Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

To be a little disappointed that Jesus is being taught as fact in Y1?

366 replies

PoxAlert · 18/09/2018 12:36

We're atheists, so therefore didn't consider any faith schools for our DD.

We want her to learn about all cultures and religions and be tolerant of them all. We have friends of many faiths and beliefs and just want to be kind and happy.

Of course I expect (and welcome) Christianity to be taught in school, but we just got a copy of this term's curriculum (DD just started Y1) and for a non-faith school it seems a bit much.

Or am I being unrealistic and the school and church will always be linked?

Some of the RE points are:

"To learn who Jesus was" "who were his friends" "what did he do?"

I guess I was expecting a "what do Christians believe?" "why do they celebrate Christmas" etc etc than what seems to be a fact based history lesson....

Either way I'm not going to kick up a fuss with school, it's not a big deal really, she's free to make her own decisions in life. Just surprised me a little.

OP posts:
ThePants999 · 18/09/2018 12:39

Presumably it's a VA/VC school?

Fireworks91 · 18/09/2018 12:39

Well, most sources point to Jesus having to existed don't they? Maybe not in the coming back to life sense obviously.

gabsdot · 18/09/2018 12:39

Jesus was a real person. There is historical evidence of that.

GabriellaMontez · 18/09/2018 12:40

But Jesus is a well recognised historical figure.

OliviaStabler · 18/09/2018 12:41

Jesus was an actual person so he is 'fact'.

rallytog1 · 18/09/2018 12:43

Jesus was a real person. His friends were real people. He did things.

Hth.

SneakyGremlins · 18/09/2018 12:43

I don't think it's the existence of Jesus OP has a problem with, more if they teach the miracles, son of God, etc as fact.

PermanentlyFrizzyHairBall · 18/09/2018 12:44

I guess it depends what they mean by that. I wouldn't be overly happy if the answer to "who was Jesus?" was taught as "the son of god" but as a historical figure who was followed by many people and became an important part of the Christian faith that would be factual accurate.

TwitterQueen1 · 18/09/2018 12:47

Jesus was a real person.. How do you expect children to cope with your suggested questions ("what do Christians believe?" "why do they celebrate Christmas) before knowing about Christianity? They will cover those questions in school when the children are much older!

I wouldn't fret too much - they will learn about other faiths and beliefs throughout their school years.

RiverTam · 18/09/2018 12:48

As long as children learn that Jesus is who Christians believe is the son of God I think that's fine.

Regardless of my own beliefs I do think that it's important for children to have a thorough understanding of Christianity, it's fundamental to understanding much of our history and culture.

EllenRipley · 18/09/2018 12:50

I have the same issue with my son's school. 95% of that part of the curriculum focuses on Christianity and Islam (I think there's a bit on Judaism). It's not taught in any wider cultural context and it's not what's laid down in the curriculum for excellence where they're supposedly meant to learn about a broad variety of belief systems and have time to explore their own and their family's beliefs.

It gives me a bit of the rage when he brings home written work or tells me what he's learnt. I have considered opting him out of the classes tbh.

Original poster
PoxAlert · 18/09/2018 12:50

Thanks for the lesson everyone...... Hmm And totally missing the point.

OP posts:
RiverTam · 18/09/2018 12:53

Why? Jesus is a historical figure. His teaching is fundamental to Christian belief. Without knowing the exact lesson plan you don't know how this is being presented. But Jesus is fact.

Amanduh · 18/09/2018 12:53

Well they will say Christians believe in Jesus, this is what he did, this is who he was. It’s not telling her it’s fact, it’s telling her that Christians believe this.
They will do the same with other religions.

karyatide · 18/09/2018 12:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FuzzyCustard · 18/09/2018 12:55

Better hope they don't mention Father Christmas or the Tooth Fairy then.

Original poster
PoxAlert · 18/09/2018 12:56

@Amanduh "Well they will say Christians believe in Jesus, this is what he did, this is who he was. It’s not telling her it’s fact, it’s telling her that Christians believe this.
They will do the same with other religions."

Yes that's what I 100% hope is going to happen for all the religions, this is what we've started with ourselves as she has a huge interest in the Hinduism and Hindu gods since attending a friends wedding.

Just this seems to be written so much more like it's going to be a factual history lesson and that a bloke actually turned water into wine and was the son of god etc etc. That's what's disappointed me.

OP posts:
Seniorcitizen1 · 18/09/2018 12:56

Surely the key question is is why non-christians celebrate christmas? Why do athiest/secularists spend hundreds of pounds they cant afford on tat their children will discard in a few days. If you are not a christian dont celebrate. I know that the date was chosen to dislodge pagan festivals but few people are pagans.

Doyoumind · 18/09/2018 12:58

This comes up again and again.

The best thing to do is have a conversation with DC along the lines of "Some people believe Jesus was the Son of God and that he could perform miracles. Other people don't believe that. You can make up your own mind what to believe."

GirlsBlouse17 · 18/09/2018 12:58

Jesus was a real historical person. I would not worry too much. DD will make her own mind up as she gets older. Hopefully she will learn about this kind person who liked to help people and was good and will see that as an example.

Clandestino · 18/09/2018 12:59

I'd be pissed off if a non-faith school taught crap about Jesus walking on water and changing water to wine (don't we wish) but if they present him as an actual historical person (and there's a probability he really lived), I wouldn't have an issue with that.
I believe it beneficial for children to be taught about different religions, even if they're atheist.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 18/09/2018 13:00

I hear you OP. I was shocked at the way Christianity was taught at my son's non-denominational primary too. I just kept talking to him about other faiths, occasionally corrected him to 'some people believe that, yes, what do you think' and (if I'm being honest) left him to work his beliefs out for himself.

After five year's of believing in God I'd say he's now pretty much an atheist. Mind you, still believing would have been fine too! I just guided him to question things, is all.

RiverTam · 18/09/2018 13:00

Well, instead of getting snippy with posters trying to help why not speak to the teacher and ask about the content?

Elephantinacravat · 18/09/2018 13:02

Jesus was a real person so I don't see much wrong with it tbh.

And I'm sure when the teacher is teaching it, they will be conscious of ensuring that they do the big exaggerated ^SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE' because they have neither the time nor the inclination to be dealing with parents coming in and accusing them of indoctrinating their kid into religion Grin

Original poster
PoxAlert · 18/09/2018 13:03

"Better hope they don't mention Father Christmas or the Tooth Fairy then."

"Surely the key question is is why non-christians celebrate christmas? Why do athiest/secularists spend hundreds of pounds they cant afford on tat their children will discard in a few days. If you are not a christian dont celebrate. I know that the date was chosen to dislodge pagan festivals but few people are pagans."

Look I wasn't here to debate religion but you both seem to be triggered.

It's blatantly obvious why non-religious people celebrate Christmas.

Would you attack a Buddist friend for putting a Christmas tree up?

Because personally I buy mine presents and go round to theirs for mince pies - they're British, they love Christmas, the kids can't wait for Santa to bring presents. It's fun and exciting and a tradition.

I hope you don't have a tree, or take your kids to see Santa or buy your them "tat" and only do proper Christian things and don't buy in to any of the commercial Christmas rubbish.

OP posts: