Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Yet another "god in school" thread...

33 replies

iamaboveandBeyond · 22/10/2015 12:04

My ds2 attends the nursery attached to the primary school my ds1 attends, it is a regular, non-church primary - though i know all schools have to do the whole "vaguely christian nature" thing.

I spotted some work on the wall in the nursery with (being nursery, must have been written by a teacher) "i thank god for xyz" written on it.

WIBU to query it, or should it just be ignored?

OP posts:
MaidOfStars · 22/10/2015 12:11

I'd be eyebrows raised at it, but I'm generally quite anti-religion, and absolutely anti-religion in schools.

What are they thanking god for? Are there more appropriate people to thank? For example, the farmers who make food, the doctors who keep people healthy, and so on.

Perhaps that's your way in, rather than a generalised objection to use of "god" as the ultimate provider....

Original poster
iamaboveandBeyond · 22/10/2015 12:14

Sorry, to clarify... it was one childs individual work, not a big display shrine

I assumed the child possibly said it (not the type of thing mine come out with, but you never know Grin ) and it was written on then, but it still caught my eye and i wondered if it was a tad dodgy

OP posts:
MaidOfStars · 22/10/2015 12:16

it was one childs individual work
Oh, I'd absolutely not say anything, in that case.

Sirzy · 22/10/2015 12:17

So it's one child's work, not your own child's work at that, I wouldn't do a thing.

Original poster
iamaboveandBeyond · 22/10/2015 12:21

Ah phew, glad i didnt then!! Grin

OP posts:
stoppingbywoods · 22/10/2015 13:33

If a child wants to say this (and has told the teacher about it), I would feel it's 100% right for them to be able to. If the school is Christian and this is taught, then you signed up for it really.

KitKatCustard · 22/10/2015 13:36

I hope she wrote God with a capital G.

DioneTheDiabolist · 22/10/2015 13:41

What were you thinking of saying OP?

Original poster
iamaboveandBeyond · 22/10/2015 14:54

I didnt get as far as thinking about that, Dione, i just saw it and had a Hmm moment. I dont know for a fact that the child said it unprompted, any more than i know that they did, it is possible it was encouraged out of them isnt it?

Stopping, its not a christian church school, its a regular school. But its law that all non-religious schools have to have a daily act of worship in a predominantly christian nature, thats all i was referring to

OP posts:
Original poster
iamaboveandBeyond · 22/10/2015 14:56

Oh and kitkatm is that a dig at my typing or a genuine question suggesting that the teacher may be wrong?

OP posts:
Original poster
iamaboveandBeyond · 22/10/2015 14:58

(Just so you are fully informed, the teacher did also use a capital i and didnt actually write "xyz" either)

OP posts:
hiddenhome2 · 22/10/2015 15:05

The poor kid. It must be brainwashed or something Sad

IsItMeOr · 22/10/2015 15:07

As it's one child's individual work, you shouldn't be doing anything about this.

It's almost certainly what the child said themselves - I was a bit taken aback during one play date when DS was in reception, and the other DC started talking about ghosts and/or Jesus (possibly ghost baby Jesus) in the middle of the game they were playing. I can't quite remember it now, but it seemed like the DC had got a bit muddled from stuff he'd picked up while at church/Sunday school.

So I would say that this is nothing for you to worry about (as one atheist parent to another!) in terms of what your DC is being taught at the school.

Based on DS's reaction to all the things he's learned about different beliefs via school, I think he'd like something where some of the fightier elements of the Old Testament were combined with a reincarnation-based belief system.

NaughtToThreeSadOnions · 22/10/2015 15:07

If it's one Individal then it could be possiable they are from a Christian family, and go to Sunday school or say grace at home.
If it was whole class finish this sentence 'I thank God for' then the child has to say mummy daddy brother sister all my toys I'd possialy quiry it at nursery at ecen reception I'm not sure I would because it could have been done in RE talking about harvest.

x2boys · 22/10/2015 15:37

Well some people beleive in god and religion doesnt mean they are brainwashed maybe their family beleive and attend church regularly just because some people dont beleive it doesnt make it wrong to be religiousHmm

KitKatCustard · 22/10/2015 15:44

Not a dig at your typing at all (especially as I am the world's worst typist) - I genuinely hoped that the teacher had written God with a capital G. Whatever your beliefs, it is polite and respectful to do so.
That's all.

WhetherOrNot · 22/10/2015 17:49

Would you have felt the same is it had said "Thank Allah for xyz"?

JoySzasz · 22/10/2015 17:54

I can't see why it even made you look twice?
I'm still not sure now...
Did it bother you as it is religious?

Mehitabel6 · 22/10/2015 17:59

There are no secular schools. Community schools can be more religious than church schools. They are non denominational.

BuggerLumpsAnnoyed · 22/10/2015 18:05

hiddenhome I hope you're joking when you say the child "must be brainwashed' Hmm because that's pretty insulting.

Piratespoo · 22/10/2015 18:09

It amazes me that people get so get up about a god they don't believe in...what's the issue, if he doesn't exist why do you keep going on about him?
Must be a God shaped hole in their heart.... Grin

Groovee · 22/10/2015 18:13

I work in nursery and when scribing for a child we have to write what the say. An example is "child, what are you doing in this photo?" "Me riding bike" even though we'd prefer to use proper speech we have to use what the child has said.

It's likely that is what the child has said.

BuggerLumpsAnnoyed · 22/10/2015 18:17

But returning to the point of the thread. Yes, it would be completely ridiculous to complain about an individual child's piece of work that states some sort of belief. Just because it's a non denominational nursery, doesn't mean people aren't allowed to have and/or reference any faith they might have.

Mehitabel6 · 22/10/2015 18:18

It is a good idea to ask, before a child starts school, how they interpret the education acts on collective worship- not just assume it is 'vaguely Christian nature'. They vary enormously and whether they are a church school or not tells you little.

BertrandRussell · 22/10/2015 18:24

If it was one child's piece of work then obviously no problem. If there was a whole wall of it, then question it- some non faith state schools are disconcertingly religious. It depends on the Head- or in some cases, the class teacher.