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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think my son should not be forced to do a full GCSE in religious education

359 replies

ReallyTired · 28/12/2015 02:14

He would far rather do GCSE music. He had done RE since he was five. Surely an extra two years is not going to increase his knowledge of other religions that much.

OP posts:
BertrandRussell · 31/12/2015 17:10

Redbinneo- that is a completely outragoeous post and I have no idea what motivated it. God help us if we are judged by our spelling online!

ghostyslovesheep · 31/12/2015 17:15

as some one with a learning disability I hate that spelling seems to be the one thing it's okay to take the piss out of - it make you look petty, small minded and out of argument to be honest

longtimelurker101 · 31/12/2015 17:18

Why thanks dear, I went for far more that to collect the rubbish, they even gave me a Masters a few years ago.

I certainly don't think that I have literacy issues, I do a lot of posting on here from my phone which makes it more difficult, and as stated I don't re read any of it to check. You have made errors with puncutation in the post above, hoist by your own petard I think.

Yet again you have used an ad hominem attack, which is fundamentally undermines any argument or judgement you come to.

Oh by the way, I was rated outstanding by ofsted, the department I lead is in the Good Schools guide for our delivery of A level, and we achieve an ALPS level 2 consitently, I have no reason to seek valdiation from you.

Back to the point of the thread, couldn't the OP ask what the schools provision for students who opt out of R.E is? If it comes back as the sit in the back of the class and do homework option that is not great for anyone would she still want him to do that?

redbinneo · 31/12/2015 17:35

LTL they gave you a Masters, I had to work for mine.
I'm sure that you reviewed your work before submission. Why not do that here? e.g. "ALPS level 2 consitently" Ha Ha Ha.

Being rated as outstanding by ofsted ? Time to get rid of OFSTED

Ad hominem attacks don't automatically invalidate any argument - in this case it just means that I think that you are idiot, d

IguanaTail · 31/12/2015 17:36

merry

I don't think anyone said it should be a compulsory GCSE subject?

Thread title:

"AIBU To think my son should not be forced to do a full GCSE in religious education"

When I said anyone, I meant the people responding to this thread. Not anyone in the whole country. Obviously there are some people who think RS should be a compulsory GCSE, just like there will be people who think Drama GCSE or Geography GCSE should be compulsory. I was referring, when I said "anyone" to the confines of this specific thread. Hope that clarifies.

Good luck understanding why there is conflict in Israel or Ireland without studying their history. I think history is very important. Just as important as any other humanities subject.

If you've had a look at the GCSE curriculum for Geography or History you will see that the section on the "middle east" is really tiny Ireland barely features at all.

A GCSE student would need more than luck to gain any clear understanding of issues in the Middle East from the curricula offered there.

redbinneo · 31/12/2015 17:38

LTL
I've just got it:
"puncutation in the post above, hoist by your own petard I think"

I was hauled in, happy New Year to you and everyone else on MumsnetSmile

IguanaTail · 31/12/2015 17:40

What does LTL mean?

IguanaTail · 31/12/2015 17:41

Oh I see - abbreviation for longtimelurker

Ta1kinPeese · 31/12/2015 17:45

longtim / redbin

I awayls psot form my PC so selpinlg is not an isuse but cpehrooensimn is
fun wtih ponhe selpl creehkcs
Smile

catslife · 31/12/2015 17:51

OP there is also a short-course equivalent to half a GCSE in RE that it's possible to take just using the minimum time needed each week. would it be possible to compromise and take the short course and then fit in another subject?
Having said that dd is choosing A levels and it is possible to take A level Music or Drama without the GCSE with suitable extra curricular qualifications.

longtimelurker101 · 31/12/2015 17:51

:)

I didn't know the school of hard knocks handed out masters degrees, or did you get it from the university of what someone down the pub told you? In the past it seems that is where you got most of your opinons.

I don't think much of you either btw.

IguanaTail · 31/12/2015 17:54

Aw come on you guyssssss. It's New Year's Eve! 🍷⭐️🎉 Be friends. I'm sure you're both very highly qualified and very pleasant people 🙄

longtimelurker101 · 31/12/2015 18:23

Actually, I got too defensive there. Sorry.

Happy new year to one and all, now do I have time for a nap before DH wants to go out?

IguanaTail · 31/12/2015 18:41

Course! Always time for a kip.

RufusTheReindeer · 31/12/2015 19:31

bertrand

Can you please tell me what you understand by RE

And i dont mean that to be snarky or rude its just that i think ithat for me it would be christian or muslim or jewish beliefs, my children do not study this at all...in the slightest. So to me they do not study RE

If in reality it is just morals and ethics, drugs, sex and drinks then my children do get an hour a week...its just to me that is not RE its just...life

And as i have said...it cant bejustmy childrens school doing this

But it would explain my confusion Grin

BertrandRussell · 31/12/2015 19:55

a summary of the course my ds is doing

BertrandRussell · 31/12/2015 20:02

But I repeat, I'm not objecting to the subject per se. At least one, probably both of my children would probably have chosen it as a option anyway. I'm objecting to it being compulsory.

RufusTheReindeer · 31/12/2015 20:34

I wouldnt be happy it being compulsary

But my children do none of that in their PHSE class which is why i think theirs is more about ethics

And why i dont understand the angst about it

And i know that they may not be doing their statuary duty but they cant be the only ones Grin

AnotherNewt · 31/12/2015 21:45

RE is not compulsory.

Schools have to offer it, but no-one has to study it.

Indeed it's one of the only two subjects that it is possible to choose to opt out of completely.

BertrandRussell · 31/12/2015 22:27

Oh, I can't be arsed, anothernewt. Just read the thread.

nooka · 31/12/2015 22:37

I did Classical Civilization as my humanities option. A lot of the ethical and moral foundations of the western world come from ancient Greece, I think it was at least as valuable as studying RE. I then studied Philosophy alongside my A levels. My mother taught RE, which was very much comparative religion back then. A really interesting course, but not one I was interested in at the time.

I can't see the point of making subjects compulsory for no educational reason, especially when one of the side effects is that a big chunk of children will be disengaged and resentful. I can see why it's much easier for the school however. Limiting children's choices as much as possible obviously makes timetabling easier and classes more cost effective. Not really about the joy of learning is it?

AnotherNewt · 31/12/2015 22:51

I have read the thread, thanks.

And feel like banging my head on a table about the level of misunderstanding (despite many posters trying) to get across the simple point that RE does not have to be studied. Indeed it is one of the only two subjects over which there is such a level of choice.

It is not compulsory for any state school pupil of any age to study it if they or their family do not wish them so to do.

BertrandRussell · 01/01/2016 01:37

"It is not compulsory for any state school pupil of any age to study it if they or their family do not wish them so to do."
We are all aware that opting out is an option. If my ds opted out he would have one less GCSE than his classmates. Happy with that, faith lobby?

Twowrongsdontmakearight · 01/01/2016 10:12

I feel your frustration Bertrand. R and P is compulsory at DS's school too in the same way it is at yours. ie he could opt out but wouldn't be offered an alternative GCSE.

RufusTheReindeer · 01/01/2016 11:54

bertrand

I feel your pain

Ds1 wasnt allowed to do statistics gcse as he hadnt chosen triple science. That has left him with one gcse less than his peer group and has meant that he is really struggling with A level statistics

I am still pretty homicidal about the whole thing (especially as they fucked up his science anyway)