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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that schools shouldn't just be filling DD's head with God

131 replies

choufleur · 21/09/2010 18:11

Ok he's only 4 and only in 3rd week in reception but he's come home talking about how God made the world and we're in His hands, and he's just thanked God for his tea.

I don't believe in God. Up til now I've tried to explain to DS that some people believe in God, some people believe in other Gods and actually creationism is not real we evolved.

Tell me they will also teach him about other beliefs please.

OP posts:
Itsjustafleshwound · 21/09/2010 18:16

What sort of school is it?

In the grand scheme of things he is 4. Mine still believes in the tooth fairy and Father Christmas and Easter bunny ...

I think it is up to the parents to teach religious tolerance. You don't sound very tolerant towards a very childish take on Christianity ..

Appletrees · 21/09/2010 18:17

Yes they will it's part of the curriculum. But in a different way to this apparently, which sounds like it's not being taught as "this is what Christians think" but "this is the way it is". Is he in a church school? Sounds like it to me. Console yourself with the higher academic standards and parental enthusiasm.

HecateQueenOfWitches · 21/09/2010 18:18

depends on the school. If it's a, for example, CofE or methodist school, then YABU. Otherwise, YANBU

MrsMellowdrummer · 21/09/2010 18:18

Grr. They're supposed to. We found that in reality they didn't.

Original poster
choufleur · 21/09/2010 18:18

Yes it's a CofE school. I'm not intolerant of Christianity I just think he shouldn't be being taught it as fact, but something that some people believe, and if he wants to believe it fine, but there are other options.

OP posts:
HecateQueenOfWitches · 21/09/2010 18:21

well, CofE is church of england, so there is quite a religious aspect to it Grin. Just use it as an opportunity to discuss the issue with him and widen his understanding

Itsjustafleshwound · 21/09/2010 18:24

Why on earth did you then send him to a CoE school?? YABVVVU

AMumInScotland · 21/09/2010 18:27

4yo have a difficulty with "some people believe..." even when the teacher says it repeatedly, because they are little sponges for new information but very undiscriminating about which bits to believe.

If you just keep on with the "some people believe x, but I believe y" at home, his understanding will catch up soon enough.

"God made the world and we're in his hands and ought to thank him for our tea" actually encompasses a wide variety of religious traditions and not just Christianity, though obviously not atheism...

pointydog · 21/09/2010 18:27

yabu. It's a CfE school. If you don't like it, choose another school that is not blatantly religious.

pozzled · 21/09/2010 18:28

YABVU. What on earth did you expect if you sent him to a CHURCH school?

PixieOnaLeaf · 21/09/2010 18:28

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atmywitssend · 21/09/2010 18:29

YABU given that you chose a CofE School!

mumto2andnomore · 21/09/2010 18:32

I agree YABU seeing as its a C of E school, same as a Catholic school would follow their faith, yes he will learn about other religions but the ethos of the school will be Christian (obviously )

MrsMellowdrummer · 21/09/2010 18:39

It's not always that easy to choose a non-C of E school though is it?

[voice of experience, having gone to appeal on exactly that issue...]

PixieOnaLeaf · 21/09/2010 18:41

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Lancelottie · 21/09/2010 18:48

You don't choose schools really, though, do you? You bung a couple of not-too-bad options on the form and hope.

We had a 'choice' of exactly one state school within a five mile radius (no buses to any of the next-nearest, either, and no car at that point). Sometimes you don't make all your life choices in advance by checking what goes on in the local school assembly.

It's not even CofE, but does exactly what the OP describes anyway (we're getting plenty of god-makes-the-harvest-grow at the moment). I get the feeling that parents who object are regarded as a bit odd, as if being non-Christian without the excuse of another bona fide religion is rather poor taste...

pointydog · 21/09/2010 18:51

If your child goes to a CoE school, however intentional or not, you must expect quite a bit of worship-type activities.

If your child goes to a CoE school and you strongly object and there are no other options for you, then I hope you are playing a big role in campaigning against CoE schools or campaigning for specific improvements in the other local schools.

Original poster
choufleur · 21/09/2010 18:51

I was prepared for him to be taught about Christianity but it appears to be the only thing that he's learnt in the past 3 weeks (i'm sure they've done other things too but when questioned he has apparently not done anything).

It's the only school in the village we live in, the next two villages have schools and they are CofE too.

I just want to know that he'll learn other stuff too.

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pointydog · 21/09/2010 18:53

Since you are an atheist and probably rarely talk about God at home, it must be all quite new and exciting for him so I'm not surrpsied his head is full of the wonder of it all.

And I am sure he will learn other stuff too.

StayingDavidTennantsGirl · 21/09/2010 18:55

Never mind the fact that you are being exceedingly unreasonable for sending your ds to a C of E primary school and complaining that they are teaching him about Christianity - you are also being bloomin' unreasonable for complaining only 3 weeks in!! Thanking God for his food may well just mean that they say grace before lunch, and perhaps they've sung the hymn 'He's got the whole world in his hand' - catchy for children to sing, and songs do tend to stick in the memory.

There is plenty of information on other world religions in the national curriculum, and your ds will get taught about them.

To be honest, the first few weeks are more about getting the children settled into the school environment, and starting to teach the basics. They probably haven't taught him how to solve simultaneous equations or how to construct an essay or buy railway tickets in french yet - but this does not denote a huge failing in the school system!!

Have some patience!

SolidGoldBrass · 21/09/2010 18:56

I take it all those posters going 'Why didn't you send him to a non-crap-peddling school live in urban areas with a choice of schools? In some places there is only one school for miles.
It is a bit off that this crap can be inescapable at promary level, but one way to deal with it without having to make a fuss that gets you labelled an awkard parent and/or gets your DC into trouble is to clearly equate gods with Father Xmas and the Tooth Fairy so the DC will outgrow the lot at about the same time with no pain. (THere is, after all, no difference whatsoever apart from the number of grownups who for some wierd reason outgrow only the more benign myths...)

StayingDavidTennantsGirl · 21/09/2010 18:56

Apologies - that should be your dd, not your ds, and references to he/him, should read she/her.

MumInBeds · 21/09/2010 18:57

He will be learning other stuff too, it is just that this will be new to him and children are amazingly good at picking up what might wind a parent up.

Do you know anyone with children in an older year who could reassure you?

pointydog · 21/09/2010 18:58

no, it;'s a ds, tennant

Original poster
choufleur · 21/09/2010 18:59

Erm - didn't really expect simultaneous equations yet anyway StayingDavidTennantsGirl or essays etc.

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