To wish school would stop this God crap

[MrsGravy]

DD is in Year 1 at school, in nursery class and reception they would sing the odd hymn and did a nativity play at Christmas, but other than that there wasn't a lot of religious stuff going on.

By the end of her first week in Year 1 she has come home with two prayers to learn (which they have to say before lunch and before going home) and talking about how God made the world and when you pray you are talking to God.

As you can probably discern from the title of this thread, I am an atheist. I don't mind DD being taught about the various religions that exist, but I actually really resent her being told these things as fact. I resent the fact that her teacher is expecting me to spend a significant amount of time teaching her prayers.

AIBU to question why christianity is playing such a big part in a non-church school??

Even non-denominational schools are bound by law to conduct a collective act of worship. I think it has to be daily.

It is ignored in most schools, even by OFSTED, but the school can insist. I'm pretty sure they have to provide for those who do not wish to take part.

I've just read your post again, and you are an atheist. What a surprise!! There's lots of you about, and you are as santimonious and zealous as any religious nut that i have come across, in fact more so.
Take her out of school, and educate her youself if you object to a few prayers.

Yadnbu.

Even as a Christian, I agree that YANBU UNLESS...

Where i grew up prayers were said and expected to be said in school because we lived in a very Christian village (a great chunk of people are proffessing believers and the rest see it as an important part of their heritage and ansestory) If you've moved to a place like this then it would be unreasonable to want it changed for you and your child. Otherwise I don't think it should be forced quite as much as that. We only learned it by saying it and only one prayer - not two! (though assemble always had a local minister in aswell)

How vile of you curryfreak

That's some quality Christian charity from the curryfreak, there.

Primo example of why most sensible people avoid the god-bothers.

That and not wanting your children buggered, I suppose.

Meltedchoc, it's not a particularly christian or church going town no.

Calm down curryfreak . I'm not sure how saying I don't mind my child learning about religion but don't want her to have to pray every day is 'sanctimonious' and 'overzealous'. But whatever.

Oh here we go again with the child abuse. Have you not got a pope thread to post on bruxeur?
OP, yanbu. It sounds a bit full on for a non faith school.

No, do you have a spare one?

I was brought up by atheist parents. I used to beg to go to Sunday school like my friends but my parents took the same hard line you seem to be taking telling me I couldn't go because the people who go are loonies.

I am only just now disovering my spirituality after years of searching because my parents were so extreme and judgemental.

You should be glad they're getting different and perfectly beingn experiences from other people so their lives will be enriched by other cultural, spiritual, moral viewpoints.

They might have a more tolerant and less blinkered view than your own.

Bruxeur, bit obsessed by the child abuse thing arent we?

"you are an atheist. What a surprise!! There's lots of you about, and you are as santimonious and zealous as any religious nut that i have come across, in fact more so."

there are lot of people in this world with no religion whatsoever. Why should they accept that their children be taught something which they would never be taught at home? An atheist isn't always militantly against other people's decision to have faith, they just don't understand why it should automatically become a part of theirs.

@ bruxeur...

YANBU, OP.

Just keep doing the 'some people believe...however, in reality...'

& read this secular society

Not really. Why do you ask?

bruxeur - can I assure you that curry's is not normal Christian behaviour. Quite the opposite

I'm a Christian and have been defending the right of faith schools to exist vigorously in the other debate. When I was growing up, I was also taught a pack of ignorant lies about faith and Christianity by an Atheistic physics teacher in a State school (scientist teachers should really avoid doing a do-it-yourself bodge job on biblical studies). However, I do not think you are being unreasonable here. If this was a faith school and you'd chosen to send your child there then I would say that is your choice, but I think you are not being unreasonable to question what is going on there and I certainly don't think that children should be made to say certain prayers against their wishes or their parents made to teach them certain prayers.

I think there is a difference between teaching a child that Christians believe this and saying that it is an unassailable fact that God created the world. It sounds like this school has overstepped the line.

It wouldn't bother me in the slightest if it was prayers about allah.

Huh Spidermama??? WHERE did I say christians are loonies???? Bloody hell fire, don't go on about ME being blinkered when you've failed to see me repeatedly saying that I don't mind DD learning about all the different religions there are in the world, that I'd be perfectly happy if she decided she wanted to be a christian. My problem is that she isn't being taught about these things in an open minded way. And I say again, how does a 5 year old learning prayers by rote enrich her life spiritually????

I actually don't think these experiences are 'benign' if christianity is presented as the absolute truth to a young child.

OP if this is really a non-church school then it sounds like your DD's teacher is over-stepping the mark. Have I missed a post where you've said that it is actually a Christian school? I think that understanding all religions is important in a child's education but having to learn certain prayers(?!?) well, that is religious teaching (I know, I had to do it) and has no place in non-religious schools! (I know this too, as I now work in one)

Blimey - could you direct the offensive god-botherer remarks to the offensive god-botherers please?

OP - YANBU. I find it odd how much religion there is in my DC's non-faith primary. I don't feel as strongly about it as you (because I am a god-botherer), but I am surprised by it as there is nothing remotely like it in any of the secondary schools I've taught in.

Well you see, ganache, in my experience it is.

Prayers and hymns? Why is Christianity so boring nowadays? The children should do something more fun like rolling heretics down Pendle hill in a barrel.

iT IS RATHR INFURIATING (sorry, caps still on a la davina).

I would mention it to the school. But if the head is a committed christian you are on a hiding to nothing. Not right.

ravenAK - ah yes, we are very familiar with the 'this is what some people believe' line . Unfortunately, like lots of little kids, she thinks her teacher knows better than me so will accept what she says as the definitive truth.