School is asking children to say ‘peace be upon him’ anytime Mohammed is mentioned

I would call the HT and say NO.

He isn't worshipped, any more than Christians worship John the Baptist or Ezekiel.

We did get taught this in the 90's, but obviously no one had to say it.

It's all wrong to me. I had a strong sense religion was stupid from a young age (hardcore atheist by secondary age) and I HATED being made to pray in assembly. By all means teach children about different religions, but stop making them partake in them.

I thought you were going to say that this is a school of mostly Muslim children and staff! Looks like the teacher is being sensitive on someone else's behalf, without even asking them if it's a problem in the first place. If the only Muslim in the class doesn't have a problem I don't understand why the teacher is even thinking of this (I'd have a problem with it even if he did but that's another convo).
This screams to me of virtue signalling imo. I'd ask to speak to her and ask why she thinks this is appropriate in the circumstances, and speak to her head of year/dept or head teacher if she's unresponsive.
Do you know what other parents think about it?

It is not indoctrination. 🙄 How dramatic. Teaching children about religion is not the same as teaching children to be religious.

Let's get away from religions people feel sensitive about and suppose I'm a follower of Arkleseizure. My religion requires me when I say the name of my god to throw myself to the ground and shout "all other gods, bar Arkleseizure are fake"

Now will those saying 'respect' do that with me or not?

If not then the whole concept of respecting other religions falls apart doesn't it.

NO.. my children would not be saying that at all.

Do you remember when we had a tidal wave of finger waggers to berate op's for having concerns about the teaching of trans ideology in schools. It was a firewall of denial and then, of course, we all find out that it was true and was an increasingly common practice.

So excuse me if I afford some space to consider that this may be true and am not completely convinced by your claims that it doesn't happen but if it were true, you would be super cool with it anyway.

Or, it’s a difference in belief but fundamentally both religions believe he is the Messiah and that he will return. Isn’t it better to look at similarities rather than wedge through differences?

But that was when you were at a Catholic religious ceremony, not simply learning about Catholicism in a class.

My atheist child is at a technically Catholic school. The only manifestation of this is a once-a day prayer over the PA. I asked DS what he does while this is going on. He said 'I look out of the window with the Muslims.'

I'm white British and not religious in the slightest but I would always say PBUH if I happened to mention the prophet Muhammed, not that he comes up in conversation often. I thought it was just polite. This wouldn't bother me at all.

The best chance we have of promoting a more tolerant and respectful society is through showing tolerance and respect and education.

If you say so. As you will see from my posts across MN, I have a good working knowledge of most UK religions despite thinking they are all equally total and utter poppycock. That's because I actually educated myself though.

likely

I vote 3 as well.

Absolutely not.
No child should be forced to follow any religion.

I remember talking about Islam during RE class in yr 5 back in the late 90’s. The teacher explained about the Quran being placed higher than any other book as a mark of respect, so the copy she brought in to show us was placed up high and covered with an ornate cloth. She explained about saying peace be upon him, she said this every time she said the name but I don’t recall the children being asked to do the same. A basic understanding of Islam was taught just as Christianity and Judaism was. This was in a very white southern English village, no one was upset or outraged.

I know people in America and was really surprised that RE is not taught as standard in most schools (state dependent) so kids get no understanding of different beliefs and cultures which I think is a massive shame, it just leads to ignorance of others.

Personally I think you are overreacting, look at it as saying ‘peace be upon him’ as his surname if it makes you feel better. No one is indoctrinating or pushing beliefs, it’s just education.

Wtaf? How exceedingly rude!

@caringcarer yeah...no. That’s not how it works.

My dh is Muslim as is obviously his whole family and I have never heard them do this. It's utter nonsense. It totally winds my dh up when extreme Muslims try to enforce their beliefs on other people.

My best friend is Muslim. If I said this she’d think I was taking the piss 😂

Raise it with the school. Your child has their faith or they don’t. That needs respecting.

You have made a post about it on a public forum, the phrasing you have used such as ‘ to literally wish peace to a prophet of a religion you don’t belong too’ when it’s obviously being used in an educational setting
sorry I missed the part where you asked if it is normal to say ‘amen’ in assembly if you are not a Christian … oh wait you didn’t 🙄

I think it's more likely that she's right, rather than you are right that she is lying.

Exactly, what's the actual problem here?
It's respectful to the Muslim religion, doesn't hurt or offend anyone else and is really not a big ask. Why would you be complaining on Mumsnet, let alone to headteachers and governors 🙄

Don't take my word for it ask any Muslim. Jesus is not a god or the son of god to them so to them you're being foolish at best and blasphemous at worst to imagine otherwise.

And to a devout Christian that denial of his godhood would be distressing.

Fortunately Christianity doesn't do devout much any more.

RE teacher here. I tell the students they can say it or not. I will always put the Arabic when it's written (on a worksheet, PowerPoint or me writing it on the board). I do because though I am not a Muslim I will show respect to those who are. The pupils can choose for themselves whether they do. But I am secondary so the kids are more able to make their own choices, and I'm a specialist teacher. Primary teachers tend not to have a specialist subject, and it's rarely RE if they do. In fact trainee teachers for Primary used to get only one afternoon on how to teach RE, even though they should teach all subjects. Your child's teacher is trying their best