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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:
Pandemoniaa · 23/04/2013 11:44

YABU to waste a lot of anger on this. I also suspect you are massively over-thinking this so far as presumptions about your faith/religion are concerned since it is almost certainly an unintentional bit of rather outdated form design.

mrsjay · 23/04/2013 11:44

the term christian name is out dated but not offensive imo

gazzalw · 23/04/2013 11:59

Actually I wouldn't but only because I'm such a dinosaur that we always referred to first names as 'christian names' when we were growing up. In fact I think DW and I both had to consciously change our habits a few years ago when we realised that it wasn't at all PC to do so particularly as we live in a very multi-cultural society!

YoniLovesChachi · 23/04/2013 11:59

The form to kick school life off is the least of your worries if all things Christian upset you.

wreckedone · 23/04/2013 11:59

Why don't you petition your local education authority to fund an atheist school?

Takingbackmonday · 23/04/2013 12:01

Dear Jesus you cannot really be offended by this.

Birdsgottafly · 23/04/2013 12:06

On a serious note, if you do want to do something, you could just put in the suggestion box that the wording on school literature needs a re-think. When LA/LEA providers are awarded kite marks for things such as "diversity" and "difference", the literature and whole environment is looked at. We don't have such slip ups as this in our LA or in Statutory buildings, it is easy enough to print out forms or information which everyone can understand or translate.

LippiPongstocking · 23/04/2013 12:11

The UK has a state religion, it's CofE. We have unelected bishops sitting in Parliament, if you're going to be upset about something, get upset about that. In what is officially a "Christian" country, and in a state school to boot, they're perfectly entitled to ask your "christian" name.

mrsjay · 23/04/2013 12:14

The UK has a state religion, it's CofE.

um English schools are C OE not all of the uk is C OE

LippiPongstocking · 23/04/2013 12:16

We have CofE Bishops in Parliament. Ergo: "state religion". I'm fully aware that not all of the UK is CofE.

mrsjay · 23/04/2013 12:21

House of lords it is more historical than anything else

FoundAChopinLizt · 23/04/2013 12:25

Op

What are you getting your dcs for christmas?

Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to offend you.

Margetts · 23/04/2013 12:28

If it offends you that much discuss it with the school.

MTSgroupie · 23/04/2013 12:30

Grin at Found.

MTSgroupie · 23/04/2013 12:31

I wonder if the OP bought her DCs Easter eggs.:)

kim147 · 23/04/2013 12:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 23/04/2013 12:35

Easter eggs aren't christian and neither is easter

Scholes34 · 23/04/2013 12:35

Okay, so perhaps the form should have asked for "first name", but you're reading too much into it, OP. There's probably some underpaid office worker, rushed of his or her feet and who just hasn't had the time to read through and re-do a form that has been sent out year after year and comes back with all the information that's required.

Fillyjonk75 · 23/04/2013 12:36

State schools are Christian, so it's a fairly safe bet that if you are happy for your child to go there, you are either Christian, or don't mind being exposed to Christian practises.

Or have little choice, given they're a STATE school. Hmm Oh where are these secular schools we could choose from?

YANBU and entirely correct OP, it should state "First name/given name". It's not something I would make a giant fuss over, but I would mention it next time I go to the office.

wannabedomesticgoddess · 23/04/2013 12:37

Most Christian festivals have non christian origins.

Easter eggs are Pagan.

LippiPongstocking · 23/04/2013 12:38

Those "historical" Bishops have a say in how the UK is run. Whilst they may be there because of historical precedent, the fact remains that they do play a massive role in our legislature. And they are unelected.

Also, the UK's head of state is also the head of the church. This is also historical, and also further proves my initial point that being asked for a "christian" name in a state-funded school in an officially Christian country shouldn't be something you're surprised by.

mrsjay · 23/04/2013 12:38

and tbh if it is a church of England school then they will ask for Christian name as that is correct for them I do think it outdated though but i don't think it is something to be overly concerned about

fedupofnamechanging · 23/04/2013 12:39

I am an atheist and still say 'Christian' name. I agree with the poster who said it is old fashioned, not offensive.

That said, I do get offended by letters addressed to Mr and Mrs A karmabeliever. A is my dh's initial, not mine. It makes me feel like I am property and not a person in my own right. And yet, I changed my last name upon marriage.

Scholes34 · 23/04/2013 12:40

OP, don't mention it the next time you're in the office. Save important things for mentioning in the office.

TheOriginalSteamingNit · 23/04/2013 12:41

It's just not ideal that they're equating your given name with being a Christian - they ought to know better than this, and OP is NBU to think that they should. She's not raging or fuming - she's saying that she thinks a 21st century school ought to know better than to think your name is just automatically going to have been given to you in a Christian ceremony.