Encouraging acceptance whilst discouraging hypocrisy....

[BadgerBadger]

Whist enrolling DD1 for the nursery at the local primary school I could hear the children in assembly belting out 'halleluja'. (A religious song, not sure of the name.)
I would like my DD's to learn about other religions and learn respect for others rights to their individual beliefs. However I'm not comfortable with DD's singing praise for a god I have no belief in, and whom I'll fully encourage them not to believe in either. If a school is a community school rather than religious, is it really correct to involve children in praise of one specific god, therefore encouraging belief in that god and it's religion?
I'd really appreciate any views/ideas/thoughts .

[Cristina7]

We are atheists but send our DS to the local CoE school. It's nearest to home and it's the best in the area. We've told him that Jesus and God are not real, just a story some grown-ups like. He's 5 now and he's OK with that. I don't think religion should be taught in schools other than as history, i.e. not songs and prayers.

[trustme]

By law they have to have some form of worship in assembly. You can withdraw them though. PErsonally, I think in a state school it should be removed but it's good to learn about.

[Trifle]

I started a thread about this not long ago as it seemed my ds1 was being given more than his fair share of religion. It seems to be far worse than I had anticipated. They have assembly every morning and it is always about God and Jesus. I feel that State schools who are not affiliated with any religion do not need to bang on about it so much, particularly at age 4. I dont actually think he needs to know about any other religion either at this stage.

[ZimmerHippyWitch]

Badger - missed you last night (actually got away from the PC for awhile woohoo ).

This is Trifles thread. Sort of got off subject a bit by the end, but some intersting stuff. Have fun reading

[BadgerBadger]

Thanks for your replies.

I wouldn't want to remove DD's from assembly, I love the idea of a 'coming together' in their own little community . But communities are and should be diverse, that's the very nature of a community, isn't it?

On the other hand, it does bother me that I would possibly have to compromise our beliefs to allow my children into assembly. I agree that children tend to enjoy singing, particularly in a group, but there are so many songs which have no basis in religion that it still doesn't seem necessary to go the whole hog, and include such songs in a community school assembly?

I had no idea that all schools have to perform a collective act of worship! It seems quite outdated and IMO hypocritical to demand that a community school abide by this. Thank you for the info.

I will definitely speak more with the school, I am interested in how they facilitate the beliefs of all children in the school. Maybe they have a rota system for assembly?

Mwa Mwa ZimmerHippyWitch , good to 'see' you!