To think schools shouldn't teach religion as absolute fact?

[PoesyCherish]

DSD is 6 and is learning about Christianity in school. They're teaching her Jesus is the Son of God rather than "some people believe he is". Everything about the religion is taught as fact. They've also failed to mention anything about any other religion.

AIBU to think they shouldn't be teaching it as absolute fact? How are children supposed to be understanding and tolerant of other people's beliefs if they're taught one world view as fact?

What sort of school is it?

YANBU, and it doesn't matter what sort of school it is when the CofE virtually has a monopoly on schooling in a lot of areas of the country.

I agree. Schools should not teach religion as a fact. They should give an overview of other religions too. However, if you sent your child to a CoE or Catholic school then surely you'd expect it to be taught as fact?

ElizabethG81

That is a government and LA problem. If you send your child to a CofE school then you need to accept part of the ethos of that school is that Jesus exists and is the son of God.

It's a Catholic school. But surely even Catholics can't say it's historical fact these things are true, they can just say they believe these things are true??

I am more annoyed by the whole capitalist industrial myth complex built around Father Christmas. My children’s school does the disclaimer of ‘some people believe’ when it comes to Jesus, but everyone is supposed to be in on Santa. It’s the only time I sympathised what it must be like for an atheist to send their Godless child into a religious environment.

Yes completely winds me up when mine come home saying 'we learnt that Jesus died on the cross and came back to life' as absolute fact but then when talking about other religions, 'they believe in a story that goes like...'

They should be taught that all religions are opinion

How did you get your child into a Catholic school without agreeing to support its Catholic ethos? Or have you just changed your mind?

If CofE have virtual monopolies then that's another issue that needs to be sorted!

I work in a christian school and I can say that Christianity is taught as what Christians believe in and that Christians believe as fact, rather than it being factual for all. Other religions are also taught, Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam etc.

If you feel your DC is being taught that it's a fact generally, then approach the school and ask them how it's taught. If you haven't already, also check out the school website as their RE policy may be available to view.

And it was a Catholic school on her street or a school of 2000 pupils miles away as they've just merged all the state ones into one big super school. Since DSD doesn't do too well in huge groups of people and her Mum couldn't drive when she was about to start school, her parents made the decision to send her to the small Catholic school.

YANBU, but unfortunately many people want their children to go to a school that reinforces their religious beliefs. I don't think faith schools should be allowed at all.

Non religious parents should have a secular school available. I would not have been happy sending my kids to a religious school. Luckily my local primary is secular.

That's the trade off for using a church school.

@VickieCherry I actually agree they shouldn't be allowed especially when you have the option of having religion rammed down your child's throat as if fact or sending them to a super school miles away! We don't even live in a remote area either.

It depends. Is it a Catholic faith school. If it is then the belief is that Jesus is the son of God. Would you expect a Muslim faith school to preach similarly about Allah.

Its primary school! And a catholic primary school, so for them it is true as it is their faith. I only learnt about christianity until i got to secondary school, then we learnt about lots of different ones.

You have no idea what religion if amy she may follow as she gets older

You summed it up though @Tomatoes. The belief is that Jesus is the Son of God.

You will have to have additional talks at home like many are doing with the trans religious lessons in schools.

Yabu- if you choose a faith school then you can’t expect them to teach her about Christianity as if it’s just a theory. It would be different if it was a non- denominational school but it isn’t. Do you expect Muslim schools to teach Islam as if it’s just something some people believe but not fact? Why should a catholic school be any different?

@PoesyCherish

It's a catholic school? Did you read up on it's teaching ethos etc before your DC joined the school?

@Lazypuppy no we don't know what religion if any she will follow which is why I think they should be taught all religion and taught as a belief not a fact as how else is she supposed to make an informed decision? I couldn't give a monkeys if she believes in the Christian God, Muslim God, flying spaghetti monster or no belief but I think she should be allowed to make an informed choice.

Are people missing the point where she's my step daughter? I wasn't the one that chose to put her in a faith school but I completely understand and respect why her parents made that call.

However, the school should be teaching about other religions through RE lessons- you need to ask shy if they aren’t as it’s a requirement of the NC that they do so .

And if you are so against religion, a catholic school probably wasn't the best choice!