To think people complaining about a school church visit are silly?

[MarioandLuigi]

The school have a trip every year which the year 2's walk down to our local church - its not for a service but they have a look around, see whats in a church etc. It toes in with the R.E topic that year.

Some of the parents of this years year 2 are complaining and have started a petition they asked people to sign against the trip - there are three Mums who have organised it and they are all atheists.

Now I could understand if they were going for a service, to pray etc - but its just a look round type of visit (I know because I volunteer at the school and have been on a few of the previous trips. Also, The years 3's attend a synagogue and year 5 pupils attend a mosque. Its more of a learning experience because it ties in with what they are doing in school.

At the very least, if you dont like it, dont go - but a petition seems a step too far to me.

As long as it is just to look round and there is no attempt at recruitment my DS can go on a trip to any place of worship. the only exception i will make when he starts school is I wont allow him to go to a mosque. the reason for that is my friend who's girls go to the same school he will go to were sent a letter asking all girls to take a head scarf. I don't want him in a 'learning' environment that does not promote equality.

I envy the campaigners. If this is their biggest worry what happy people they must be!

And lunar1: when DS visits a synagogue he will be asked to cover his head - but the girls will not - and when he visits a church he will be asked to uncover his head - but the girls will not. So if you are worried about the girls having to wear a scarf to visit a mosque, you're either going to have to get over it or stop him going to any of them - which will it be?

On the whole I am comfortable with my children learning about all kinds of religions at secondary school so long as one isnt allowed to dominate. What I am particularly keen for them to learn about are cultural differences and similarities, IMO religion sits within a broader cultural context.

I am not happy with the way that religion has been taught in my DC's Christian-centric community primary school. Christianity has been presented as fact, other religions have been presented as something 'other people' do.

Various posters up thread have described school trips to churches as being mostly non religious. My concern is the bit that is religious when it is presented as an asssumption that everyone is Christian really.

YANBU. I am totally opposed to evangelism in school, I believe in informed choice. A trip to the church gives kids information. I don't see the problem.

Andrew, good point. If they are optional requests i'm fine with it. If its compulsory I would probably stop him going to be honest. The letter the school sent about the mosque was very strongly worded and was not optional.

After giving it more thought I think I would stop a trip in primary school, my friends girls were 5/6 when they went i think. Once he is old enough to understand properly and form his own opinions then can choose whether to go.

I would consider sticking a scarf on to be on par with taking my shoes off if I visit the house of someone who espected it. Respectful really. I though Muslim men covered their heads too, maybe that's just to read the Qur'an.
Gnome Christianity WILL dominate the curriculum as it's the biggest religion in the world and the biggest one in this country. Teaching it as FACT is quite another matter and not acceptable unless it's a faith school.

Not all religious people oppose secular education, but all religious people who oppose secular education are doing so because they do not want children taught about religion. instead they want children taught that their own personal religion is the right one.

Of course you must teach about religion. just as other lessons will cover wars etc. It doesn't mean you have to teach that wars are good. You just teach that they happen.

Like I said there's no problem with visiting a church as long as it's not to tell them that this religion is true.

Ha! My little nephew went on one of these visits. Vicar asked children to imagine how excited the people were when they realised that Jesus could perform miracles. How might they have reacted to Jesus?, the vicar asked. The teacher told my sister afterwards that my nephew had shouted out "go jesus! Go jesus! Go jesus" while doing that strange two handed stirring move type thing

It depends - maybe they have particular issue with that specific church. I know in my area it was more popular for schools to go the reform synagogues over the orthodox or Chabad one, but I wouldn't have my children go there after hearing the gentleman in charge of giving the talks say extremely horrid and hateful things, many untrue, about Orthodox Jews at a talk at the local university. Thankfully, they now to go to a far more ornate one in Leicester, but I would have stood my ground against them going to the reform synagogue even if it made me look silly.

I would have no problem with my dd covering her head during a visit to a place of worship. For me it is about respecting their beliefs in their place of worship,a sign of respect. As someone said in the same sense as removing your shoes in the house of someone for whom removing shoes is important.