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Since he started last year the headteacher has been replaced by the wife and daughter of vicars and the religious aspects of school life seem to have increased.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, my atheist kids go to a catholic school and they don't get any of that gubbins. They don't participate in RE at all, but its all about god made the lovely trees and wants us to be nice anyway.

thanks again all.

the other closest school to us is a very large county school that had much lower attainment.

I now work with a woman who's kids go to said school and she is always reluctant to let her children go to the other kids houses or have them round at theirs!!!

the other schools in our area are also cofe.

The HT at my (Catholic) primary used to do the Stations of the Cross with unhealthy relish. There'd usually be someone helped, retching, from the hall.

Personally, I'd rather have my kids raised by wolves than send them to a faith school - if you're stuck with it, or you like the rest of the package, I'd certainly complain strongly.

I teach 'Frankenstein' to year 8. I don't show them the Branagh film version - it's an 18. A LOT of teaching is about finding child-sensitive approaches to adult topics, & it really shouldn't be beyond the wit of your dc's school to inculcate a bit of basic Bible knowledge with quite so much of the gratuitous gruesomes.

YABU whether you believe or not I don't think you can dispute the influence of the bible and christian teachings on all aspects of society. Culture,politics,philosophy and social structures all have roots from christianity. I know this is too much for a 5yo to fully understand but I don't see the harm in mentioning it.

ravenAK - made me laugh.

He loves the school, his teacher, the work etc. So we couldn't possibly take him out now it'd be cruel .

he might change his mind next year when he's in the HT's sister's class - she's very strict.

maybe they should have usd this version ? :)

I am a homeschooling Christian (it's ok you can put your eyebrows back down where they belong I'm not on a recruitment drive nor am I about to quote chapter and verse either! lol) but even I can totally see where you're coming from as it happens. YNBU. At all.

Whether it's RE, science, english or ANY subject if you think your child is being exposed to something that it inappropriate for them then get yourself down to the school and speak to the powers that be.

You instinctively know best for your own child so act on it if you feel strongly about it.

I went to a catholic primary and secondary school.
The nuns scared the living bejeesus out of me, and my sister was walloped with a bible for not knowing what colour vestments the priest was wearing at mass the day before.
I am now an atheist.

Oh, give over. They tend to like the gory stuff, don't they? (Or is that just mine?)

I'm an out and out atheist, and my children get a goodly dose of the Bible. It's part of our culture, and I have no problem with it. And if you're a non-believer, it's just words.

edgaralenpie - love love love that.

thank you all

i agree that the bible is part of our culture etc. but so is paganism, i bet they never mention any of that to them!!!

do you think we should just plant a seed of it being a story now then rather than waiting?

Is it a VC (voluntary controlled) or VA (voluntary aided) school ?

The school should have an RE policy and curriculum plan that you can ask to see so you can check what they are planning to teach through the year.
If VA or VC there will be foundation governors appointed by the diocese and they usually have input and planning in the religious education areas of the school.

It might be worth having an informal chat about your feelings with one of the governors - they may not be fully aware of what is going on.

I am a foundation governor at a VC school and I can say that we as a governing body would not be overjoyed with the style and content of teaching that you have described. RE and the collective daily worship of a school should be age and content appropriate whatever the topic. It should certainly not be gory or graphic as you describe.

If this is taking place as the school's daily act of collective worship then you can, whatever the religious status of a school withdraw your child from that aspect.

I don't think that 5-year-olds need to know about all the gory details of the crucifixion, OP - YADNBU to object to that. To be honest, I don't think that would be suitable or appropriate for Primary age children at all.

I do think that children need to know the main stories of the major religions, so that they can understand people from those religions; and so that you can understand the art and culture that grew from those religions.

thank you angelhmum,for that info.

it's VA. My school is VC and the content is much less.

I didn't know we could request he be taken out of assemblies. I assumed it would be frowned upon. I have no problem with RE lessons either as long as they teach them other religions too, i find it a fascinating topic area.

I will attempt to speak to someone. They are all so (alarmingly) close knit (not what you know...) at the school that it would be difficult to speak with someone who didn't just agree unwaiveringly with the HT actions.

I am more concerned at the HT being replaced by the vicar and wife combo

how did that come about?

completely agree SDTG. Thanks

oh, do you mean vicar taking assembly? rather than HT?

Its bit much to suggest politics, culture and everything come from the bible. Because it doesn't. Romans anyone? Celts? Vikings? None of them followed the bible as far as I recall.

I didn't say that all art and culture etc comes from the Bible - I said that knowledge of the major religions and their stories is important in understanding the art and cultures that grew from those religions.

boysarelikedogs

the current headteacher was the deputy head and when the head teacher retired in 2009 the job (by legitimate process!!!) went to the deputy head who is the child and wife of vicars - she is qualified!!! no vicars are in charge of the school . unless you consider how frequently the parish vicar (not HT's husband) visits!!

not you staying, someone a few posts above said all of society has its roots in christianity. Which simply is not true and denies massive parts of our heritage.

Another Christian here, planning to home educate. The school are being completely inappropriate. Describing graphically a scene of torture to a 5 year old? If it happened in a home school environment it would probably be considered abuse in a worst case scenario. You are absolutely not being unreasonable, and I would definitely intervene if anyone in my kids' life were to expose them to that level of detail. They just don't need it in order to understand the major themes of Easter / Passover. Yes, the detail takes on relevance later, but not at 5.

Sorry Buzz - I missed that one.

got you

thanks, I was getting confused

Withdraw him, you have the right to withdraw him from part or whole of the RS.

However it is a Church school so what do you expect?