The remembrance service was at our local church at 11am today, so we got back quite a bit ago. Fwiw, I remember the soldiers/members of the armed forces who died, and those who survived but were left with horrific injuries (physical and mental) and their families, friends and relatives. I have nothing against poppies or RS!
The church is near the school. The school the DC go to is a church school (CofE) but this is because it is the only school around here they could go to, due to tiny catchment areas, essentially, due to the overcrowding where we live. However, this means people of many and no faiths go to this school. I was brough up Muslim but my family/I are agnostic.
It was compulsory attendance (according to the letter). If you did not go, you'd be marked down (they have a system with cards- gold for very good behaviour/effort/attitude, then silver for good, then green for where you need to be, then orange for needing improvement, then red.) to red. If you are already on a red, then it means you miss break time and lunchtime if you get marked down for whatever reasons.
As it is, my DC have good behaviour and are fine. We attended because wanted to. But I object to children being punished for non attendance because:
- It's a religious service. Fr non religious people or people of other faiths, they can go to other remembrance services with the service coordinated for them. There was also a humanist ceremony going on, and a synagogue was holding a service. I think the local mosque was also having a remembrance service, but I'm not sure. All of these are just as valid and involve remembering in the same way, why can't people go to those? Some people also disagree with the religious aspects of remembrance.
- Families have different commitments. If this had happened six months ago, it would have been a choice of either cancelling a swimming lesson and wasting money, or the child getting punished. My best friend's child was marked down because thy were visiting an elderly relative. This was pre arranged, and they were going to a service where he was- the relative was a veteran ffs!
- Effort. People from families with parents who work on those days or for other reasons can't come at that time on Sunday.
- Punishing the child for their family. For whatever reason the family didn't want to go or can't go, I'm fairly sure a primary aged child can't get themselves to a church service alone. What can the child do about it?
- Some people going to church services will be going to different churches for the remembrance service. They are doing the same thing but in their own church/spiritual community. I don't see how remembering what happened is different if you do it at a church you feel more comfortable in.
AIBU? We went but some friends of mine didn't.