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

[PoxAlert]

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.

Just to correct some previous posters

1. Jesus may have been a historical figure- historians differ.
2. Many schools in the UK- including non denominational ones (there are no secular schools) - do teach Christianity as fact. It often depends on the teacher.
3. All state schools have a statutory duty to conduct an act of Christian collective worship every day. Many schools interpret this requirement very broadly- but the requirement remains.

But you don’t know they’re being indoctrinated! Why make that assumption? It’s important that children learn about the major religions because they are important to understand, but it’s particualrly important to know about Christianity in order to understand British history, literature, music etc, as Christianity informed so much of it.

Otherwise when it comes to doing history the teacher is going to have to spend half their time explaining the basic tenents of Christianity before they can get started.

@Basecamp65 I think the kind of praying you are referring to happened at my high school I don't really see how it's offensive though? It's not really even praying if you don't want it to be. It's whatever you want to make of it really. Just time to think if that's all it is for you. At my school it would go something like this...

"Please bow your heads." Pause for a few seconds... "Help us to take part in more extra curricular activities such as the new art course run by Mrs whatever. Also help us to be helpful and kind to our classmates as we settle in to the new school year" pause for a few seconds.

And that was it. No "Heavenly Father" or "amen". It was just a moment to think and reiterate the message of the assembly.

There is a significant difference between being taught about faith, and telling children that a particular faith is true.

All state schools have a statutory duty to conduct an act of Christian collective worship every day. Many schools interpret this requirement very broadly- but the requirement remains

Statutory!!!

Say no more.

“Please bow your heads." Pause for a few seconds... "Help us to take part in more extra curricular activities such as the new art course run by Mrs whatever. Also help us to be helpful and kind to our classmates as we settle in to the new school year" pause for a few seconds.”

Who were you bowing your heads to, and who were you asking for help from?

You do know we have a state religion, don’t you?

Not you, Bertrand

“You do know we have a state religion, don’t you?”

So what?

There is historical evidence that Jesus existed... more so than Julius Caesar. No-one questions when Caesar invaded England as anything but fact.

You do know we have a state religion, don’t you?

Well we got rid of other medieval traditions, plenty of people are campaigning against religion in schools and religious state schools in general. I doubt I’ll see it before my children finish school sadly, but fingers crossed in my lifetime.

Bowing your head wasn't "to" anyone. It was to enable concentration. The latter wasn't specified.

I see where you're coming from, in that if you don't believe in any God at all then you might not feel the need to pray. I think most people can take that time to reflect on what's being said though without being offended or disgusted, as others have suggested.

RiverTam you’re right we do have a state religion, which is think is ridiculous in this day and age. I know they have their own issues, but I think the French model of separation of church and state is a much better option. Also, just because we have a state religion doesn’t mean that everyone has to practise it! We’re meant to be a tolerant society and our government’s policy of daily Christian worship is outdated and offensive to a large section of our society. I want to be clear I have no issue with people practising their own religion, it’s when it starts getting foisted on everyone and giving us no say in the matter which IMO is very, very wrong. Especially when those people are young children who will take in and believe everything their teacher tells them. Y1 is not too young to say, in Christianity XYZ, or Christians believe XYZ, or Christians celebrate XYZ because of XYZ.

Bizarre, isn’t it? Nobody would countenance giving Christians a bigger choice of tax payer funded hospitals- but people largely seem happy with Christians having a choice of around 30% more tax payer funded schools.....

Oh sure, I’m just responding to the person baffled by the statutory duty thing, it’s not that surprising considering we have a state religion. Not saying it’s right, just that with the one comes the other.

I’m pretty sure they don’t actually do this at DDs school, nor do they have harvest festival, the Christmas concert is called the Winter concert, Nativity play happens sporadically, and RE is taught as beliefs not facts. Beliefs that are important to know and understand.

I agree that there shouldn’t be faith schools paid for by the taxpayer. I’m simply saying that the classes shouldn’t be taught as fact (though they should be taught), the OP doesn’t know that that is actually happening, and her child will also be taught about other religions.

Chikitiki - you may have been asked to bow your head - my children and Grandchildren were TOLD to pray. When your children are told to pray - it implies a higher being is there even if it is not specific to any name you may give it.

I am not upset by praying but when any authority figure demands you do it - it is disrespectful to people with other beliefs and I was shocked and disgusted that schools still demanded it - not the act itself.

Jesus did exist, the issue that determines whether you are Christian or not is whether you believe he is the Son of God. At KS1 that cannot understand the nuance of biblical criticism so Jesus is taught more as historical narrative to lead into an understanding of how his teachings influence 3 billion people today.
Go examine the Agreed syllabus for your area and see what is taught which will include atheism.
Please don't bash RE as a subject, it is one of the most fulfilling out there, also I am an atheist and a secondary RE teacher. I love my subject because of the academic nature (similar to history) rather than the faith element which my kids sort out elsewhere.

@CardinalSin really? Where do you get your info from? And to what level have you studied biblical criticism...
Shall we discuss the mentions of Jesus in the Talmud, Josephus etc or would you like to lazily continue to just assume we rely on the Bible?

"Please don't bash RE as a subject,"

Nobody is.

Just teach her this.

The chances are that Jesus existed-but there is no certainty about it.

Incidentally, we have had a state religion for a very long time. But statutory Christian worship in state schools only since 1980.....

Jesus was a real person as recorded in history. Whether or not you believe he was the Son of God is a different matter.

Why do people bother, your kids will believe in primary, and then stop before secondary.
OP, they learn about all sorts of faith, why not download the nc for RE and look for yourself.