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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think school trip shouldn't be to a creationist zoo?

281 replies

SouperSal · 27/05/2016 08:21

DH and I have issues about animal welfare and creationism.

Class at DD's (non-faith state school) had a trip to a creationist zoo this week and now DDs teacher wants to go. We're not best pleased.

WIBU.

OP posts:
GlassOfPort · 27/05/2016 10:08

YADNBU

There is a fundamental difference between people in a Mosque/Church choosing to believe something that can't be proved either way (there is a God) and people in a creationist zoo peddling as fact a theory that is demonstrably false.

IHateSummer · 27/05/2016 10:08

OP is your child at Crichowell school by any chance? ;)

BertrandRussell · 27/05/2016 10:08

And you wouldn't know from a quick check of their website either- although the name and the rainbow are a bit of a giveaway.

It's absolutely bloody outrageous that schools routinely do trips to this place.

dodobookends · 27/05/2016 10:10

Well... since one of their displays is 'mixed cattle' they are contradicting their own theory a bit - seeing as how most breeds of cattle are not separate species, but have been selectively bred by people.

Original poster
SouperSal · 27/05/2016 10:10

OP is your child at Crichowell school by any chance? ;)

No. Why?

OP posts:
Cagliostro · 27/05/2016 10:12

No idea about the animal welfare side of things, but the religious side wouldn't bother me (an atheist). Christian beliefs being told as fact is an issue that's come up on various occasions, both while DCs were in school, and since we started home educating (for totally unrelated reasons). It's never been a problem; since age 5 DD has known that it's just a different set of beliefs, and that we can keep our own beliefs while respecting other people's. I think before I had DCs I would've been really against such a trip, but since the issue first came up at DD's infant school I've chilled out about it as it's led to some interesting conversations, and DD is turning into a very philosophical, discerning person. In some ways I think situations like this has actually been beneficial.

steppemum · 27/05/2016 10:12

This is a state school.
The zoo is explicitly a Christian zoo.

I do not think it is appropriate for a school to be funding the zoo.

It is not at all the same a visiting a church/mosque etc. It would be the same as going on a visit to say a synagogue and having to pay £10 entrance, which would then be used to promote the idealogy of the group running the synagogue.
Donating to that cause should be a matter of choice for the parents, not part of a school trip.

If the desire is to see animals, then go and see animals.
There are loads of good places. Are they near Cotswold Wildlife Park? That is lovely.

(BTW I am a Christian)

mothermother · 27/05/2016 10:12

so what do you expect from the school? you think everyone should share your beliefs? it's your child your decision, but if i felt so strongly about something i just wouldn't send them.

AugustaFinkNottle · 27/05/2016 10:12

Mythical, are you going to raise that with the school?

Cagliostro · 27/05/2016 10:13

have* not has Blush

Wolfiefan · 27/05/2016 10:14

We have been to this zoo a couple of times. Neither of my children noticed it as creationist! I only realised their agenda when I found they were closed on Sunday and visited the gift shop (religious literature for sale.)
We had a lovely day out. I didn't feel preached at. Went on a tractor and trailer ride. No mention of God. Heard a talk. No mention of God.
Don't know about animal welfare issues. Some lovely new enclosures and new ones being built (for crocodile?) Lots of improvements been made in recent years.
And no I don't work there or know the family!!

HandsomeGroomGiveHerRoom · 27/05/2016 10:14

I wonder how many schools go back, after their first trip?

You could suggest Slimbridge maybe, if it's not too far. Or Bristol Zoo of course (which I love).

Lweji · 27/05/2016 10:16

Does the school realise what this zoo is about?

HumphreyCobblers · 27/05/2016 10:16

We went there once with no idea about the creationism aspect, OR the animal welfare concerns. We were Shock at the 'information' given and resolved never to go there again. Finding out how low their animal welfare standards are made me feel extremely guilty I ever graced them with my money.

It beggars belief that a christian organisation doesn't prioritise the wellbeing of animals.

curren · 27/05/2016 10:16

curren, can you really not see the difference between visiting a building which is openly religious for the purposes of education about other religions, and visiting something which heavily markets itself as an educational attraction but which is actively pushing a very specific religious agenda?

nope I can't. You go to both to learn about their beliefs. I have no issue with my children visiting any religious venue. And discussing it with them after.

Unless the school was planning to teach the kids that creationism is fact, I don't see the difference.

EveryoneElsie · 27/05/2016 10:17

The video posted by IRegretNothing shows the whole place is a scam. they breed exotic animals for the circus trade.

Tell your kids that and explain why thats bad, then let them make their own minds up about whether they want to go or not.

Exposé of Noahs Ark Zoo, near Bristol, U.K.
Exposé of Noahs Ark Zoo, near Bristol, breeding tigers and camels for the owner of the Great British Circus, and the mutilation and burial of one of the tigers.

HandsomeGroomGiveHerRoom · 27/05/2016 10:17

Oooh, is there still an aquarium at Weston? They could also go to the beach.

JasperDamerel · 27/05/2016 10:20

Moremother, I imagine that the OP expects the school to provide her child with factually accurate information while on an educational trip.

MythicalCreature · 27/05/2016 10:22

We are not religious at all as parents -( though I've enjoyed studying different one) children went to C of E last place we lived and learnt Christian values.

I'm trying to get them into guides and scouts which have a Christian background. I have no problem with our children learning about or even becoming Christians or anything else. They've done school trips to Sikh temples and mosques and a Buddhist temple.

This happens to be a secular state school - and this hasn't been billed as a religious trip but a zoo trip.

It feels sly like someone trying to slip creationism into an ordinary trip out - though perhaps I should have checked when read the name of the zoo and feel stupid now I didn't.

TheOddity · 27/05/2016 10:24

Unless Noah is there to meet and greet the children at the door, YADNBU.

MythicalCreature · 27/05/2016 10:30

Mythical, are you going to raise that with the school?

Waiting to see DH response.

I did have a good relationship with the school - last time I went in for something felt like I'd made their shit list.

I haven't complained to them before - but they've mess me around on a couple of things though not complaints but wonder if blame is being sent my way.

corythatwas · 27/05/2016 10:30

Re the endangered species, there are zoos which completely legitimately keep endangered species, because their habitats have been destroyed and the zoo breeds them and have the facilities to provide for them. Bristol and Marvell zoo both do work on breeding small endangered species of tropical fish; can't see anything wrong with that.

But keeping a single large herd animal like an elephant in a small enclosure is so obviously wrong; that individual would have a far better quality of life risking the poachers in the wild and it won't add anything to the preservation of the species.

Original poster
SouperSal · 27/05/2016 10:31

Unless the school was planning to teach the kids that creationism is fact, I don't see the difference

You don't see the difference between "here's an elephant" and "here's an elephant which was made by god"?

Do you believe god created everything by any chance?

OP posts:
Lweji · 27/05/2016 10:33

keeping a single large herd animal like an elephant in a small enclosure is so obviously wrong

Yes. Elephants are hugely social and quite intelligent and sensitive. A single elephant is like having a human in solitary confinement.

corythatwas · 27/05/2016 10:33

SouperSal, I do believe that elephants were created by God (though not in the creationist sense) and I can still see what is wrong with this outing.