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?

I can't believe how many people think religion is NOT a commercial venture. Do you know how much money Catholislcisim brings in? Indoctrination is big business you know.

can they now? It's not the job of the receptionists to babysit and they have other things to do

It is their job if the school chooses to make it part of their job description, Don Corleone. It's one of a number of possible methods of complying with their legal obligations. If that is how the school chooses to meet legal requirements, it's not up to staff members to object.

Who is going to fund the extra hours of the play or lunchtime assistants? you are not suggesting they work for free do you?

Why is it extra hours? A TA sits outside with a few children rather than sitting in the assembly hall with a number of other children. S/he is being paid either way.

If there is an extra cost, the school has to deal with it, just as it has to deal with the costs involved in complying with all its other legal obligations. It's precisely what the school is given public money for. I simply don't understand your perception that it is somehow totally unreasonable to expect schools to obey the law.

One parent doesn't want an assembly, one parent doesn't want PE ...

The difference is obvious. There is a legal right to withdraw your child from acts of worship, there is no legal right to withdraw your child from other aspects of the curriculum. Absurd argument.

Worship in one thing, but hearing about a subject you don't like is another.

Yet again, there is a basic difference between RE and acts of worship. OP has made it clear she is perfectly happy for her children to learn about religions. Why do you keep ignoring that?

I'm confused at this idea that the only people to tell children to be kind can be religious ones.

Are parents not already doing this? Grandparents? Teachers? Visiting policeman? Other responsible adults?

If not, why not?

And if so, why is the extra contingency of a vicar required? It can't be the religious angle because they're just telling them to be kind - no strings attached.

What am I missing?

@Femaleassassin, do you really think that a service led by a church minister is going to be limited to a few words about being kind to each other?

@SaturdayNext

THANK YOU. Somebody else with some sense.

It seems you are quite ignorant on history, and I suggest you read into this more.

I have a Classics degree from Oxford and a Theology degree from London. Thank you for your kind suggestion, but I'm still confident that I know more about the history of Christianity and Christianity in Roman times than someone who makes the following statement:

Christmas has very little to do with Jesus and it's history has nothing at all remotely to do with Jesus. It's a marketing concept actually by Coca-Cola.

Janedoe5000
if you think it's a clever idea to ignore something that built the world as it is, explain people behaviour even today, then I pity your children.

Just denying religion won't make it disappear. You must be very weak if you fear to be indoctrinated by learning about religions. The rest of us don't, and can learn about the various religions in the world without getting sucked in.

I even go to religious weddings and funerals or family events from friends of different faiths, my kids and I are yet to be converted!

There is a difference between learning about religion as an academic subject and practising a specific religion. Both of these are statutory requirements in English and Welsh state schools. But is does seem to be a difference many posters struggle with. I have no idea why.

Janedoe5000 I don’t know where you live but if you’re in Scotland you are welcome to come to my school every day for a year and listen out for when I tell children that they’ll burn in hell or that a religion is true. Instead you’ll see young people developing their critical thinking skills, learning about other people’s beliefs, human rights, and getting a qualification accepted by all universities. You’ve obviously had a bad experience but it’s crazy to assume that’s what RS is like nowadays for all.

The OP’s children should be withdrawn from RO as that is her right.

“There is a difference between learning about religion as an academic subject and practising a specific religion.”
I think i’m going to pop back every hour or so to post the above sentence UNTIL EVERYONE GETS IT!!!!!!!!

A a church group coming in every week to do bible stories is evangelism

I disagree. In RE lessons children are taught about bible stories as part of learning about what Christians believe. That’s not evangelising any more than is telling bible stories in assembly. I’ve sat through some of these assemblies. They’re boring, but no-one is telling children the word of god is the truth and that they should believe the stories they tell are true.

I think you are making your beliefs (personal beliefs ) a priority over the school running and your children personally

What if your kids turn to religion ? Will you disown them or sue the school ?

I would let it slide as your views can’t take precedence over everything surely ?

“There is a difference between learning about religion as an academic subject and practising a specific religion“

Janedoe5000

Bless you. ⛪️🙏

@stopfuckingshoutingatme hardly.

It's my right to withdraw them. It's not really my problem if it causes a hassle.

My children still take part in RE. It's religious worship I don't agree with.

Organised school religion is the best way of creating atheists yet invented
work with it
not against it

Good point PP. actually reading the bible has the same effect too. Old Testament in particular.

There is a difference between learning about religion as an academic subject and practising a specific religion.
Bears repeating Have you got any good mantras about being able to celebrate traditional seasonal festivals without being Christian?

Bertrand I get the difference. I think it's so small I don't care. Now do you think you could stop patronising posters.

There were kids in my ds schools that didn't do RE, nobody to look after them though as usually school assemblies. Mums used to come up and take them out during the assemblies.
have you checked they have a spare person or other suitable classes for your children to attend during this time.

Can you not let your children decide whether they want to go or not? Instead of saying it's my right! Perhaps ask what they would like to do.

Maybe he likes going! 🤷‍♀️

Tbh I'd do away with re teaching as well, and definitely in the GCSE years.