to be fed up with school thinking it is okay to keep giving my sons a bible and asking them to pray?

[soontobeslendergirl]

I don't have any issue with people following whatever religion or belief that they choose.

However, despite going to a non-denominational school, both my sons are now in possession of two copies (each) of the New Testament. These have been handed out at school assemblies by persons unknown and they have been asked to pray at the end.

I am sure that the school population wont be exclusively Christian.

We are of no religion, neither of my son's have any religious beliefs.

I'd like to remove them from worship in school, they don't want to make a fuss or be made out to be "different" by sitting out. I respect that, but it really annoys me.

The home and with parents is the place for this. I have no issue with religious education as this gives my children the opportunity to learn what others believe and to make their own choices, but worship is another matter.

A bit of religious education is one thing in the context of "these are the various religious ideologies followed by people throughout the world. Religious assemblies involving worship of one God and associated religious works of fiction textbooks is totally different, and completely unacceptable in a school setting.

Bitout - and that's precisely why religion and politics have no place in schools

Well as an atheist socialist it was a perfect storm of irritation for me!

I can quite imagine! If anyone tried to make my DCs pray for the wisdom to make wise decisions like Alex Salmond they would feel the full force of my wrath, with no mercy

I am proud to say that dd put her hand up and argued the point with the HT

Good for her - you have raised her well!

BitOutOfPractice: that's a good example. Most of us wouldn't tolerate political beliefs being imposed on our children in school, so why should we tolerate religious beliefs? If Grant Shapps came in and handed out copies of the Tory manifesto, are we all supposed to shrug and say, "Well, they can ignore it if they want"?

We are in Scotland. DH and I were brought up in christian church going households that weren't particularly religious- more cultural observance really. We are both athiests but accepting of those who are religious. We are bringing DS up to believe that some people believe in god but we don't.
Since he started P1 in the local non-dom school he has turned into a Jesus freak. He comes home and lectures us about heaven and Jesus and praying. He says he learns it in school so it must be true. In his class of 20 there are at least 6 Muslim kids and 1 Sikh. The few of the other parents I know don't go to church or are religious. At first I was pretty laid back about it. Now I am actually quite cross that in this day and age schools are basically involving kids in religion at all. It is something that needs to change IMO.

My starting point is that all religious observance should be removed and there should be an end to compulsory RE as a separate subject in the curriculum. It should be added into the core social subjects instead.

As a minimum, observance needs to be changed to an opt-in rather than opt-out and then schools would have a clearer idea of the demand and plan accordingly. I don't think anyone living in a democratic society can object to that.

How we go about getting that though I have no idea.

As I understand it, the law states that all state funded schools will have community worship every day that follows a broadly christen theme.

The bibles are probably from Gideon's, there the ones that put them in hotel rooms.

The school is only fallowing the law.
Any parent can ask for there child to not take part.

'sakes!

I don't think that's the case in Scotland bebanjo - ours certainly don't have community worship every day.

I shouldn't have to opt out - religion (and politics) have no place in schools, beyond a general teaching of the different ideologies.

Any parent can ask for there child to not take part and how does that work, bebanjo. Don't they have to miss the rest of the assembly?

it is not the case in Scotland there is an obligation to offer worship at least once a month, though you can opt out

Maybe if there was an opt in rather than an opt out it would be fairer?

Who's going to opt in though? It's unfashionable to be religious and anyone who chooses something like assembly would probably be a target for bullying.

I haven't read all replies so I'm sorry if this has been said already.

Why do people do this? It just makes you look really stupid.

It's a book at the end of the day, you decide if it's fact or fiction but get over it.

What a lovely example you set for your children. If we don't agree with other peoples religion beliefs we just shout at them and rip up their leaflets.

Why do people do this? It just makes you look really stupid

No it doesn't.

Who's shouting at anyone, or ripping up anything? Did I miss something?

Yes, not bothering to read all the replies and then wading in with things that have already been said does make you look stupid. RTFT.

StrawberryTot should you be told it is true by a teacher?

No, it doesn't make you look stupid. You may think it does, but that's just your opinion.

As opposed to forcing opinions on children under the guise of tags authority of the school. Children who have no say in the matter. That makes them look really convincing eh?

Exactly Bitout.

Children go to school to learn, and generally accept that what they are being told is true, which is why any religious teachings of any form should be accompanied with a caveat - ie, these are ideologies which some people believe.

ffs