for not wanting my 5yo DS to be subjected to the horrors of the bible?

[mostlyhappywithsomelowpressure]

We ummed and ahhed about sending our DS to a C of E school as we aren't avid christians (as it were) but it is the best school in the area and academically it was good, also i do like the ethos of C of E schools.

Since he started last year the headteacher has been replaced by the wife and daughter of vicars and the religious aspects of school life seem to have increased.

The crucifixion story went into all the gory details and my (bit sensitive) then 4yo was fixated on the fact he was stabbed in the stomach while he was on the cross.

At the time i thought that a little extreme as primary age children don't really need to know so much detail (i didnt know jesus wore a crown of thorns till i was in high school!!)

We had a very interesting conversation one bed time about the devil recently too! Not something i wanted to have to discuss with him till later.

This evening he has told us about how in assembly today they were taught about the plagues God sent and how jews were made to put lambs blood on their doors and finally how all the boys were killed.

Being 5 he obviously doesn't know the ins and outs but he has remembered all the gory details.

AIBU for feeling that just because it is a story from the bible doesn't mean it's suitable for children. They wouldn't read exerpts from a stephen king novel or let them watch 'The Passion of the Christ' in golden time!!

I think it's way too much for an infant. I work in a C of E school and our assemblies are about being good friends, or overcoming adversity or keeping calm in a crisis. Nice positive life affirming stuff.

YANBU

I'm an atheist, so is my husband. I'll still teach our daughter about the bible and its story. Part of our cultural heritage, and quite important to understand a lot of art and poetry. Same with other mythologies.

Children usually aren't squeamish about the stories, so don't see the issue. As long as she's not told that she has to believe in the big beard in the sky, I wouldn't be too upset.

YANBU - the children's bible is more than apt for this age surely?

Part of me thinks that YABU as you've chosen to send your DS to a CofE school, and must accept that Biblical teaching will be a large part of that. Am abit when I here of people complaining about this when they've chosen the school on the academic basis and ignored the main ethos of the school. HOWEVER! YANBU in as much as they should be using age appropriate material to teach these stories to the children. I would have no problem telling the story of the crucifixion or the Passover to children of this age, but there are lots of lovely books, resources etc out there that do so without drawing unnessecary (sorry, sp) horror to them. Yes, they are horrible stories in their essence, but no, your DS should not necessarliy need all of that presented to him at this age.

Oh my (catholic God) you are sooooo NOT BU.
I grew up in rural Ireland (Nun's for junior school) And we didn't hear any of that it was all, sharing and loving each other. And trust me these were the "you sin you burn in hell" type. In fact we got a letter about the 'dangers' of patent (?) shoes, because it might reflect your underwear.. .

In other words FREAKS

He is very much encouraged (shall we say) that he is to believe what he is told. They teach it as if it fact (as that is what they believe).

We were planning on discussing what we believe with him when he was older and when the santa issue was raised too. If they are going to push this stuff on him to such an extent my DH is considering telling him now that it is just a story so that he isn't freaked out that God made people do horrible things and punished them. My concern is that it would confuse him too much at this age and make him unsure of things.

My mum thinks its more like a catholic school.

WOW, i am a Christian but there is no way i would subject my kid such detail at such a young age, it would seem a little bit over the top to say the very least. If i were you i'd would mention it to the teacher or even see the head about it. It fine to tell kids bible stories but not in great detail. Have they never seen the kids bibles?? It would seem not.
Good luck with that one!

thank you all.

I agree re the children's bible stories, they have been written and produced for a reason after all!!

YABU Sorry, but you don't send them to a church school if you don't want them to know what crucifixion is!

Flippin heck (seemed wrong to swear) what happened to the lovely stories like the good samaritan and noahs ark we got told as children i've no problem with the teaching of the bible but the teachers must take the responsibilities that come with it!

But I do think it is out of order. As the former inmate of a catholic school I would never inflict one on my kids....

Have to say, my kids would love the gory details - they are Horrible History enthusiasts.

I would be more concerned about the religious aspect, but you did choose a church school!

My kids are dis-applied from RE, so go to PSE lessons instead, but still seem to know an unhealthy amount about Christianity.

ambarth, not got a problem with the crucifixion story, it is very relevant and a good story but in so much detail?

blimp72 - totally agree - exactly what i was thinking!!

NacMac . My ds probably wouldn't mind if he was a bit older - 7 or 8 even but not 4 and 5.

tough shit

you CHOSE to send to CE school, even though many people who ARE religious did not get a place I suspect

dont like it take him and send to a local non dom school

and I doubt its as gory as you think

Also - i teach RE during my PPA time in a year 3 class and i had to read them a story about krishna's birth - (in case you aren't familiar with it) - basically krishna's uncle incarcerated his parents and killed all the babies they had (as he was told their 8th would kill him). I read the story and showed the class teacher and we both agreed it was too much (for 7-8 yo) so i found a more child friendly version.

fair enough porcamiseria nothing like a comparative argument

My DDs are at a C of E school and have never been subjected to anything like this - it's all age appropriate. I sent them there because it just felt right - went on gut feeling) and was honest in my applications about being an atheist. Neither of their reception years filled all their places, so definitely not taking anything from anyone. I was a bit about a hymn they sang with the line 'I know I don't deserve anything', but I let it go. When DD1 told me that I had to believe in God, we ended up having a very interesting discussion about freedom of religion. BTW I haven't raised my children 'in the faith' at all, i.e. I haven't promoted atheism to them - and DH believes but isn't a churchgoer. We have always told them that what they believe is their choice.

They have now both decided that they don't believe in God - but we all accept that may change.

I'm a practising Christian with children and so whilst I hold the Bible in high regard, it seems a shame that the school haven't come across the very well written children's bibles out there. I wouldn't expect my church to communicate to my kids in that sort of way (at that age), so I don't think you are BU to be surprised at that, even at a C of E school.

Some of these religious types can be very OTT. That's why I think YABU to send him there and complain. I don't agree with the detail at that age, it's sick.

just dont let them do the "stations of the cross" at easter, that traumatised me age 14

there is some hardcore stuff. but easter is the main part of christianity, like it or not

I don't think that's appropriate for young children at all. There are many ways to teach bible stories without going into aspects that could potentially upset children. I would suggest either going to the Governors about this, or even the church heirarchy.

As for choosing a church school, sometimes it's not that easy. In my area, the local school for this catchment area is a CofE school. The next nearest is a CofE school, and so on. Of the ten state primary schools here, four are CofE schools and one is RC. I would think that CofE schools know that most parents choose the nearest school from home and therefore have a mix of people from regular church attenders to athiests.

YANBU to want them to teach young children such awful stories - there are much fluffier ones that are more suitable for 5 year olds.

It reminds me of when DS1 was taught about the Great Fire of London in Year 2 - he was obsessed with fire for weeks, and gor really upset about it - now they are doing tudors (year 5) and he loves the gore :o

Well, they are a bit horrible, but the rationale for Easter and the Passover are pretty traditional tales, mine were in a CofE school for reception and they certainly covered the crucifixion, I don't think they dwelt on the details, but my daughter came home knowing that they killed Jesus by putting him on a cross with nails. So, that's probably fairly standard if rather gruesome, and I agree with those who say they should get a children's Bible to help with some better phrasing for the bad bits.