To wonder what christian ethos means in regard to schools

[SEmyarse]

So many people in rl, and on here harp on about wanting to jump through all the hoops to get their kids into the c of e school for the christian ethos.

What are they talking about? I'm not aware that secular schools advocate stealing, violence, selfishness, etc etc. And both forms of school seem to have assemblies with hymns and prayers.

If we were talking fundamentalist christianity, then yes, there would be a difference. They would be encouraged to evangelise, and the whole curriculum could potentially be different. But this isn't what people seem to be after, they just talk in vague terms of loving the christian ethos.

As far as I can tell the only difference is that they exclude some children, often specifically those with the least caring parents, which frankly seems like the least christian thing they could possibly do.

SEmyarse If you are Christian then your post OP is mind bogling

Why?

I don't see why it's mind boggling? I'm Christian too, and I would find it rather rude if someone claimed their school had an ethos of kindness or tolerance or whatever because it was Christian. As she says, it implies those virtues are peculiar to Christianity.

I'd rather schools were secular. It is clearly tough on kids who're excluded. I went to a school where roughly 1/3 of the class were Sikh or Hindu and they had to put up with a bigoted RS teacher talking as if their religion were nonsense. That is not the sort of 'Christian ethos' I would choose.

My children do go to a secular school (in the US) and their ethos is 'safe, kind, helpful and polite'.

I send mine to Catholic school (I am Catholic) and I expect the school to provide religious education in a structured fashion (a lesson a week) with reference to the bible and the Catholic sacraments. I expect mass to be provided on festival days (Ash Wednesday for example) and at least once a term.

I expect them also to provide teaching relating to other religions, and I expect to supplement their religious education, but when it talks about the Catholic ethos, the above is what I expect.

I went to a Catholic school for two years (my parents aren't Catholic, neither am I, but that was only the only option for A-level education in my area). The English teacher tried his hardest to make us all hate gay people and dislike women a bit too. That is my only experience of faith schools. Do you think that's the ethos they talk about?

I would not want DD to go to a faith school under any circumstances, she gets far too much religious educaton (assembleys and weekly R.E. lessons) at her (supposedly) secular primary. I think religion should be kept out of education completely.

If parents are good people their children will be in general. I don't think you need to teach morals, just set good examples as parents.

Brilliant example. Absolutely something specific that you might look for in a school, that wouldn't be provided elsewhere, that is relevant and important to your lifestyle and beliefs.

I have never however found anyone asking to do communion at c of e school, or do any form of worship beyond what is found in a generic assembly. I have however heard many people cite christian ethos, as a major reason in why they choose to send their children to christian school, but I've never understood what that meant.

That was to LTTF

To be honest, I would prefer entirely secular education. But, given that this is the structure we're working with, that's the school they're going to.

I've heard so much misinformation about the Catholic faith ranging from misunderstanding to pure hatred. At this age, between 4-11, I'd like them to be protected from hearing such things said about their mother.

For the record - I use contraception, I believe in gay marriage, I agree with divorce, I believe women should have open and free access to abortion. Many Catholics think the way I do. My priest knows I think this way, as we've had several conversations about it. He also believes in divorce and in gay marriage and contraception, though he draws the line at abortion.

Both of us know that I say my Creed wholeheartedly; none of the above appears in the Creed, and it's all subject to change and review. That goes slower than I'd hope, but my Creed is what makes me Catholic so that's where I am.

i've worked in two catholic schools and neither have provided mass on festival days or at all that i ever saw. the last one i worked for did subject them to 3 lessons of re a week though and was punishingly dull with bugger all resources.

in a non faith school in this country religious education is not about teaching them to be religious btw happy but to learn about religious beliefs and ways of life and to promote tolerance and understanding for difference. a good re teacher will use it to develop an ability to reflect on who we are, what we think and believe and why and how that is related to our culture, our family and background and other influences and to basically be a critical thinker capable of discerning various ways of viewing the world and the influences and outcomes that come from different perspectives (be they cultural, religious, political, ethical etc). that's secondary mind and admittedly there are a lot of schools without decent specialists or where re departments are totally without a specialist.

It's code for 'with all the nice children whose parents warmed the pews for a year to show much they care about Tarquin's education.'

Your post made me laugh. I work in a school that has a 'christian ethos' and I've often wondered how I coped in my previous schools that weren't faith schools with the lack of moral values. I'm surprised I've survived it.

Complete rubbish isn't it. The only difference is the slightly higher rates of hypocrisy!

It just means that they do Christian assemblies, celebrate Easter etc

Whereas a state school (the one I'm in for example) doesn't have religious assembly at all

No it doesn't have to be religious. It has to be spiritual. So a thought of the day or reflection is perfectly ok. (As we do in our school)