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

[SouperSal]

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.

Ah, i read that wrong, ignore me!

"If it were a faith school and you are there simply because you are in catchment then I'm not sure a complaint is valid but since you have stated its a non faith school then I would gently raise my concerns."

Even if it was a faith school they still shouldn't be teaching creationism! Most Christians aren't creationists.

And why "gently"? Politely, obviously, but this stuff is important!

Can I just say that the overwhelming support on this thread has been so helpful. Thank you all.

I think it is really telling by the way how many people

1. dont realise their agenda until they get there and are already inside, and
2. dont go back.

While I am a firm believer in learning about everything and deciding for yourself whether it is bullshit, and I honestly don't think any averagely intelligent child will be brainwashed by a one-time exposure to this nonsense, the concern about financially supporting such an organisation is valid.

While creationism itself may just seem like harmless nonsense, it is, to my knowledge, always tied to religious misogyny. I wouldn't want to support any of that.

Any progress in persuading the teacher to go somewhere else?

Not yet. Didn't see her this morning but will try this afternoon (probably manic as last day of the half term!). Might scribble a note in case she can't chat.

We live in Bristol and have a note in our children's school files that we will be opting out of any potential trips to Noah's Ark. I'm actually pretty easy going about stuff like this but my (now completely atheist) husband was raised in a religious cult that believed in creationism and he feels very strongly that our children won't be exposed to the same thing.

Luckily the situation has yet to arise though!

OP yanbu. :)

I know. They're cheap specifically so that they can lure schools to go there. Sneaky bastards.

I don't get why any of the Bristol schools would go there when Bristol Zoo is so great and has none of the potentially offensive/perplexing religious agenda going on.

Ah, cross post. Cheapness!

Thanks Ego! I so needed that!!!

We don't even live near Bristol. We're not even in the same country!

That just makes it even crazier!

If the animal welfare is poor, why haven't they been closed down?

Where can they be reported to? I know the law changed a while ago so that owners now have a duty of care to animals.

If it were a faith school and you are there simply because you are in catchment then I'm not sure a complaint is valid but since you have stated its a non faith school then I would gently raise my concerns.

Faith schools are subject to the law about teaching creationism in precisely the same way as non-faith schools.

Please pp stop talking like creationism is a viable alternative to anything. I feel as strongly as you, op and I am RC. I would let child go on school trip so there is no singling out. I would keep an eye on what crap they are taught at school and, if creationism is getting traction at school I would consider moving them. Yes our school puts god at the heart of creation but we don't have bollocks like humans were around when dinosaurs were around or the earth is 6,000 years old - Sarah Palin type bollocks. It might just be a fun day out like a trip to a Pirate themed place or something that you shouldn't over think. But don't let effing creationist ideas start worming their way into your child's education.

They aren't supposed to. The government specifically extended the restriction on promoting creationism to academies and free schools to prevent it.

Actually stopping them doing it is a different issue. Presumably they can have their funding stopped or not renewed which would force them to close.

I don't think school want to push the creationist agenda. I think they want an easy cheap day out that links (on the face of it) with the animal theme. I daresay being able to reuse the risk assessment for this week's trip would make life easier too.

Private schools can teach whatever they want. And, increasingly, Academies.

Academies and free schools are specifically banned from teaching creationism as science, along with other state schools, but children in religious private schools are still subject to it, unfortunately: www.newstatesman.com/education/2014/01/creationism-and-conspiracy-evolution-inside-uks-evangelical-schools
It's not just fundamentalist Christian schools - Jewish and Muslim ones are also anti-evolution in some cases.