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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that the form for my kids new school should not ask......

195 replies

SuedeEffectPochette · 23/04/2013 09:36

.......for my "christian" name! It's a state school. They must get all sorts of guidance on how not to cause offence. Surely this is a term from the 1950s these days!

OP posts:
undercoversahm · 23/04/2013 09:52

YANBU but perhaps you are missing the more important bigger picture which is the lack of separation of religion and state in the UK. That should change - France has no trouble keeping education and religion separate.

UnderwaterBasketWeaving · 23/04/2013 09:54

Are all state schools really Christian? Even secondaries, and academies? Or do academies not count as state? Confused

UnderwaterBasketWeaving · 23/04/2013 09:55

(I though ours was just a bit fundamental because it's overtly VA)

BumpingFuglies · 23/04/2013 09:55

If the issue is that the school assumes you are Christian, but you do not want them to do that, would you not have looked into it before selecting the school? Confused

If it's that important?

Either way I wouldn't get worked up about it. Plus, you're not another religion, are you?

lljkk · 23/04/2013 10:02

I wish OP's problem was the biggest one I had to face this week.

wannabedomesticgoddess · 23/04/2013 10:02

We dont have academies where I live, so I cannot comment on that, but all secondaries here are Christian. Even integrated schools (N.Ireland).

wannabedomesticgoddess · 23/04/2013 10:04

Either way I wouldn't get worked up about it. Plus, you're not another religion, are you?

So Atheists should just suck it up should they? Its discrimination.

MidniteScribbler · 23/04/2013 10:12

Oh FFS go and get worked up over something that is actually important.

littleducks · 23/04/2013 10:14

All schools see not Christian, there are state funded Hindu, Sikh and Muslim schools that I am aware of and possibly others (Jewish?) I am not.

There are many non denominational schools that are broadly Christian in nature. I think many people accept that as the alternatives are expensive HE/private schooling.

It wouldn't offend me to see 'Christian' name on a form but I would wonder about it. Would the school be less accommodating to children of other or no belief?

MoaningYoniWhingesAgain · 23/04/2013 10:29

I would think the form is dated and due a review. But offensive? I am atheist and I couldn't give the tiniest shite about this.

I do mind my DD has been instructed to pray at school. I do mind she is being taught christians beliefs as facts rather than as beliefs some people hold.

ShadowStorm · 23/04/2013 10:32

It's a bit old-fashioned.

But it's probably more about a failure to update the form than about assumptions about children's religion.

iloveweetos · 23/04/2013 10:36

Im sikh and i dont see anything wrong with Christian name...i actually like seeing it on forms etc
Old fashioned? so what...this country is being made to give up alot of 'old fashioned' traditions because of other religions!
Maybe i'm being ridiculous, but I wouldnt expect it to be changed.

undercoversahm · 23/04/2013 10:38

All schools are religious (C of E if not specifically Hindu, Catholic or whatever). I am not aware of any atheist schools which seems crazy given that most of the population are not practicing anythings.

I agree that "Christian Name" is not in itself anything to get worked up about, but having 90% of schools be C of E with no real choice for the non religious is a big deal.

TheOriginalSteamingNit · 23/04/2013 10:39

YANBU, a school of all places ought to be sufficiently up-to-date to know to ask for your first, or forename, rather than your 'christian' name!

msrisotto · 23/04/2013 10:39

I'm atheist and whilst I do have a problem with children being indoctrinated into religions before they can choose or even have a clue what is going on.....the term 'Christian name' honestly doesn't bother me.

YoniMaroney · 23/04/2013 10:40

Kill them, kill them with fire.

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 23/04/2013 10:44

This reminds me of that episode of South Park where the kids had to put on a Xmas play with no references to any religions what so ever in order to not accidentally offend or upset anyone :o

Seriously it's not something worth getting worked up over.

Lovelygoldboots · 23/04/2013 10:45

Surname seems to be going out of fashion. When I was a student I worked in USA and nobody had heard of it. I think there should be some sort of campaign to keep it!

kim147 · 23/04/2013 10:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheOriginalSteamingNit · 23/04/2013 10:54

Our VC primary was v multicultural though did still have the local vicar in fairly often, and the Riding Lights Christian-y performances... but I'm sure they were always sufficiently aware not to use 'Christian name'!

MrsDeVere · 23/04/2013 11:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

YoniMaroney · 23/04/2013 11:01

Some state schools are very Christian. Particularly Catholic schools.

DioneTheDiabolist · 23/04/2013 11:05

YABU and a bit ridiculous.

HintofBream · 23/04/2013 11:41

MrsDeVere,
That is the correct way to address a formal letter to a married couple. I can see why you don't like it, but hardly fair on the school to be enraged. If they had addresed letters home informally, no doubt there would have been complaints about that.
Do you also object to a letter beginning "Dear Ms DeVere" when you don't know the sender and have no reason to be "dear" to them?

mrsjay · 23/04/2013 11:44

State schools are all Christian schools. Its the law.

THAT how can people not know even non denomination schools are christian based, op find something useful to be offended about