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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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Original poster

to think 5yr old shouldn't be taught creationism in a state school?

123 replies

sparklewater · 01/10/2015 12:44

Exactly that really. Our primary is not supposed to have any religious leaning at all - but the headmistress is quite religious and so we have close ties with the local church etc. That's fine, community spirit, etc.

However, I keep finding out little things - such as saying Amen at the end of assembly (which suggests there has been a prayer) and that the weekly singing assembly is hymn-based. Yesterday, dd suddenly started telling me how the world began (with God saying let there be light, apparently) and said that God is everyone's father.

I've tried to explain it's just one option but WIBU to talk to the school?

OP posts:

IceBeing · 02/10/2015 12:00

What fraction of working adults begin their working day with a prayer? Maybe 30%?

What fraction of children begin their school date with a prayer? maybe 95%?

Can anybody think of a compelling reason why this situation persists?

AbeSaidYes · 02/10/2015 12:01

"This thread bloody well IS about Christianity, because you are too craven to slab off any other religion."

Lool, clearly this thread is about the legal requirement for state schools to have a daily act of worship that is broadly Christian in nature. Do you agree?

If there was a legal requirement for schools to have a daily act of worship that was broadly Islamic, Jedi or scientology based then I would also be posting in favour of scrapping the forced daily act of worship.

Not sure how you could have interpreted many of the arguments and points made on that theme.

AbeSaidYes · 02/10/2015 12:01

*look not lool

AbeSaidYes · 02/10/2015 12:03

"You are afraid of Christianity. You hate Christianity. You abhor the idea of a patriarchal God thwarting your little Sophie's chances of becoming something other than a hairdresser or a SAHM. Yes, we get it..."

ah - you are just being a twat and not actually reading the thread. I see.
Probably a good job you are leaving the thread and pretty standard to run in and spout off a load of shit that has no relevance and then flounce off I guess.

BertrandRussell · 02/10/2015 12:03

"This thread bloody well IS about Christianity, because you are too craven to slab off any other religion."

If you mean slag off- I am an equal opportunities atheist, so yes, any religion is equally in my sights!

You may not have noticed, but this thread is about the place of religion in state schools in England. And the only faith that children are expected to practice is Christianity.

Kewcumber · 02/10/2015 12:03

I'll bet you atheist Lefties

Still can't get past the idea that you have to be left wing to be atheist My head is so full with mulling over that little nugget of fuzzy thinking that the rest of swallowings post just keeps turning into "blah blah blah" in my head.

Kewcumber · 02/10/2015 12:05

now my head has cleared a bit and I've read the rest of that post... it didn't get any better did it?!

redstrawberry10 · 02/10/2015 12:26

I'll bet you atheist Lefties

I also love the conspiracy that we all secretly love the koran.

noeffingidea · 02/10/2015 12:34

Yeah, obviously hasn't read any of the threads about Islam on here.
Why is it so difficult to remove 'worship' 'prayers' etc from school?
If religious people don't want their religion to be 'slagged off' or hear about skyfairies, then just keep it away from the rest of us. It's that simple. Just keep it to yourself, stop claiming religious priveleges and no one else will care then.

AbeSaidYes · 02/10/2015 13:03

I wonder, if praying was compulsory in the work place how many adults would opt out and how many would feel isolated and different as a result?

Not many I am sure.

So as someone else has said why do we make young children do it and then feel bad if we consider removing them from that prayer?

AbeSaidYes · 02/10/2015 13:04

I mean not many would feel isolated

cleaty · 02/10/2015 13:09

Of course children should not take part in collective worship as part of their education.

I also don't think children should be taught that a man is really a woman.

Lweji · 02/10/2015 13:09

I like the "atheist Lefties"

I'm not atheist and prefer secular countries and schools. My primary school son learnt about homosexuality and transgenderism from me, so I'm fine with him learning about it in school. :)

PfftTheMagicDraco · 02/10/2015 13:39

Yes, the law is that there must be a daily act of worship, broadly Christian in nature. However this can be quite wide ranging, talking about community and doing good, or suchlike, rather than praising the christian god. I think it's pretty much left to the decision of individual schools on what to do, and whether to do it, and I think a lot of schools just don't bother.

Our school has very close links to the church, almost all the governors are religious and linked to the church and they have a guy from the church come in every week to do hymns and crap. I'm obv not happy with it, have been in and discussed making the prayer optional, or allowing time for quiet reflection instead.

The response from a lot of religious (christian) parents is "well it won't do them any harm" - and I wonder what their response would be if their children were worshipping another god three times a week? Regular Jewish/Muslim/etc etc worship anyone?

I have no issue with religious education. Personally, I think it should all be wrapped into a bigger topic - ethics, philosophy, citizenship and religion. And I mean ALL beliefs, not what we get in this country, which seems to be a token nod to a few other religions before spending 5 years learning about Jesus and visiting endless churches.

Worship has no place in school. Never.

PfftTheMagicDraco · 02/10/2015 13:44

Just to add, OP, that if your children ARE being taught creationism as fact in a lesson, then you need to be speaking to the school.

Unless it's a school run by those Christians Against Dinosaurs people.

FluffyNinja · 02/10/2015 13:56

My 6 yr DS goes to the local Catholic school. We live rurally so there is no other choice here.
I can just about cope with the pointless bible stories and prayers before lunch etc. but they do waste a lot of time preparing for Mass assemblies and the ritual of Spring confirmation, when they could be um, teaching.
Once DS decides that Santa doesn't exist, I'll also point out that 'God' and all the other stuff was just made up stories too.

Lweji · 02/10/2015 14:05

Unless it's a school run by those Christians Against Dinosaurs people.

Would that mean that we would also have to open a school by Dinosaurs Against Christians Who Are Against Dinosaurs? Or just Dinosaurs Against Christians?

AbeSaidYes · 02/10/2015 14:06

"I think it should all be wrapped into a bigger topic - ethics, philosophy, citizenship and religion. "

The Welsh government are thinking of doing this :)

DisappointedOne · 02/10/2015 15:03

Ooh, I do hope they do it. And scrap assemblies.

kali110 · 02/10/2015 15:15

Well considering there are younger transgender kids everyday i think it should be taught.
If a man has transitioned into a woman, then they are a woman, ( and vice versa).
Kids are a lot more understanding and tolerant.

cleaty · 02/10/2015 15:25

Yes children will accept a lie more easily than adults.

TheMarxistMinx · 02/10/2015 15:38

The only thing children should be taught is how to think freely and critically.

I have no problem with my children learning 'about' evolution or creationism.

I think there needs to be a distinction between being taught and learning. The two should not be conflated.

kali110 · 02/10/2015 23:18

Lie about what??
I really hope it's not about people born in the wrong body..

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