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:
TwitterQueen1 · 18/09/2018 13:03

Sorry we're all so stupid OP. Angry

GirlsBlouse17 · 18/09/2018 13:05

crap about Jesus

Not the most sensitive way of putting it

mintich · 18/09/2018 13:06

Is it a faith school? As in c of e or Catholic?

Babdoc · 18/09/2018 13:06

Why do you teach your child English, OP? Why don’t you throw a complete hodge podge of 300 different languages at them, and let them choose the one they want when they grow up?
Ridiculous? No more so than your approach to religion, surely? Isn’t it cultural imperialism to insist they learn English, purely because it’s the established state language of the country they live in?
Christianity has shaped western culture and history for 2000 years. Your child needs to know about it in much greater depth than Asiatic religions, which can be covered in RE at secondary school.

mintich · 18/09/2018 13:06

Sorry just re-read the OP!

Benjaminbuttonschild · 18/09/2018 13:06

OP with all due respect, you could just have open chats with your daughter about religion/philosophy and explain that some people believe different things?

If your DD mentions Jesus, explain he likely was a real person and Christians believe x, y and z.

My DS goes to a non-faith school, he is in Yr1 and he is learning about Christianity this term. He has been to Church a number of times (despite me being Atheist) as DP's family are Catholic. He recently asked me what happens when you die :S
So I had a chat with him in basic terms, saying Christians like Nana & Grandad believe you go to Heaven if you've lived a good life. I then explained the concept of Heaven (nice place, up in the Sky with loves ones we have lost).

I then explained what other people may believe (reincarnation, nothing at all, Nirvana etc). He took it all on the chin.

I think what i'm trying to say is that your DD will eventually believe what she wants to believe and if you can encourage her to make her own mind up this can't be a bad thing, but also teach her to respect other peoples beliefs and religions and you won't go wrong.

I have nothing against DS being taught about religion in a non-faith school as I'd like to have some exposure to religion so he can determine for himself when he's older what he takes as truth, if that makes sense?

Original poster
PoxAlert · 18/09/2018 13:07

No completely non faith. Plenty of C of E and Catholic Schools in our town. X

But it's been a long time since I was at school, and even though mine wasn't a church school we did still sing hymns etc. I guess I was expecting things to have changed more. But I do appreciate we're a Christian country.

OP posts:
NoSquirrels · 18/09/2018 13:08

I think you may have jumped to massive conclusions about how they'll teach the subject with very little fact, perhaps because of your own bias.

Jesus was a historical figure, as were his friends, and the Bible records what he "did".

Unless the lesson plan for Buddhism isn't written in a similar way, then you're just assuming you know what the approach is.

Ask the teacher if you're worried. But it really isn't anything to worry about unless the rest of RE is presented differently.

ArnoldBee · 18/09/2018 13:08

It's the national curriculum which reflects that the UK is a Christian country (that's a separate debate). You can withdraw your child from RE or accept that children need a foundation to work from.

Doyoumind · 18/09/2018 13:08

I wasn't brought up Christian but attended CofE schools. It didn't turn me into a Christian and didn't do me any harm. I'm sure they will cover off other religions but it's relevant to be taught about Jesus as it's the major religion in this country and RE needs to be taught.

FuzzyCustard · 18/09/2018 13:10

OP, in response to your snippy comment about my own Christmas traditions, I certainly never took my kids to see "Santa" (hate that title!) as we always told them he wasn't real and just represented the spirit of Christmas. Sort of the same theory you seem to be promoting for Jesus?

aperolspritzplease · 18/09/2018 13:10

We're catholic, DCs are in catholic school. They have done a huge amount on other religions too. Reception was Hinduism I think.

Dorris83 · 18/09/2018 13:13

I completely get where you are coming from OP. Last year my DS in Reception was shown a video about Easter and came out of school to tell us how Jesus died for us... I explained that some people believe that is what happened and some people don't. And that our country has a lot of holidays that are based on the stories that some people believe. Like Christmas and Easter.

But what a teacher tells you is very influential and I too think that schools need to be careful of presenting religion as fact. As an atheist I want my DS to understand that there are many religions in the world and to understand their beliefs and traditions, but not to be told that any are 'right'.

Original poster
PoxAlert · 18/09/2018 13:14

"OP, in response to your snippy comment about my own Christmas traditions, I certainly never took my kids to see "Santa" (hate that title!) as we always told them he wasn't real and just represented the spirit of Christmas. Sort of the same theory you seem to be promoting for Jesus?"

Think you've got it 100% correct.

OP posts:
CardinalSin · 18/09/2018 13:15

Oh dear, we get this every time. People start spouting nonsense "there is proof Jesus existed". Actually, there is not a single shred of evidence that the Jesus of the Bible ever existed.

The supposed evidence has been shredded repeatedly on here. The Bible can't even agree on what he is supposed to have done or said, or been like, and there is literally not a single piece of contemporary evidence to back up it's claims.

I agree OP, it's disgusting that this rubbish is being taught as fact to our children.

SheGotBetteDavisEyes · 18/09/2018 13:16

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

This puts it well ^

Racecardriver · 18/09/2018 13:17

Is it though? I think you are purposefully misunderstanding it. They would have worded the questions in exactly the same way of they were discussing a fictional book wouldn't they?

Who were Harry's best friend at Hogwarts?

How old was Harry when he went to wizard school?

That isn't the same as saying Harry Potter is a real person and wizards are real and Hogwarts is real. They are only little you know. Saying things like: 'According to the bible, who were Jesus' followers? ' will lead to unecessary confusion.

Original poster
PoxAlert · 18/09/2018 13:19

"But what a teacher tells you is very influential and I too think that schools need to be careful of presenting religion as fact. As an atheist I want my DS to understand that there are many religions in the world and to understand their beliefs and traditions, but not to be told that any are 'right'."

You and I are on the exact same page.

I'm sure I'm reading too much into it, she's very good at telling me what she's learned in school. So I'm sure I'll soon know.

We're a very "some people believe" house, and then we ask her what she thinks and respect her answer.

Current favourite point is Yetis. I'm set with my "no they're not real, I think people have seen polar bears in the snow and thought it was a yeti. DH likes to hope they are real. DD is 100% convinced. So there's not much hoping of changing her mind with these things anyway!

OP posts:
lalalalyra · 18/09/2018 13:19

There's basically no such thing as a non-faith state school in the UK. State schools are by default Christian and teach Christianity as such (and acts of worship are actually in rules/law for schools).

reluctantbrit · 18/09/2018 13:21

Why don't you just ask the school? It could be that the summary of the topic is quite differently worded than the actual lesson.

DD went to an Infant whose head took the "daily act of worship" quite strict, they had a morally/religious portion build in into each daily assembly. They still taught RE as "some people/Christians/Muslims/Hindu/Jews believe" (depending on what the topic in RE was).

Rebecca36 · 18/09/2018 13:22

I presume you haven't taught your children about Father Christmas.

Munchmallow · 18/09/2018 13:22

Excellent post @Babdoc

Original poster
PoxAlert · 18/09/2018 13:23

@Racecardriver

"Is it though? I think you are purposefully misunderstanding it. They would have worded the questions in exactly the same way of they were discussing a fictional book wouldn't they?

Who were Harry's best friend at Hogwarts?

How old was Harry when he went to wizard school?

That isn't the same as saying Harry Potter is a real person and wizards are real and Hogwarts is real."

Thank you!!! In one post you have completely changed the way I'm reading this curriculum! I was totally misunderstanding (although not purposefully)

Xxx

OP posts:
Benjaminbuttonschild · 18/09/2018 13:23

But what a teacher tells you is very influential and I too think that schools need to be careful of presenting religion as fact. As an atheist I want my DS to understand that there are many religions in the world and to understand their beliefs and traditions, but not to be told that any are 'right'

I was baptised, confirmed and went to Catholic Primary and High School. I had Catholicism shoved down my throat from an early age - all presented as fact, of course by well-meaning teachers and priests.

I still ended up an Atheist. I think what matters as the most important thing in life, is learning to think for oneself. My parents actively encouraged this. Hence I shunned Catholicism although I do appreciate its teachings. I don't appreciate its dogma.

A child able to think for themselves critically and respectfully is very important imo.

Figlessfig · 18/09/2018 13:23

I wouldn’t worry about it.

My kids went to school when non-denominational primary schools here were effectively Church of Scotland schools. There were prayers and hymns in assembly, grace before and after school dinners, story of the nativity and carols at Christmas. Kids and parents trooped along to the local church for the school’s Christmas and Easter services.

All of my kids and all of their friends grew up to be atheists. I think it’s a bit like Santa. Your parents tell you he’s real, and you believe it ... until you outgrow that kind of belief. My kids think God is a bit like Santa in that regard.