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.

DD's school has a christmas carol service in the cathedral, but we get an opt-out letter for that - don't you? She has always preferred to go rather than stay behind thus far- though she was rather irritated one year when some women were looking at her disapprovingly as she stayed silent during the Lords Prayer (which she's never learned, they didn't use it in her primary school assemblies) - she wondered why they were looking at her at all if they were bothered about praying.

Anyway, if either of your sons would prefer not to go, given that it's an off-site visit you might want to inquire about consent forms.

thanks Errol, no we don't get opt-out letters or consent forms. It's just put on the newsletter and they are supposed to go. the older classes aren't supervised on the walk so those that don't want to go opt themselves out but would get into trouble if they were caught. The younger classes are walked down in groups with teachers so it is harder for them to effect an escape.

......thinking that should be "affect" but I'm overly tired - still not that well :(

'effect' sounds right to me. Sorry you're poorly.

Ach, I'm not too bad - just had something hanging about for over a week now - headaches, cough, touch of fever and now my eyes are really dry - should really get of the PC, it's probably not helping. Woke up to be sick last night, took ages to get back to sleep and then woke up with a headache and dehydration.

Goodnight then.

Ta :)

In Scotland here too. Non-denominational and in an area where there are NO other religions apart from Christian ones and plenty of atheists.

We have the Gideons in every year or so. Children are told to respect them and, if they don't want the gift, to leave it on the table. The Gideons ask them to pray but it is not forced.

We also have astronauts and musicians in to talk to the children and, once, we had aNative American Chief. I don't think most children associate the Gideons with any attempt at indoctrination, any more than they think the astronaut or the chief were trying to get them into space or to believe in the Native American spirits.

By S1, they are their own people and they just need to have good manners.

You can withdraw them from RE. Mine are withdrawn because the teacher is crap and have a lovely time practising music or doing homework in the library.

I think you are overthinking this. A book being handed out or a visiting speaker will not do much at all apart from bore them!

We don't have an RE teacher in primary, so nothing to opt out of - in secondary it becomes RMPS, which gives a much broader perspective of the various religions and ideologies.

This is much more than just every year or so visit and a 'take the book if you like, if not leave it on the table' approach from the school though - the OP explains this further upthread.