To think a full day trip to a mosque for 6 year old school trip is a bit much?

[Jint]

I'm all for comparative religious education, learning what other religions believe and what they're about, but my daughter is in year 2 and, with her (non denominational) school, has probably been in the Anglican church for maybe 2 hours (1 hour each year for a carol service), never been to a Synagogue or any other place of worship, but is spending a whole day in a mosque. School trip that we have to pay for, and the girls are 'welcome' to wear headscarves, but not compulsory. This is not in any way an issue with the religion, but not sure why it's such a big investment in one religion. There are 3 muslim pupils in the 60 in her year.

Op says she has no issue.

LePetit, but it is entirely normal, in sprimary RE syllabi all over the country, to learn about one of the major world faiths in each year group. So for year 2 to study islam and visit a mosque makes sense. then in year 3 they might syudy Judaism and might visit a synagogue r have visuitors in who are jewish and will talk about their faith. year 4, Hinduism, etc etc.

To say that year 2, despite not studying other major world faiths this year, must suddenly go and visit all sorts of places of worship to create 'short term balance' is pointless.

Yanbu, it is too much. I would not send my child to school on this day, nor would I pay for the trip. What about all the lessons they miss, just to go to a mosque?!

All my dc's went.
A 2 hour round trip, so if they had gone for half a day it would have been a case of hi, bye.. Not really worth it.
By the time they set off it was 9:30. Trips to the loo, head counts etc takes time. So they spent a few hours at the mosque.
The children loved all the different patterns and the repetitiveness of them. Asking question about the patterns and tracing them.
Exploring the space. Asking millions of questions.
They spoke about ramadam and fasting and some of the food and drink they eat, including tasting. Why people, not just Muslims, fast. The similarities within different religions.
When it was time to leave the children begged to stay lol. They spoke about it for a long time afterwards. Far more than the church visit.
Didn't have a problem with this visit or any others. I had questions, like all trips so I went in and asked.

I can't imagine a full day in any religious building would be that interesting for a 6 year old - is the mosque quite far away and quite a bit of the time to be taken up by travel?

LePetit,

Can you not come up with a more inventive put-down than I have not read the OP?

As for history of mosques. This was also mentioned including when the first one was built.

Carrier really would you feel the same if it was a trip to an adventure park, about lesson they would miss

Because like LePetit my dds don't accept men telling them how to dress and to dress modestly.

All religions are mysogynistic and controlling but have no problem with my children learning about them. It's interesting.

Anyway my dds wouldn't wear them and as they are teens I don't think it's my job or anyone else's to try and control their choice of clothing unless for a sensible reason.

If the boys had to cover then they might do so but otherwise no.

Nothing to do with being islamaohobic whatever that is! just not sexist. All religions are though arnt they. But interesting all the same.

Okay, I'm going to explain myself once more and then I bow out as clearly I can't ask a reasonable question without accusations of racism.

1. I don't feel I can question the school much at the moment as I protested quite a lot about the fact they made 5 TA's redundant in a very harsh way and felt the impact wasn't any business of the parents, so I'm already marked as a trouble maker.
2. Someone said they didn't understand why I was saying a whole day was too much for my 6 year old. I never said that, I did not say she couldn't cope with a full day trip, I said a full day seemed a lot on one religion in a non denominational school (once again, that would be the case whatever the religion was)
3. Someone else said why would you find a theme park trip okay but not a mosque. I absolutely wouldn't! She hasn't ever had a theme park trip and when I do see school trips at theme parks I am always annoyed about it.

Finally, I won't post here again, but do find it sad that a question including the word 'mosque' can't be asked without the word 'racism' coming out.

fatlazy no I haven't met them but they have invited approximately 60 (?) six year olds to visit a place that is very important to them fully aware that there will be noise, mess, trips to the loo and a million questions. All for the educational and cultural enrichment of the children and to build closer community ties.

Equals lovely to me.

so, you were happy when your DD was younger to spend one whole day and one farm, and one whole day at one National Trust property. Given that, I don't understand the problem with her spending one whole day in a mosque. Especially as you have no idea (and clearly aren't going to ask) if that will be the first of several trips to different places of worship, which it could well be.

(I've had to cover my shoulders in several Italian churches, didn't bother me a jot. My dad didn't have to, but then he wasn't wearing a vest top that day always shirt, jacket and tie, my dad, even on holiday.)

It'll be fine.

Round everyone up, coach underway by 9ish. Even if mosque within 10 miles of school it'll still take best part of an hour to get through traffic, park up, offload kids, crocodile to mosque.

Couple of hours doing stuff, packed lunch.

Afternoon activity for another hour, two at most, all back on coach to get back to school for normal home time.

But if you want to see an itinerary, just ask the teacher. No big deal.

They probably could shave an hour or so off the whole thing - but they'll have to book coaches & any supply staff for the day, so no point rushing, just so they'd be back at school with an hour to kill until hometime.

6yos en masse do rather take forever to do anything!

Jint

I'm a tiny bit offended. Numbers 2 and 3 were me, quite clearly replying to Mushy

I have not at any time indicated or any any way implied that you were racist.

I think (although I'm prepared to be challenged ) that I've been fairly polite and measured in all my posts on this thread.

So sorry BlueGreenHazelGreen, genuinely sorry. I found it hard to keep track of who was saying what. I wasn't accusing you of being offensive at all. I've just been a bit surprised by the reaction and was trying to answer it all in one post as I'm definitely going back into a lurking position now.

I've not RTFT yet, but I will.

I can't understand how you expect the teacher to teach the class about EVERY religion within one academic year. Or how you'd expect the class to visit several different places of worship in one day!

YABVU. They will probably learn about a different religion next year.

Ah Jint it's ok, don't worry about it.

Clearly there are some issues at the school but I'm sure your DC could get a lot out of this trip if it's well run.

Re how the thread went, don't be upset. Remember none of the respondents actually know you and it is easy to jump to conclusions based on limited info.

To be fair it is an emotive and topical subject and look what an interesting debate it's been even if you probably do feel like you have been in a washing machine

Do what I do, lick your wounds for a bit and come back with a lovely new name!

Although - it would be great if you reported back on the trip!!

Aww Jint don't go back to lurking, some people on AIBU are blunt but you've had a range of responses and nothing you've said is racist. You're never going to get everyone agreeing with the OP, I often marvel when the most eminently reasonable posters get people knocking them. People have said horrible things to me on threads but then people have said really kind and supportive things too, concentrate on the constructive posts and don't take the rest to heart.

Islam is a religion not a race, no racism here. As you were.

Thanks BlueGreenHazelGreen! The truth is, I have no doubt my DD will enjoy it and I'm sure they'll fill the day and rather them than me etc. So I'm sure it'll be great, but she's my first child and I don't know what's ahead for her in education.

My sister got a school trip to a synagogue. I was so gutted cause she got to make bread and goodies which I didn't get in my year.

I love extra curricular trips, just wish they were as varied as when I was young. Ironic really seeing as I'm 33 lol

My daughter ( now 27) went to a mosque with primary school and had a great time. They got orange squash ( which is banned in our house) and the Imans had done a eye spy kind of work sheet so they could tick off stuff they saw. They dressed up, has a snack and looked at some Arabic writing- they had a go at doing some. She still talks about it when questioned. She said they were lovely and she liked the carpet!

Thanks Ilovepud and rissolesfortea. I'm off to lick my wounds...

LithaR and ElectricalBannana, thank you! That sounds great!!