Class wedding - just me or is it a bit creepy?

[NotAnotherJaffaCake]

CofE primary, quite churchy. Rural catchment so no choice of schools unless you want to drive. They are organising a Class Wedding for one of the KS1 class - basically role playing a wedding at the local church.

Is it just me or is this creepy? Can't put my finger on it but it feels entirely inappropriate for small children. It's one thing kids messing about playing but another thing to be told by a vicar that God will not permit divorce. And there is no way this school will demonstrate a Jewish or Hindu wedding, let alone a gay one. And how do the kids whose parents have split up or never married in the first place feel?

AIBU?

Presumably all the outraged posters prevent their kids seeing a church wedding either in real life or on TV?

When my kids were acting out a wedding with my MIL (as I posted earlier) they got the idea from the Disney Robin Hood film. They were being the Maid Marian and Robin Hood foxes getting married.

I wouldn't prevent my child from viewing a traditional wedding on TV any more than I would stop her from watching the voodoo scenes in Live and Let Die.

Does not mean I want her to participate in either.

I wouldn't pull my child out of school for it, but I would definitely discuss my discomfort with the head.

Before you discuss your discomfort it might be a good idea to get some accurate information regarding the lesson. I see nothing sinister in the accounts of PPs who have been on these trips.

If something is on the curriculum, I think it's a real bonus if it can be taught outside the classroom. Class outings are educational in loads of ways.

Surely if you send your child to a CofE school you expect a fairly in depth coverage of Christian ceremonies/celebrations/important dates etc?

My children’s school did mock christenings and mock weddings, kids enjoyed it, think it was more fun for them to learn that way than just reading a book or listening to a teacher.

Your dc school would have to teach about other faiths too, probably in another year. British values have to be part of the whole school planning too. Weddings and celebrations are part of the RE curriculum in KS1. Young children always ask about marrying the same sex. I would hope & expect the teachers talk about this too.

You have the right in law to withdraw your child from RE lessons and religious assemblies. This is regardless of whether it is a faith school or not.

How lovely for the child to be othered from all their peers, I’m sure that would do them the world of good. Because witnessing a mock Christian marriage ceremony will scar them for life.

C of E schools are Diocesan schools.

I can't help wondering what people are scared of. It's not like this activity is going to influence any five year old for life.

I went to Sunday school throughout my childhood, attended a Cof E Aided infant school, sang in the school choir, and am an atheist.
My inlaws are religious my daughters occasionally went to their church/Sunday school equivalent when we visited, and witnessed their grandparents and other relatives say grace before every meal. Their favourite Great aunt is a vicar.
Both my girls are atheist, too.

Sang in the CHURCH choir, I mean.

Oh...and of course back then there were no mosques or Hindu temples for us to visit. Or even anyone from another religion around. And of course no same sex anything to be seen. Yet I'm still respectful, interested and inclusive of all.

Marrying two of the little kids is a bit weird. This isn’t child lead, this is teacher / vicar lead, which makes it inappropriate.

Will the bride be given away by one of the boys in the class? That would be inappropriate.

It’s also a bit much in terms of having the potential to influence children’s values.

I did this with my class and just decided that the class teddy bears would be the marrying ones, the rest of the children were just guests!

Would you feel the same regarding any other religion? Are you unhappy bc it's Christianity?

Every religion has disagreeable tenets.

I always wonder at the defense of hajibs when numerous moderate Muslim women who didn't own them, had to go out for serious reason and were murdered for not wearing one. Nobody thinks that's good, but now there is great defense of being able to wear one. Yes. It's good if you're wearing it bc it's your choice.

There is little tolerance for gay rights in Muslim countries. But Christians who think gay marriage is wrong are censored more harshly in the media. (I don't care who marries whom)
If someone refused to host a Muslim wedding there would be great anger. But it's okay and justified to resent a Christian fake wedding?

I think that people/society needs religion of some form bc it's a guidepost for morality.
If we don't use religion, we could use government and that is a DISASTER.

Politicians are worse than religious people bc they also make laws that send us to jail and take our money in taxes.

At least Christianity punishes us after we're dead and the tithe isn't attached to our paychecks. And religions in the west are voluntary now...can't escape government.

I believe in the 10 Commandments and 7 Deadly Sins. And kindness, tolerance and love.

I don't know if there is an "invisible man in the sky" ....but i believe in spirituality.

My point is that all religions are laced with good and bad. Hating one above the others because it's the one we know isn't wise.

Christianity has many many sects/facets. I think everyone has a right to celebrate ....or find comfort in whichever religion, including Christianity, they choose.

To choose wisely, one needs to understand religions. I only use one comparison to Christianity bc it's the only one I know a little about. 20 years ago, I was horrified by the abuse against women who didn't wear the proper garments.

Today, I am horrified at the genocide of Christians throughout the world and rise of anti-Semitism. And the silence regarding both.

My long winded response is that it's children learning about religion. All of us rebel as teens. This is not going to hurt your children. But it may help them understand Christianity ...and make an informed decision to follow or discard it.

My school did this and I was the bride. It was really lovely and the photos are fun to look back at. My dad even made an appearance to watch me get ‘married’ which was so lovely as he passed away not long after and won’t ever see me be properly married

Marrying off young kids in a church ceremony... nothing weird or creepy about that at all....

Maybe they can balance it out by depicting a pregnant unmarried couple at some point later in the year.

And how would they work that into the national curriculum @wafflyversatile? What kind of educational narrative would that fit?

Maybe they can balance it out by depicting a pregnant unmarried couple at some point later in the year.

Lol.

It's that psychopathic bunny dispensing toothrot and diabetes they need to worry about.

YANBU. It's creepy,too much and making young children think there is only one 'right' type of marriage and as if it's something they must aim for as adults.
I never did this as a kid at any school so this must be exclusive to religious schools.
Keep the kids off that day!

Maybe they can balance it out by depicting a pregnant unmarried couple at some point later in the year.

Is that not the Christmas story?

It's weird. promoting old fashioned ideals and not very productive if it isn't inclusive of the whole of society.

Religion is creepy full stop.

And weddings are a bit 1985.....

Why is marriage old fashioned? Thousands of people get married every year. And it’s not an ideal, it’s a lifestyle choice.

Weddings are a bit 1985? They’re a constant source of angst around here so that clearly isn’t the case. We’re really scraping the barrel now, aren’t we?

Statists show that around 67% of families include couples who are married or in a civil partnership. Marriage is hardly outdated or uncommon - children are still most likely to be raised in a home with two adults in a marriage or civil partnership.