/05/2006 18:50

I'd say:

Praise God from whom all blessing flow!

Cam · 16/05/2006 18:51

I wouldn't say that.

However, Tinker, I wouldn't worry about it either.
It's not going to harm your dd and she will have fun!

spidermama · 16/05/2006 18:52

How old is your dd?

Who gets to buy the CD?

I think, tbh, I'd be very pleased my dd was being given the opportunity to sing and make a CD regardless, but I'm surprised the school didn't send you a letter about it asking for permission.

I'm no Christian, but I wouldn't dream of not letting my children take in part in, say, the Nativity play. It's theatre, I don't believe it would be indoctrinating.

Tinker · 16/05/2006 18:54

Agree, she'll have fun Cam, but I'm just uncomfortable with a non-religious school schmoozing so much with a Christian thing. Apart from anything, the songs will be dreadful!

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snafu · 16/05/2006 18:55

Over-reacting a wee bit, imo. My school was always doing things like this - never harmed my healthy religious scepticism at all!

Rhubarb · 16/05/2006 18:56

Dunno. I thought all state schools were affiliated with the local CofE Church? Therefore some religious activity is expected I suppose. You need to get yourself to France, their schools are completely neutral on religion, the kiddies are not allowed to wear anything remotely religious about their person, they don't do hymns or nativities or anything!

Freckle · 16/05/2006 18:57

Even if the school doesn't have any Christian affiliation, I think there is a general assumption that we are a Christian nation and therefore most people will be Ok with this sort of thing. I realise of course that the actual numbers of the population practising Christianity are not that great, but we are still deemed to be a Christian nation.

If you have a problem with it, put your objections in writing and await their response!

snafu · 16/05/2006 18:57

Although...can't seem to find the site through that URL

Tinker · 16/05/2006 18:57

She's 9. Not sure who gets to buy the cd and, more importantly, who gets all the money. Don't like it, find it sly, don't like the assumption that we're all ok about our kids singing Christian songs. Wouldn't dream of stopping her and wouldn't stop her singing hymns or carols etc but this is more than just the normal school stuff. It's an extra.

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FairyMum · 16/05/2006 18:59

I am an atheist, but don't think I would be too worried. My DD is currently going through a religious phase. She is only 7, but her friends are christians and so is her teacher, so she has decided she is too. She is very dissappointed in me for not being a believer and now goes to church with her grandma every Sunday and has given up tennis. She sings a lot of religious songs at home and wears a cross around her neck. Most the influence comes from her school. What can I do? I just hope she doesn't end up in convent as I was counting on grand children......

chapsmum · 16/05/2006 19:00

Thing is that she could be singing pop songs
and given the list of titles currently in the top ten eg:
Pet Shop Boys
I'm With Stupid
Chicane Ft Tom Jones
Stoned In Love
It really could be worse.
Surely you would rather she was getting excited about school in any shape or form rather than not IYSWIM

Tinker · 16/05/2006 19:00

\link{http://www.popconnection.co.uk/readallaboutit.htm\here's the site} Difficult to find!

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bourneville · 16/05/2006 19:02

I don't think i would mind. but then i am a lapsed Catholic, so grew up in Catholic education and had tons of religious stuff to put up with, and i would never send my dd to a Catholic school! But i would be happy for her to learn about religion etc and would just view it as an opportunity to sing & make a CD, as others have said. I would start becoming uncomfortable I think if she began talking about religious things as if she had been learning them as fact, though.

bourneville · 16/05/2006 19:03

omg Fairymum don't freak me out!! I would find it very difficult if my dd is doing that at 7! (she is only 2.9 at the mo)

Rhubarb · 16/05/2006 19:04

PMSL! Have you listened to the sample tracks! Sorry Tinker, not laughed out loud like that for ages!
On the positive side, I suppose it does encourage nice things like loving each other and sharing and stuff like that, it's not all about God, mainly about Christian values.
VERY cheesy though!

snafu · 16/05/2006 19:06

Duh!

Have only looked briefly but it doesn't look overtly god-bothering to me. Actually, I think it looks like fun - I'd have leapt at the chance of something like this when I was a wee show-off

Tinker · 16/05/2006 19:06

Thanks so far. Glad I only put "a bit peed off" in title now Lapsed Catholic also so know it doesn't mean I've got a new St Teresa on my hands. Think I'll write to head anyway, just to unsettle her about it.

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Tinker · 16/05/2006 19:07

Daren't listen to it - feeding baby atm. She might become indoctrinated subconciously.

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spidermama · 16/05/2006 19:07

I took my kids to a free festival in the park one summer because a pre-school teacher I like suggested it and said she'd be working there. It was only when I got there I realised it was a Chritian thing and it was both creepy and shit tbh.

In the big games tent people were shouting through microphones at the audience full of small children, 'C'mon. Who wants sweets? All you have to do is say "Jesus Loves Me" and you can come up to the stage and collect your sweets'.
They also said, 'There are two ways you can go in life. Your own way, or God's way.'

My kids were 6, 5 and 3 at the time and even before we said anything they were suspicious of the people running it and we all ended up coming home in the car having a right old laugh about it.

Blu · 16/05/2006 19:08

Haven't looked at this v closely, Tinker, but IME it is professionally v dodgy to make a CD which will be distributed ab=nd bought, s=using children for whom consent hasn't been obtained etc.

As an atheist, I would want to know what the lyrics were and what the CD wa used for. if it was for some missionary activity in an undeveloped country, for e.g, I would raise a big 'normous fuss!

Rhubarb · 16/05/2006 19:08

lol!
Altogether now to Tinker's baby: Jeeeeeeeeeeeeeesus! Jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesus! Jeeeeeeeeeeeesus!

FrannytheGazelle · 16/05/2006 19:10

"Don't like it, find it sly, don't like the assumption that we're all ok about our kids singing Christian songs."

I think that sums up pretty much how I would feel about it, Tinker. I wouldn't like the fact your permission has not been asked for, and that someone is potentialy making money from the children - to what end?

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Pruni · 16/05/2006 19:11

I'm an athiest and am quite fervently against any links between state education and any religion. I wouldn't perhaps be quite so fervent if it were actually possible to find a non-affiliated school in my area (at least that wasn't crap) but that's another thread.

TBH I wouldn't be bothered about a dd of mine doing it but I would want to make it clear to whoever organised it that it is underhand to assume that all parents will be ok with it, and that it would have been reasonable to have been asked.

(But there is a lot of bigotry against atheism, I have found, and I'd want to word it very very carefully because speak out against the status quo and you might be labelled a bigot yourself.)

Tinker · 16/05/2006 19:12

Blu - that is how I feel. Feel they're being exploited, perhaps. Want to know more about which businesses fund them Mentions Alpha course on the site which immediately got my hackles up.

spidermama - at that. Horrible.

Fingers in baby's ears away form Rhubarb

Have to go now but please keep posting if have any views, will check tomorrow.

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Twiglett · 16/05/2006 19:13

as an atheist I always swallow it down with the thought of 'well its important to give them something to reject later on in life'

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