To feel annoyed at school motto

[WeasleyWoman]

DS's primary school is CofE state mainstream. Its official motto is love hope forgiveness or similar which is great but on all letters they now say. Learning for Life: Ready to take our place in God's World.
I guess this shouldn't matter but it pisses me off. Why is it his world? Why not our world? The children's world? It might as well say Learning for life: ready to bow to the patriarchy and conform.
Aibu

@gutentag1

Don't send your child to a religious school and then get annoyed when they incorporate religion.

The problem is that in rural areas there isn't a choice of school and many village schools are CofE. In our village the primary is CofE. The next nearest school is also CofE. I would have to have gone 6 miles before getting to a primary that isn't a Church school.

I'll caveat by saying I don't believe in God btw.

@WeasleyWoman

As others have pointed out without the funds to go private there is not a lot of choice involved in him going to a CofE school. It is our state funded catchment school and it not like they are preaching intolerance or anything. I am happy for him to go there. It is a good school. I just find the motto a little subservient and depressing. Why not be more hopeful? Strive for peace or hope or excellence for everyone not matter what their beliefs not just fit in and take our place.... seems a wasted opportunity

You are not really reading that motto according to what the CoE believes, so it's not surprising they like it more than you.

What does it mean, from that perspective to take your place in God's world? It's a little more than place-holding and more like fulfilling your role as a human being - to love and be loved.

OTOH, excellence for everyone is the kind of oppressive stuff you see in countries like the US where people believe that if only everyone tries hard, and gets the right support, we'll all be excellent.

@WorraLiberty

Have you voiced any of this to the school OP?

Of course not! This is very much a mumsnet annoyance not for rl

I am a Christian but think the phrase is a bit odd...

It could be something like "learning and growing in sight of God"

I just find the "taking your place" parts bit odd.

Will they explain it?

Good!

If you don't agree with religion send your child to a different school. It isn't rocket science. It's like going to a steakhouse and moaning because they serve meat. Some folk.

@cariadlet

I'm an atheist. DD is an atheist. She chose a C of E secondary school. The religion was pushed more when they had a change of Head than we thought it would be from our initial visit but we knew it was a church school so sucked it up. You can't complain about a church school referencing God in its slogans.

You CAN complain, and I have had some success, when explaining how too much can alienate non-religious families.

But in principle, you can complain about anything. If others don't want to complain that is fine, but in a free country you can complain to any state-funded school.

You just need to buy a nice green pen.

I suppose what the sticking point is is what is meant by "your place". In the denomination I grew up in, that's not a subservient thing. The aim of "your place" in the world is to improve and care for it and the people within it, no matter who they are. Love your neighbour, you know?

It’s your choice to send them there; when I moved areas my children didn’t get a place in any of the schools I applied for and got a place at a CofE school that I didn’t apply for, I declined the place as I didn’t want them going to a religious school. I waited for a space at one of my chosen schools.

Everyone's saying if you send your child to a church school, you have to accept them incorporating religious content into their teaching and school motto etc.
But this is the local school. It is counted as available educational provision. The council aren't going to build a mainstream school there because there is a school already. People don't have the choice. No state school should be connected to religious bodies.

@HoneysuckIejasmine that would be my understanding as well.

I went to a religious school which had a similar motto. Predicated on the belief that all of God's children have a place in the world and a role to play as good citizens etc. It wasn't intended to diminish or demean anyone.

Loveinatime why should a family have to leave a village where their families have lived for generations because the government isn't providing an alternative school? Not everyone can homeschool (because they work). Not everyone can drive. Most people to be honest don't have a major issue with their local village school having a church link and village C of E school the admissions are usually that living in the village (regardless of family faith) has a higher priority than being a practicing Christian. They are local schools for local kids and most people are fine with that. Without knowing whether the OP 'chose' this particular school or it's the default catchment school it's hard to know really if she is 'being unreasonable'.

You chose a faith school for your child. They are partially funded by the church. If you don’t like it, put them in the nearest state school.

It's a Christian school.

You are being completely unreasonable.

My son will be going to a Catholic school in September. The school motto is a religious one, it's a faith school so as others have said it's to be expected.
(To add I'm Catholic so doesn't bother me at all anyway).

My son will be going to a Catholic school in September. The school motto is a religious one, it's a faith school so as others have said it's to be expected.
(To add I'm Catholic so doesn't bother me at all anyway).

@WeasleyWoman - God is an omnipotent, omnipresent being. I don't think God really has a sex so I don't understand your comment about the patriarchy. As for conforming.... well yes, it is a Church of England so the school would expect you to conform to the teachings of Christianity, no? Christian's believe God created the world.... hence God's world. Where is the confusion here?

Fyi, I don't believe in God but this isn't difficult to fathom.

The UK is unique in that all schools must include 'worship' and Church schools are also more religious than you'd think.

Every year I hope a new generation might help us end this, but instead they are surprised, having not noticed before. Many are also complicit, 'playing the game' by attending church in the hope of a school place.

Play religious games, get religious prizes.

I think you are absolutely within your rights to dislike this. Sadly, with the prevalence of faith schools in this country, you probably won’t get far. A shame that state funded faith schools are still considered reasonable in the 21st century.

I agree with @HoneysuckIejasmine about the meaning of "your place". Its not about subservience. But more that everyone has a place in this world. Ie everyone matters.

This, in a nutshell, is why by default, all schools should be secular unless a parent wants to pay to go religious.

You may be 'lucky', like I was to attend a C of E Lite primary; or my DSs whose schools weren't religiously affiliated; but expecting someone to move house if the school is the 'local, default catchmented' one- is unreasonable.

@Karenista

You chose a faith school for your child. They are partially funded by the church. If you don’t like it, put them in the nearest state school.

But did she 'choose'?

Many people have no option other than to attend the local, village school. If the council would provide transport so you could 'send your child to the nearest state school', (despite the fact the C of E is a 'state school', btw), that would be different.

You are being utterly ridiculous.

Religious schools tend to do that.