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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be angry that parents won't allow their children to go on school visit to local mosque?

346 replies

ptangyangkipperbang · 04/07/2007 14:06

DS2 is going on a school trip to the local mosque. However, the school nearly cancelled it because so many parents have refused to let their children go. I have only spoken to one parent who won't allow her child to go but she said "I'm not racist but...why should they visit a mosque when we daren't get a plane or go to a shopping centre because of that lot". Not racist .

OP posts:

meandmyflyingmachine · 04/07/2007 14:57

I have sometimes wondered whether these visits actually de-mystify things. Sometimes they seem to be presented more as a sort of 'safari' into strange places. I am dubious about them TBH.

Although not for the same reasons as stated in the OP...

speedymama · 04/07/2007 14:58

You are right DC. One of the reasons for the English Civil war was the clash of ideals between moderate Protesants and the more extreme Protesants (the Puritans).

MorocconOil · 04/07/2007 15:02

No you are not unreasonable to be angry about it. It's so depressing that people have this kind of attitude. What chance have our children got of a peaceful, harmonious future when these kinds of attitudes prevail?

An integrated society is the way forward, not one where people are suspicious and unaccepting of eachother on the basis of religion.

I wish all schools were doing these visits to all places of worship, then children would be able to make informed opinions about different faiths.

NikkiBFG · 04/07/2007 15:06

I'm Muslim and wouldn't have a problem if DS went to visit a church or a synagouge - in fact, Islam encourages people to study and learn about the world around them - other religions included - nowt wrong with it!

bookwormmum · 04/07/2007 15:10

That's only going to work though if the school trips were compulsory - otherwise you're still going to get an element who'll withdraw their children from such trips, whether from prejudice or fear (of the unknown?). I agree parents have the right to teach their children about other faiths at home (and being realistic, it'd be hard to stop them!) but those children should still have the opportunity to meet other religious leaders themselves if they are offered the chance.

SueBaroo · 04/07/2007 15:14

It's just not practical to make school trips compulsory, though, when you bump up against consent forms and insurance and all that.

littleducks · 04/07/2007 15:24

I am muslim and although i wouldnt want to send my kids to a church school or want them regularly attending church services with school as i feel it would confuse them, i strongly feel they should go on trips to visit churchs (or different types as well) in order for them to understand Christians and christianity better. This would go for all other faiths as well and equally. I remember a secondry school trip where we visited a church, synagogue, mandir, mosque, gudwara and finished the day at a buddhist retreat.

Cod- women are allowed in mosques, but in seperate areas to the men. Some mosques here are small and have been converted or are just not purpose built so do not always have adequate facilites for women 100% of the time (so men may have a time to go and women go at another time or just not at the busiest times). Women are working to ensure there is proper mosque access available here as elsewhere.

StarryStarryNight · 04/07/2007 15:29

I think it is something strikingly odd about going to a Christian school, not share the faith that holds the school community together but benefit from the education it brings, though not in Chrstian beliefs. And possibly take up a space for a child who is brought up in the Christian Faith and would love taking part in Assembly. Why would anybody want their child to go to a faith school but not share the faith?

I would not send my kids to a muslim school and insist he does not take part in the religious life of the school.

As to the OP, I think this is very sad. I think it is important that children learn about all major faiths and belief systems, and I think a visit to a Church, Mosque, Synagogue etc, is of high educational value.
But I suppose it also depends on the age?

We currently have friends visiting, and trying to explain to my son why our friend is wearing a turban, was a bemusing experience.

Anna8888 · 04/07/2007 15:30

How ignorant and narrow-minded...

Anna8888 · 04/07/2007 15:31

Sorry, that was to the OP about the other parents.

bozza · 04/07/2007 15:32

starry - usually because said school has better results/ofsted rating.

Ladymuck · 04/07/2007 15:35

Out of curiosity how many of you have been to a mosque? And if not do you feel that you would benefit?

IndigoMoon · 04/07/2007 15:38

my friend did not let her son go on a trip to a mosque. i never asked her if there were others kids who did not go i just assumed he would be in a minority.

dd is at nursery at the school she will start in september and i have wondered how religious it will be. it is a c of e school.

this is cos she came home the other day and told me the prayer they say to thank god for their lunch and i found it quite uncomfortable but not sure how to deal with it. i am moving more away from the christian faith, not that i was ever fervent anyway. i am finding myself being drawn to pagan but again would choose not to influence dd in that direction as i think it is her decision to make.

my mom and dad were the same with me, my mom is an athiest in all honesty.

gone a bit off topic sorry

StarryStarryNight · 04/07/2007 15:39

Ladymuck, it is a very good question. I have wanted to visit a mosque, I have stood outside the blue mosque in Amman keen to get in, but couldn't as I am not muslim.

Anna8888 · 04/07/2007 15:40

I've been to lots of mosques .

But I've never, ever been to a synagogue... and my partner is Jewish ...

SueBaroo · 04/07/2007 15:40

I've been to a mosque, yes. It was very ornate and attractive. Great carpet, too.

StarryStarryNight · 04/07/2007 15:43

Bozza, yes I too assume that the lure of a good education is of higher importance than staying true to your faith.

Justaboutmanaging · 04/07/2007 15:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

speedymama · 04/07/2007 15:46

I've been to a mosque and sikh temple but not hindu temple or synagogue. One day hopefully.

chopster · 04/07/2007 15:48

how do you get to visit a mosque?
I'd lvoe to take the kids.

chopster · 04/07/2007 15:49

speedymama, aren't you in London?

My kids love going to the swaminarayan one in neasden and there is a exhibition there too.

meandmyflyingmachine · 04/07/2007 15:49

See this is it. I have been to mosques. And synagogues. As a sightseer. I don't think I got any real insight from visiting them TBH.

CaptainUnderpants · 04/07/2007 15:52

Shame that parents are like this. I think it would have been interesting for the children and I would have quite like to go along if it was my school .

MorocconOil · 04/07/2007 15:54

On that subject Starry it really perplexes me how parents who are not Catholic, can send their child to a Catholic school because of it's academic reputation, and then not be concerned when their child is terrified about being sent to hell.

speedymama · 04/07/2007 15:56

Chopster, yes. The Mosque I visited was in Turkey and the Sikh temple in Birmingham.

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