To email school AGAIN re religious assemblies

[pineapplepenthouse]

I have twins in year 4 both in different classes. I have expressed my feelings about not letting them be involved in religious assemblies or having anything to do with religion. My children are in different classes. Today for the third time my DDs has come home saying he has been included in the religious assembly.
I have strong feelings on this but other mums just say 'it's not a big deal' and 'it didn't do us any harm'.

AIBU?

"How do you think children turn into rabid catholics, fundamentalist mormons, devout muslims, Continuity Anglicans etc?

It's not through having serious discussions about comparative beliefs."

It's not through school assemblies either! A Bible reading and a hymn does not a fundamentalist make!

However, I agree on principle that taking part in an assembly is really not the same thing as just learning about religion. All children should receive religious education, but religion should ideally be kept out of school assemblies.

Guineapig think religious parents shouldn't dictate what religion their dcs are either. Each person has a right to choose if they follow a particular religion or not. I was just replying to this particular thread.

No I wouldn’t because McDonald’s is a commercial business so there is no comparison.

Really? It's all marketing to me.

Really? It's all marketing to me.

You honestly can’t tell the difference between a community church and McDonald’s?

"Children can't make a choice about whether to follow a religion or not! Only adults can make those kinds of decisions. My children believe in fairies, santa, rabbits that deliver chocolates. They are completely unqualified to understand religion."

So, it's primary school? I had understood secondary.
Confirmation age is around 12 in CofE isn't it. Older in my denomination - 14 -18. Obviously if the child is 7 it's a different matter.

You honestly can’t tell the difference between a community church and McDonald’s?

The difference is more people go to McDonalds than they do a community church... so imo they probably have more place in schools than the church do 😂

I can't answer for the OP's intentions to teach her children about religion. My children do participate in religious ceremonies at school which I am fine with because I equate it with their childlike belief in magic. I counter things they come home saying and will be fine with then choosing to be religious when they are older if that is their choice. I don't impose my atheism on them because I can see that other people often need religion and can sometimes see it's benefits for others.

Being devoutly religious and scientific is a tricky one for me. I don't get that.

The issue is that the school appear to be disregarding the OP’s choice. It’s annoying but I don’t know that this is something I would get too bothered about unless you are concerned about what is being taught. However it does mean your DC are being treated differently and how they feel about that might be something to take into account.

I have a similar issue. My DM is in a care home and I think the new person organising the entertainment is very Christian. I’ve notices a lot more in the way of Salvation Army singalongs, etc. At this stage in her life my DM is immune to all the Christian messages but I find it insidious. I think participation in worship should be an active choice.

I have twins in year 4 both in different classes So it's a Scottish rural school. It's P4 in Scotland and also how come there are two classes for the same age group

Oh I meant to add. He is very young still but it is well worth giving his a polite script to stick to as this will happen frequently throughout his schooling.

I enrolled a young man into our school recently - no letter or record of the request in his file so he went to the assembly. We now have alternative arrangements and it is logged but had the lad been confident (which is hard!) in saying then we could have avoided the initial issue

I dont understand this hysteria about the kids attending an act of worship and praying. What do these things actually mean to kids anyway? A 'prayer' is just closing your eyes whilst you or someone else mutters something. Why take it all so seriously? Would you object to kids meditating?

Hundred

People go to McDonald's more and the Church has more influence on the State but, essentially, they are both fighting for customers.

I don’t think religious stuff in assembly’s are about dictating religion or making anyone follow religion. Most schools teach religious education as part of the curriculum the same as history, it’s actually a really interesting subject that covers lots of things. My dc’s went to a church school but are in no way religious or followers of Christianity, assemblies would cover subjects from other religions, kids were taught about Judaism for example. A lot of history is based on religion?

I don’t think you can expect your kids to be excused from anything that involves religion but I understand that you are angry because the school have ignored your wishes.

@WhatisFreddoingnow the op is being told that she should just let them go into the religious assembly and that it’s harmless but you can bet if she was a non Christian religion and didn’t want her kids to go into the assembly they’d be agreeing that the kids should not be expected to take part in a Christian worship, I hate the way Christianity is seen as the default and atheists are just expected to go along with it despite it going against their deeply held beliefs. No one would expect a Christian parent to allow their child to go along with a Muslim worship every day at school.

anyway in Scotland it's not year 4 , it's primary 4, making your children around 8 or 9 years old? surely it should be their choice what they take part in during their school day.

@derxa - why shouldn’t there be two classes in a single year group? Lots of schools have more than one.

How old is your son ? Maybe he likes the assembly ?

@derxa yes P4, they are 9 next month.

There are 3 P4 classes! It's a big village!

Presumably you will tell the teacher that you don’t want your child to receive any presents from Santa Claus at school either .

I’m assuming that Easter and Christmas holidays will be a no no too , and don’t forget to mention the kids can’t have Easter eggs .

"Gosh how terribly unfair and excluding for the child to miss assembly. Whatever can they do? Who's going to look after them? ... " Well perhaps they could go and sit with their twin who is already sitting out without problem? Bet there are other kids too.

It shouldn't be a big deal. We are pragmatic about it, discussion is open with kids and school. DS currently attends everything as he doesn't like being singled out. DD currently does not attend assemblies when the vicar comes in but doesn't mind sitting through the odd prayer normally. There are other kids who have to miss much more. DD sits with the others in the open library area and they read or do colouring, she was so happy and relieved when this started, the assemblies were really grating for her.

She tolerated nativity play, none too happily as it turned out after, she didn't think she had a choice. Christmas carol service in upper years is going to be a problem. Do you exclude a musical child from a huge chunk of the term's music and the only opportunity to perform on her instrument in her time in the school? Or do you force a child who feels strongly about atheism to sing a load of stuff that makes her cringe? I am cross that she has to make this choice but will support what she wants by exercising or not exercising our right to withdraw and I'm confident school will go along with our choice. Am hoping DD will feel less strongly by then! Religion has too much good music to miss it all generally.

most schools in scotland that ive came across have more than 1 class for each age/year group, our school have 2 p4's and a p3/4 composite class so that is usual.

Do people expect 8 year olds to be able to say to the teacher when they are on their way to assembly? I teach secondary school kids and think many 11 and 12 year olds would be a bit challenged. Imagine the teacher lining everyone up and marching you all along. Interrupting that flow is hard.

Are you going to make an appointment to see the headteacher OP?

most schools in scotland that ive came across have more than 1 class for each age/year group, our school have 2 p4's and a p3/4 composite class so that is usual. Not rural schools which are usually small.