to not want my dd to be taught this stuff..

[singingprincess]

She goes to a C of E school. There is no choice here, very rural, and all the schools are C of E.

Last year she came home telling me that her RE teacher had told her that Bonfire Night was unlucky....mildly amusing maybe?

But today she told me that she was a Christian. That Christians hate Jews.

I am horrified! She was amazed, and a bit worried when I told her that I knew some Jewish people, and that they were perfectly lovely. She is 7.

This is all wrong...what can I do?

Might be an idea to go in gently and check that she hasn't misunderstood. In the Middle Ages many Christians hated the Jews? In some parts of the world many Christians hate the Jews?

Bonfire Night certainly is unlucky - if you're Catholic. I think that's just fact really if you know the history - nothing to do with religious teaching on Bonfire Night as such!

Christians don't hate Jews, and certainly no C of E school teaches that. I'd have a word with the teacher and find out what they are actually being taught because it sounds like she's misunderstanding something somewhere along the way.

Well what Cory said about the Middle Ages etc - I meant it's no part of Christian teaching to say they hate the Jews.

Bugger....that's my birthday, bonfire night...why is it unlucky to Catholics?

Because Guy Fawkes and the other plotters were Catholics trying to assassinate a Protestant king, and Bonfire Night soon became a focus for anti-Catholic feeling.

When I told her that Jesus was Jewish, she burst into tears.

I just don't think that religion has any place in schools, it's dangerous that the seeds of such hatred can be sown at such a young age, misunderstanding or not. And if it must be taught, because the church is paying for it to be taught, then it should be done with much more care.

So why is my birthday unlucky then?

So sad.

In some areas the 'Guy' burnt on the top of the bonfire is dressed like the Pope too. Added to the fact that when you read the history in detail it is very likely the plotters were set up by one of the king's ministers to stir up anti-Catholic feeling.

Ta hardcheese...cross post.

So do Catholics still believe that, generally....just that in my very many years, and having been married to one, I have never heard that before. Funny what passes us by innt?

Antonia Fraser has written a great book about Bonfire Night called 'The Gunpowder Plot'. It's a very good read.

Chances are she has misunderstood a history lesson, in which case there is nothing to worry about.

But there is just a possibility that this one teacher is a religious nut- in which case the headteacher is going to want to know about it, as will certainly not be the official line of any CoE school.

So I would definitely be having gentle words with the school.

I didn't know Catholics found bonfire night unlucky.

Christian teaching is to love one another, whatever religion they are.

There has been some sort of misunderstanding. There are many instances in history where people have been persecuted for their religion, perhaps the teacher was talking about this? In which case it would be a history lesson, not a religious lesson.

"I didn't know Catholics found bonfire night unlucky."

Neither did I. Never heard that before.

Although I have to admit, my knowledge of history and theology is pretty rubbish.

I'd never heard it either and I was brought up catholic (liberal Christan now :o)

and I never listened in church either.

I'm catholic and don't consider it unlucky but I know my parents would never take us to the local bonfire night celebrations because they burnt an effigy of the Pope. Just not very nice, apart from anything else.

I agree with the posters who think she may have misunderstood something or the teacher may not have explained fully enough. I would definitely ask the school/teacher in question. Of course you don't want her thinking that religion involves hating people who belong to a different one.

In a place called Lewes which is near Brighton they still burn a effigy of the pope every year.

I was always taught that nothing was 'lucky' or 'unlucky' at my Catholic school. Because God is "bigger than all that silliness". The irony.

Has she definitely heard this stuff from a teacher? It sounds mental for an adult to speak like this to children. Is it playground stuff maybe?

History teacher, still never heard the unlucky one before. Although I know quite a few people (catholics and non-catholics) who don't like the idea of 'celebrating' the rather brutal execution of several men. Personally I don't like it either, but then I hate fireworks!

It's not a matter of finding it 'unlucky', just recognising that it was originally an anti-Catholic celebration. I'm Catholic, and have never given it a great deal of thought since living in the UK, to be honest - it's not celebrated in Ireland, where I grew up, for obvious reasons. (Our 'Bonfire Night' is in the summer, and has no raison d'etre other than people liking bonfires...)

Go and talk to the teacher and find the context she's been finding out this information within. What are the current topics being covered in school?
Tudors?

When I told her that Jesus was Jewish, she burst into tears

Aww that's probably because she's picking up that you're stressed/annoyed about this.

Really it sounds as though she's misunderstood the lesson, that's all.

Just have a word in the teacher's ear and I'm sure all will be right again.