Would this make you uncomfortable?

[GoneAndDoneItAgainAgain]

Dc1’s attend a C of E school. It’s the only school in town so no real choice about it. We’re not a religious family, 8yo dc1 has said he doesn’t believe in God, 4yo dc2 hasn’t really thought about it. I’m happy for them to attend to the religion based assemblies, if dc have any questions about it I don’t say it’s untrue or anything, just ‘what do you think?’

Anyway, yesterday dc2 had a class assembly as they’re not currently doing while school assemblies. They were talking about prayers and how to talk to God. They were told to shut their eyes, hold their hands together and think about God and all the wonderful things he did for them. Then the lights came on even though the teacher was no nowhere near the light switch. Teacher told them the lights came on because God had heard them praying and wanted them to know he loved them. Children all amazed and coming home super excited about proof that God exists and listens to them.

Now, obviously I don’t know if this is exactly what happened. There have been messages between the parents on our WhatsApp group where we’re all just thinking WTF and that it’s really inappropriate. But, it could have been a power cut or something, or lights randomly just came on and reached on the spot decided to say it was God. Or maybe she didn’t say it was God at all and the kids just decided that’s what it was.

If it was as DC report though is that unreasonable behaviour by the teacher? It a religious school so obviously they will learn about God, I just wasn’t expecting the teacher to be faking his existence!

Look it’s a religious school for children of people who believe that religion.

That’s not really true. For a faith-based schools are not there just for children of people who believe. They sometimes discriminate against children on the basis of their parents’ religion if they can get enough parents who actually are of their chosen religion to apply, but otherwise they fill their seats with any child they can get and local authorities will allocate children to the school’s empty places without any concern for the parents’ religion.

Faith-based schools are predominantly funded by (mainly non-believing) taxpayers and educate a wide range of children, Many of whom attend not because of its faith-based character but because it is the school they were assigned when they applied. It may well have been their first choice but for most it wouldn’t have been their first choice because of the faith-based character but because they want a school that is accessible with undue stress or costs on the family. Without all these children who just want a decent state education and are not believers, many (probably most) faith-based school would not be viable.

Are religious schools funded solely by the church?

Why send your children to a religious school if you’re that opposed to them discussing God? Send them elsewhere. It might be the only school close to you, but as you’re unhappy, look further afield and find out which schools in driving distance could take your dc. I’m guessing you won’t as it would be inconvenient... you’d rather just complain and moan about the ethos of a school you ultimately chose to send your dc to.

I went to a C of E primary school and have always said we were simply led to believe god existed, no question about it.

Pure speculation about the lights. Pointless thread then really.

@custardbear

Religion and schools should be banned. Teach theories of religion by all means but kids shouldn't be indoctrinated via schools

Your child's teacher lied to everyone in the hope that they'd 'believe' - honestly, completely unacceptable

Next time perhaps she'll talk to the devil and set the school on fire to make her lie a truth?!

I think they should be banned or at least teach atheism and that religion is a belief it’s not factual.

I wouldn’t take issue with it any more than I’d take issue with someone talking about the tooth fairy or Father Christmas. Adults often make stories up to tell children about something in a mysterious or magical way. I wouldn’t worry personally. They’re at a religious school so you can’t complaint about the teacher teaching about god.

@Sunshineandsparkle if you'd read the thread you'd have seen that OP has explained about other schools in the area

I think your over thinking this as you said you don’t know exactly what happened. Let it go no harm has really been done.

We are practising Catholics and the kids go to Catholic schools and this would make me uncomfortable but because it's belittling and condensing God down to a party trick basically.

I can't believe that people still can not grasp that it is sometimes unavoidable to send your child to a CoE school. Our town's only school isn't classed as a religious school yet still takes the kids up to the local Church, has the local reverends in to come in and tell the kids about god, sing hymn and stuff.

We don't have another school. We have one and luckily it's a good one.
The nearest town is 30+ miles away. It's not feasible to take my kids there and try and get them a place in the oversubscribed schools.

But like the world of MN, even my own sister (who lives 200 miles away) refused to believe that I did not have to put down three schools and hope we got a place in the top choice. She couldn't grasp that my eldest automatically went to the only high school and all I did was sign a consent form.

I can't believe that people still can not grasp that it is sometimes unavoidable to send your child to a CoE school.

I think they can but because it’s likely their chosen religion, they don’t care or see the problem, but if it was a different religion, they’d quickly change their tune.

Good point @phoenixrosehere

@ChesterDrawsDoesntExist also I think when it's peoples religion or they don't see a problem with indoctrination they just get bratty 'don't don't bloody go then ' attitude, avoiding the main issue - religion doesn't belong in schools unless it's taught as theory

avoiding the main issue - religion doesn't belong in schools unless it's taught as theory

Agree. Children can learn religion from home and places of worship, why do they need it in schools too unless it’s about learning about all religions and faiths in an objective, impartial manner.

@phoenixrosehere

avoiding the main issue - religion doesn't belong in schools unless it's taught as theory

Agree. Children can learn religion from home and places of worship, why do they need it in schools too unless it’s about learning about all religions and faiths in an objective, impartial manner.

100% this.

I went to a Catholic high school. There we were taught science. Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

We were taught about religion and various beliefs in RE.

We were also forced to attend mass, pray, and were told unequivocally that god was real, Jesus performed miracles and came back from the dead and an 800 bloke built a boat and the whole planet was repopulated by every animal he magically kept on that boat. And we're all descended from two people, Adam and Eve.
Looking at my standard 10 toes, I doubt that bit too.

Science does not back up religion and in many cases, directly opposes it.

I find it incredulous that a school can teach you something in one classroom and tell you that it's untrue in the next.

Keep religious indoctrination out of all schools. Allow prayer if they wish, allow compliance with religious beliefs at home (such as not eating pork products, or fish on Fridays, wearing head coverings etc) and definitely teach them about all religions and their beliefs to give a better wider understanding of our fellow humans, but don't tell them that your version is the truth or that you know that there is definitely a god and the children should believe it.