to think that some non-religious parents over-react just a teensy-weensy bit when their children are exposed to religion in the most benign form?

[SueBarooeeooeeooooo]

s'ok if I am. But threads complaining about this sort of thing are a regular MN feature, and I can't help thinking that some parents seem tremendously precious about it. We're Christians and it often comes up that not everyone believes the way we do, and I talk to my children about it and they wander off and scribble on the lounge walls again.

I've seen people complaining about Christian mums and tots groups, simple 'thankyou' prayers and christian charities. I am 100% ok with you bringing your children up atheist, theist, or chocolate-worshipping. Honestly, if I whipped myself up into a panic over every mention of different beliefs or none that my children encounter, I'd never get anything done.

(Please note, this is not a church schools whinge, I'm against selection on religious grounds.)

Agree with edam.

The only thing I get peeved about re religion is when leaflets are shoved in my hand or I'm accosted in the street, or when I get folk knocking on my door, who then deem it necessary to question why I dont believe in God. MYOB, and I'll mind mine.

I think it's very important for all children to learn about all cultures and beliefs. Particularly the main belief of the country they live in.

I'm not "terrified", it just seems wholly irrelevant. Discussion in religious studies is fine but the issue of god should stop there since irrelevant

Tinker, is it really the default position of secular schools in this country? Or are there just some religious people involved in education?

As a believer, compare it to your child having to repeat a poem that denied the existance of your God, every day. And bein kept back from going to lunch if they didn't. If that happened would you just explain that some people believe and others don't and just move on?
Furthermore, if your child is upset by this and vocalising their unhappiness about it at home would you ignore it?

Justabout...would you be happy if your school taught that there are fairies living at the end of your garden?

and then made you pray and sing to them eveyday.

Hmm..dyou get it?

If your child is upset by something, then yes, of course you speak to the school about it. The vast majority of the complaints I'm talking about focus on the very fact that prayer happens, or that mums and tots groups sing a christian song at the end or something like that.

But Lil, there are fairies living at the bottom of the garden, arent there?

Oh, dear lord, please don't tell me you don't believe in faires?

I do! I just thought someone was trying to suggest that they dont exist......

In which case - who have I been talking to at the bottom of my garden?

My DS is too young for school yet, so how much of a nuisance superstition is going to be is something we'll find out about in due course. I don't much like having religion peddled at mum and toddler groups when those mum and toddler groups are partly funded by the council and on the list given out at the health clinic because I think it's offputting to all the people who aren't into that kind of thing, be they athiests, muslims, hindus or jews - if every other week at playgroup you're invited to a church service it can feel like the assumption is that you share this superstition and if you don't you're not supposed to be there.

But isn't /wasn't this a Christian country? It would surely stand to reason that a school's default position is Christian
A school in a part of the world where a different religion is the main one for that country would have a different default??
I'm really not sure but thought I'd venture a point????
A lot of this country is built on Christian values so it still remains in the beaurocracy of the system -again unsure but thought I'd have a go!!!

hmm " our pixie who art in the bramble bush, hallowed be thy name...."

I'm pretty sure you are supposed to have a 'broadly Christian Act of Worship' every day in school. Because OFSTED were very unhappy with lack of said act of worhip at one of the schools I taught in. But maybe it has changed.

I think getting upset over a mention of God in a toddler group run by the Baptist Church in a Baptist church is a bit . And I know people who have been.

but we're not over reacting just because we're furious that our children are being taught what in our eyes is myth and legend.

Grrr....And Christians don't own certain 'values' . Decent behaviour is valued by non christians too. (see how arrogance creeps in when religions defend themselves)

That wasn't my point lil. My point was really about this country and not the values

No PW, probably didn't notice, but I am impressed now!

I do apologise. I was responding to posts other than the OP. But I hope my subsequent post was more to the point...

I agree with justabout that everyone has a choice, so having their children exposed to a bit of religion is just part of that choice. I disagree as much with the woman at church who won't let her dd go to a youth group that isn't Christian, as I do with the parent who is atheist and objects to their children being exposed to religion in their life.

I find it odd that people send their kids to Brownies and then complain about the prayers, for example. It seems barking to me. Saying a simple prayer can be as much of a meditation on wordly things that we hold precious eg friendship, nature, as it can be an act of religious worship. It's hardly going to turn kids from Key Stage 2 into religious zealots.

"what in our eyes is myth and legend"

this is exactly why these threads always turn into bloodbaths lil

someone turns up and rubbishes something that others believe in strongly and base their lives around

low blows like that are best left till after midnight when everyone has had a bit too much to drink

I must be one of these "precious" atheist parents. I would not class myself as a "persecuted minority". I definitely do not want my child growing up with religion as a part of his education which is why he will be going to a non religious school which is out of area. I have purposely chosen this school because it does not teach religion or celebrate religious festivals. It was a toss up between me driving to and from this school on a daily basis or having my son home schooled.