to think that the only primary school in town should NOT be a religious one?

[BornSicky]

I live in a rural area, but the population of the town is about 3000.

The only primary school in the town is CofE and it is very religious. Just been in there today and there are bibles out on tables, quotes tacked to the walls, little prayers posted up and around with moral epithets etc etc

I live just a few minutes walk away and the only other primary schools in the area are a good few miles to drive and pretty oversubscribed.

It really annoys me that the school is the only option if you live here and either can't drive or don't have time to drive out to another school.

I thought there might have been a way to exclude a child from the religious activities, but it's all permeating, and even then to do so would be pretty hard on a child who didn't get involved.

Poor show from the LEA to not have a mixed faith or no faith school, or AIBU?

What public money spent on the Church?

Same as Endoplasmic reticulum here (haven't had to spell that for years).
Only non CofE school within a sensible distance is in the next county.
Ours fortunately wears it's religion relatively lightly and my DDs are following their Mothers bad* example.
*DH is CofE he'd like a bit of belief in god from the cynical females of the house.

YANBU I think that is terrible.

Very similar situation around here.

In fact - a question to those who say this is not a problem. There are a lot of Jewish schools around here. If the only school that you could realistically get to was a Jewish state primary, would you be happy to send your children there?

I would not mind sending my children to a Jewish School.

Pakdooik: "If you're so much of an anti-religious fundamentalist make the effort to go to the nearest secular school."

Would you say the same if it was a Muslim school rather than a C of E school?

Great!

Do you think that most people in the UK would also be happy with that?

scaevola: "That would be a much more expensive option, and it is always imprudent to create an oversupply of places. Especially if cuts are having to be made elsewhere in the LA budget. I really do not think the country can afford to buy out the Church at present."

Maybe not. But Osborne has just announced £600m for free schools, so perhaps that is an option - though more of a long-term one.

Another thing is this: if the local school is voluntary-controlled rather than voluntary-aided, the LA should be in a position to tell it to go easy on the religion. After all, the church may own the buildings, but our taxes pay for the teachers and the maintenance.

I don't care what the rest of the UK think. I know that I'm not intolerant of religion or, indeed, lack of religion. And yes I would also send my children to a muslim school.

So you think that any person in the UK who was, say, Roman Catholic, would be showing religious intolerance if they didn't want to send their child to eg a school for very orthodox Jews?

What about if your only local school was an exclusive brethren one? Females are not allowed to cut their hair and have to wear a headscarf. They are not allowed to watch TV, read newspapers, listen to the radio or use computers.

No problem I assume? There is one of these schools near us BTW, it is only for Brethren children. If they set up a free school would you be happy with that? In the name of religious tolerance?

Don't put words in my mouth. No I don't think the person you describe is intolerant. My best friend is RC and she would never send her kids to a Jewish school. Her choice. I don't get involved. I don't care.

scaevola maintenance of church buildings for a start off

If all the schools are CofE though, what is a person supposed to do. Homeschool? We are supposed to have universal education here aren't we, not effectively exclude people on religious grounds.

Incidentally I know a Jewish family whose children have to go to their local school which is RC. It is not a very harmonious arrangement.

You are getting ridiculous, SQ. If the school is legally set up, why should I have a problem with it? I don't understand what you want me to say.

couldn't agree more sardinequeen

it doesn't work for numerous people, except those with apathy or holders of that faith.

Look up thread at what I said. If you have an issue with it. This is a democracy lobby the powers that be to create an alternative. What else is there to be done. Sit and moan or affect a change?

I don't really understand what you're getting at.

You basically told the OP that she was BU in not wanting her local school to be religious, and said that in your view religious schools are all fine as you are not intolerant.

Then you said you quite understand why some people wouldn't want to send their children to some schools because of the religion.

In which case surely you think the OP is being reasonable to be annoyed?

You think that the OP is likely to be able to effect a change?

Well that;s not going to happen is it.

All she can do is sit and moan, maybe sign the odd petition.

ourplanet forgive the butting in, but the fact that we live in a democracy doesn't mean that all discussions should end and only political lobbying should happen.

this is democracy... we're freely discussing an issue that we might wish to lobby on. one does not preclude the other.

In our democracy there are automatic places in the House of Lords for a number of CofE bishops.

So not quite as democratic as you might hope.

You have twisted everything I have said to suit your argument.

My points are:

If the the majority of the villagers like the status quo, maybe that is why the LEA spent £2m on the school. If she and a good number of other parents don't like it they may be able to affect a change. Why on earth would they not be able to.

Look carefully at my posts, I have resisted saying wether or not the OP is being reasonable or not because the truth is I DONT KNOW. All I know is that it would not bother me, I am not CofE or Jewish or Muslim .... it would not bother me.

You asked a question on MN, I answered it. I told you why it would not both me to send my sons to a jewish school or a muslim school.

Bornsticky, didn't see your post there. No, I know one does not preclude the other. If you feel so strongly about it I hope you look to changing it. It does bother me when I see people moaning about something but not doing anything to change it. I come from a culture where this is endemic.

Final post, I promise: I forgot to include the important point that if the majority like it then really you are in a very difficult position, Bornsticky.

YANBU - when we were moving house there were quite a few villages that were ruled out as I didn't want DD to go to a denominational school. I would prefer her not to have any act of worship either, but an LEA school without religious governors etc will have to do.

If you do live in a place where the only school is CofE or another religion then it leaves you in a very difficult position as you are effectively cutting your child off from local friendships if you send them to a more distant non-denominational school.

It is worth looking at the British Humanist Association as they have campaigns about this sort of thing.

A lot of the parents in the village like the fact that it's a CofE school, and in fact are regular churchgoers. The cynic in me suspects that this is because we have a very high achieving state CofE secondary in our nearest town, with strict "going to church" requirements for entry.