To think that a school should ask for parental permission before singing certain songs

[ReallyTired]

Dd came home from school singing "Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so." She attends a community school and there are only two practicing christians in her class. There are seven practicing muslims, a couple of hindu and most the children come from non religous families.

I realise that schools are required to a have a broadly christian basis to their worship, but there are loads of christian songs which would not offend non christians. Why would a school choose that hymn? I know that parents do have the right to pull their children out of assembly, but they do need warning if the hymn choice is going to be that extreme.

CLAM

Bloody love that song.

Op, do you really know the breakdown of the religions in the class ? I would have thought most people wouldn't have a clue, unless it was
a church school.

If someone just happened to pick a song because it was easy for little ones to sing I have no problem.

Of course getting them to sing the songs is often used in the same way we used to do the times table like a song. To drum it in.

The test I suppose is to ask the teacher if they mind singing something about Allah. If they go "euuu yuk" then there's a problem.

Extreme

Yes YABU it's a song!

I don't really see a place for religious dogma of any kind in any school but permission slips and the like is just so.... anal i suppose.

I love a bit of classical religious music me, but any happy clappy Jesus Wants Me a For A Sunbeam bollocks offends my sensibilities because it's just so naff.

I'd like them to learn a lovely bit of John Rutter. In harmony. That'll learn 'em proper

Failing that a few verses of Shepherds washing socks and Kings on scooters and in taxis will do.

I thought you were going to say they'd learnt Santa Claus You Cunt Where's My Fucking Bike.

Backonlybriefly, I expect they do sing about Allah. If they sing hymns with the word God in then they are singing about Allah because Christianity, Islam and Judaism share the same god who is named God by Christians and Jews and Allah by Muslims.

Hedgehogs my favourite Christmas song ever.

I too would love to know how OP knows what religion everyone in the class is, and how much they are 'practising' or not and

hurricane you defiantly win for the extreme religion! I'm am crying with laughter at "medicates buddy"

OP - YABU.

It's a song. Your children are not held at gunpoint to sing them. If you want to see extremist religion in action switch on the news.

Anyone else picturing Jesus as Peter Andre? "I bloody love kids me!"

Go on complain, the run upto christmas is manic in a school so they could do with a good laugh in the staff room

YABU, at primary school they are just songs for fun.

My Y3 teacher taught us Wonderstuff and Levellers songs (had all lyrics on sugar paper), which we took in our stride and saw as no different to Ramsamsam, Pease Pudding, Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho, Green Door, All God's Creatures Have a Place in the Choir, and Edelweiss! A huge medley of songs that we didn't categorise according to religious content, but whether they were fun to sing.

Anyone else picturing Jesus as Peter Andre? "I bloody love kids me!"

Now I'm imagining the Daily Mail headlines - MNers compare Peter Andre to Jesus with a pic of Peter looking simultaneously smug and humble

I don't "believe" in any religion nor do I expect my child too. However I expect my child to learn about other religions and I read my child stories about Christmas. I always say I don't believe but don't make a massive thing of it. My DP Father is a church goer but he doesn't push it onto us. In fact he agrees that everyone has their own opinion.
I did feel a bit uncomfortable about my child singing a God is glorious sort of song but decided that I wouldn't make an issue of it as what would I achieve?
It's up to my child when older if they want to believe but I was brought up in a non religious household. My Mum and Dad were not married and in the 70's that was a BIG thing apparently. They weren't married but stayed together.
I understand how you feel but up you can't please all of the people all of the time.

Haha well he's never actually seen me meditate because I can't switch off with him following me around so I don't blame him for replacing meditate with medicate. But it does make me sound a little bit strange haha

"If they sing hymns with the word God in then they are singing about Allah because Christianity, Islam and Judaism share the same god who is named God by Christians and Jews and Allah by Muslims."

Pop over to Malaysia,Pakistan,Iran or whatever and say that. :)

But anyway my point was if the teacher objected to songs about allah (are there any?) that would say something about her motives.

Duchess - you learnt Wonder Stuff songs?!

The chances are that somewhere in your child's school/LEA's policies it will say that daily assemblies are held with a "broadly Christian focus" or some such phrase like that. By sending you child to the school you are consenting for her to take a full part in the school's daily activities - which includes participation in such assemblies, and where songs such as that might be sung.

Of the Muslim/Hindu/etc families are concerned that they don't want their child to take part they have probably withdrawn them from assemblies. Which you have the right to do if you wish - just inform the school in writing that you don't want your child to take part in any activities of a Christian nature.

BackOnlyBriefly it is the same God though isn't it? Allah/Yahweh etc is the God of Abraham, isn't It?

Yes, bodhranbae -seems bizarre in hindsight! Our Y3 teacher was a beardy bloke with a guitar. I think we mostly sang all year, and we adored him!

The ones I remember best are:

• Unbearable - Wonderstuff
• There's only one way of life - Levellers
• I fought the law - The Clash

Oh what a crock! OP withdraw your child from assemblies if you don't like the extreme hymning, leave everyone else to sing the chosen songs.
I never liked that song tbh, a bit happy clappy for my tastes. The songs from the blue (I think BBC) book. Come and Praise or similar? Excellent hymns in that one.
Although learning Levellers songs would be much better

Just try and enjoy it

Jesus loves you

CheerfulYank in theory it is of course, but not everyone agrees with that. Hence Christians being killed for referring to their god as Allah.

But I did think it was funny to suggest that praising god was inclusive because it meant the same.