To question the teacher/school

[khlo5]

Year 1 DC came out of school saying. ,I learned that God made the world and the people and you and me. And he is watching us all the time to see if I am being good. Jesus saved us all etc etc '

Now on the face of it - nothing wrong with this. However
I purposely did not send him to a church school as I don't want Christianity taught as fact. (Which it seems to have been in this case).

We have spoken at home previously about different people believing different things. He is aware that they are beliefs not fact. But seems confused his teacher said it was true.

Aibu to mention this to the teacher? Or am I just being a complete knob?

Ooh. ..this'll go well

I'd check first They could be doing all major religions and Christianity was that day.

Why can’t you simply redress the balance by talking about it at home? Borrowing books from the library?

We are atheists who’s children went to a church school. Anything the school said we discussed as a family and let the children come to their own conclusions.

Here we go!

There’s nothing wrong with asking. Go in with an open mind though-kids misunderstand all sorts of stuff they’ve been told by their teachers.

@Gatehouse77 we have a range from the book people which covered each religion. I'll dig them back out! Thanks

@PurpleDaisies very true. Often the case with all Children

They are usually taught "Christians believe..." as well as "Hindus believe" or "Muslims believe etc.

It is a story, just like the bed time stories. You just say, "Yes, that is what Christians believe," and then move on.

I’ve had a fair few conversations with parents over the years where I’ve had to clear up a few “Miss Purple said...” when I haven’t said anything like that. I never mind that sort of thing. It goes with the territory!

🍿

Most British schools that don't specify otherwise teach Christianity as fact - Christmas, Easter etc.

Just do what we did opt out of religious education. Put it in writing (they will insist on it) as well as telling them in person.
You may need to remind them at the start of each school year but it saves so much hassle .
Both of mine were withdrawn from RE until high school for dd as that's when they started to teach evolution ds has asd and will never take part in it.
Also as a plus ds gets to spend time with the Jewish and Muslim students who are also withdrawn from RE and is good friends with them

YANBU to clarify with the school whether the teachers say ‘Christians believe’ or state it as fact.

Just remind them that people have different beliefs . Despite going to a C of E catchment school - mine are scientifically minded and adamant that they are atheist . Children make up their own minds .

At my DD's school the local vicarvsometimes goes in to do the lessons, could this be what is happening here?

I would eat my hat if the teacher hadn't started the sentence with 'Christians believe....'
Easily rectified at home with 'yes, darling, Christians believe that.'
No need to mention it to the teacher.

I love the fact that you are thinking of doing the rational, adult thing of asking a question, rather than ranting, fuming, frothing or incandescent with rage. 🍾🎇
Perhaps there’s hope for the parents of MN yet!
By all means, go and find out. School should be using the ‘Many Christians believe...’ approach.

"God made the world and you and me" sounds to me like the lyrics of a hymn/assembly song.

Even non-church schools are supposed to do regular corporate worship. But that sounds more like RE teaching and I would just check with the teacher what was actually said.

I wouldn’t go to the school all guns blazing, but a polite email asking them to clarify their stance on religious education in the classroom wouldn’t go a miss. If what they come back with sounds at odds with what your DC is describing, you could then take it further.

My first primary school teacher was an evangelical Christian and her approach to the subject in class was, in retrospect, shocking and would probably not be allowed today. My dad once clashed with her at parents’ evening upon discovering that we had been learning to recite the names of the books of the Bible in order alongside learning our times tables. But his approach with me was just to try to balance it out by explaining that different people believe different things and he explained why didn’t believe the Bible was true. And he once took me to see an exhibition about Darwin at the Natural History Museum to cancel out my teacher’s creationist teaching.

If it's a general RE lesson, surely the teacher shouldn't say the bit about Jesus watching you. And, would a young child understand the bit about some people believing and others not. Bloody hell - more confusing and creepy than the Christmas elf. You could just gently enquire what actually was said.

Absolutely no harm in asking for clarification.

I’d ask. I’d also feel the need to clarify that the children were misunderstanding it (if indeed they are).

I wouldn’t want my kids to think Jesus was always watching them. But I suppose that is what Christians believe?? Although, weird in the context here, for children.

Schools are no longer allowed to teach 'creationism' at any level

It sounds more like half-remembered lyrics of a hymn (“Who put the Colours in the Rainbow?” springs to mind).