to think the school should not have cancelled the Christmas concert

[shinybaubles]

my sons school has cancelled the Christmas concert because some parent or parents have objected, from what the class teacher has told me the objection was based around Christmas being a Christian thing and they did not want their child to participate. I have got to be honest and say this has left me fuming when earlier this term Diwali was celebrated in class. I am not overly religious far from it at best I could be described as a non practising Christian, when I was a child my parents were very open about religion and I attended the Anglican church, the Hindu temple, the Catholic church and occasionaly the mosque with my neighbour.
Would I be wrong to complain to the school about this. My son is deeply disappointed, and I feel it is entirely the wrong thing to do.

I think including the information that it is a private international school in Belgium should have been included as relevant information in the OP.

Religion is part of the base curriculum right the way through school regardless of whether or not it is a faith based school.

There would never be a rule saying you can't mention Jesus so either you are misquoting the teacher or you are making it up, sorry.

Sorry, Shiny, I also didn't realise you weren't in the UK. Can they really do that in Belgium? I'm an atheist but I do believe that everyone has an equal right to express their faith.

Ahh, so not a school in the UK. Really should have mentioned that.

Sorry OP, didn't realise it was an international school.

Was so increduolous since an currently studying a PGCE and that would NEVER happen in Britain due to the National Curriculum emphasis on Christianity.

Duchess - I am not particularly religious myself - am fascinated by religion in general but non practising of any.

Yes it is a private school in Antwerp - I am sorry I didn't know the way this works is just to pick holes in anything I say. The school claims it is teaching the full British curriculum.

Then that is your starting point- Dear School, you are not teaching the full British Curriculum as there is an emphasis on teaching knowledge about all religions and about celebrating them etc etc.

If it is abiding by the full British curriculum then there is no way they can do this.

If, however they are offering only the legally binding statutory curriculum then they can. The R.E. curriculum is not legally binding and is developed by the Local Authority for each area although they are all broadly similar.

In the UK you legally have to have acts of worship in every school but that is usually covered by R.E. or assemblies.

You need to ask the school how far they take the Bristish curriculum and how seriously they take British standards.

Very helpful SnapesMistress thanks - something for me to mention, as I don't just want to sound like an angry parent.
Thanks for the support Laurie.
It is the Davinci school in Antwerp.

What's the curriculum of the International School? If it is IB you could phrase your letter in terms of the learner profile: tolerance etc

Sorry, just saw it is brit curriculum.

Definitely base your complaints around the British curriculum; whatever they are teaching, it's not that.

I would point out to the teacher that to exclude any mention of Christianity such as Jesus they need to also ban many works of literature eg. Dickens, Austin, vast swathes of Poetry, and even an understanding of the works of Phillip Pullman; they also need to ban the Koran.

If they do any religious teaching/celebration then they cannot just avoid Christianity (so Diwali would also be a no no).
I would also write to local religious leaders most of whom would agree (well would in the UK) to the importance of celebrating Christmas as a cultural festival.
If the school claims to be teaching the full British curriculum then I would point out that Christianity and religious teaching is a central tenet of the British curriculum.
I would also address your concerns not just to the teacher but to the heads and owners/governors.

A knowledge of Christianity (at least the stories and basic ideas) is central to a lot of British literature/culture and History (how do you teach Henry viii without mentioning the Church?).

BTW a quick look at your school, it seems to be owned by an Indian company? Maybe this is why Diwali is good and Christianity is bad? I would ask them.

" pupils follow a curriculum based on the Cambridge International Primary Programme (CIPP)" this is what the school website says on curriculum. Any other points I can put in my letter please, as I do want to sound lie a rational adult rather than a foot stamping child.

Tell them to have a secular Christmas concert.

easy peasy

Brilliant mummytime exactly the kind of stuff I need. But where did you see they were owned by an indian company.

Hmm, don't know if I would go along that route. I would guess that the school will answer that they are based on the UK curriculum but there is nothing in the curriculum that says they must hold a Xmas concert.

The not being allowed to mention Jesus in class is odd, and the HT should have a word with the teacher about that.

Since you say that Diwali was celebrated in class, I would base my objections on that.

Either all religions are tolerated and celebrated in school or none.

If a parent is unhappy with the child being involved in a religious festival other than their own, then the school should provide an alternative occupation for these children during the time of the concert/celebration.

Hang on- have you actually heard from the school as to the reason for cancelling or just from your DC?

I think it's a shame, if that is the schools stance, ALL festivals should be celebrated and given equal enjoyment, which then leads to acceptance & tolerance of all faiths.

I really hate this apologist stance, and most friends of other faiths I know do too because they don't want to be the target of anymore anti than they already!

Inclusion should apply to religious festivals as well as education policies.

Bossybritches yes dh spoke to teacher this am.

I know the Davinci school, I think it was set up by the diamond traders to cater for their children.
TBH, if you don't know who owns/runs the school you are a bit blinkered. My DH is a teacher at an Int; school in Antwerp, not that one.

Kreecher it is very easy to say that and I had one week to find my child a school. But it still does not change the way the whole thing has been handled whoever owns the school.

I've been thinking about this. It would probably be prudent to ask for your posts naming the school to be deleted or modified.
I am in the fortunate position that every school (until now) that my DD has attended is the same one that DH teaches at.
I can see how some schools are not very transparent and you have my sympathy.

Kreecher thanks for the advice but I won't do that. I am furious and I don't think it is school policy unofficial or not as it was scheduled in the first place .

The school has a Christmas Carol video on youtube. If this is the same school.

as well as

Could it be a particularly wealthy parent has used their influence here? The promise of a new gym or a big donation to the school fund? I'd complain - you pay fees too. That said, if this complainer is somehow a bit of a benefactor figure, they'll probably let the money talk. Nice!