To remove dd from RS

[MossandRoy]

The lack of balance is annoying. There is an assumption that there is a god. There is an assumption that everyone believes in that god. I can remove her. Has anyone done this successfully? I'm concerned she'll be given a hard time...

Some will. Obviously not all like you seem to believe would be the case but encouraging young people to think and to realise that opinions other than those they hear in the home exist is much more likely to have an impact than leaving them in the bubble of the homes attitudes

Ok. So do that in a civics class.

It's all knowledge about the world, information about what other people believe. I think they should include Judaism and Islam as well. Knowledge is power . Not brainwashing.

@KeflavikAirport

Ok. So do that in a civics class.

Why?

My DC go to a CofE school, we’re Atheist but it’s the only school in our village so we didn’t have a choice. They have been raised agnostic I guess, they know what our beliefs are but they’re welcome to choose their own. I think it’s important to learn about other people’s beliefs to avoid ignorance and bigotry. As it stands, none of them believe in God.

Because there are ample instances on this thread of teachers using RS as an excuse to proselytize.

Still not convinced that average levels of bigotry in the UK are noticeably lower than countries that don’t teach RS.

@KeflavikAirport

Those most in need of it don’t have their minds changed by RE classes, or Tommy Robinson wouldn’t be a bigot.

You could say something similar about every subject taught in schools, though, @KeflavikAirport. Studying English literature won’t make everyone into a keen reader/doing Art won’t make everyone into an artist/studying music won’t make everyone a musician, but we still consider these subjects to have value to everyone. And this doesn’t just apply to the Arts - learning maths/science won’t make everyone into serious mathematicians/scientists, but will teach them skills/knowledge worth having.

If we only taught subjects that would have a major impact on every pupil, we wouldn't teach any subjects.

@KeflavikAirport

Still not convinced that average levels of bigotry in the UK are noticeably lower than countries that don’t teach RS.

We haven't said they were!

As for the ample examples, they are hearsay.

You could say something similar about every subject taught in schools

It’s harder to function as a society if people don’t have a basic grasp of language and number, so they need to be core curriculum. You can function perfectly well as a society without compulsory RS.

People have written of their own direct recent experience of proselytizing on this thread. And grandiose claims that RS makes a more tolerant society are hardly backed by solid evidence.

@KeflavikAirport

People have written of their own direct recent experience of proselytizing on this thread. And grandiose claims that RS makes a more tolerant society are hardly backed by solid evidence.

Yes and I have said I know a number of fantastic re teachers. It's all anecdotal.

You don't have strong grounds to have it removed. You just have grounds as to why it wouldn't matter if it was.

It wouldn’t matter because other countries that don’t teach RS somehow still manage to turn out mostly decent, non-bigoted citizens.

@KeflavikAirport

You could say something similar about every subject taught in schools

It’s harder to function as a society if people don’t have a basic grasp of language and number, so they need to be core curriculum. You can function perfectly well as a society without compulsory RS.

But I didn’t just mention core subjects - I mentioned literature, art and music too. Most, if not all subjects involve more than simple, basic literacy and numeracy - but I think they still have value, even if they don’t make specialists out of every child who studies them.

14:51KeflavikAirport
Those most in need of it don’t have their minds changed by RE classes, or Tommy Robinson wouldn't be a bigot.
Perhaps Tommy Robinson was withdrawn from RE classes.....

Sorry I think I misread that last message. I know I’m in the minority on this thread, but believe it or not mine is a mainstream opinion here and most people would be utterly horrified at the idea of compulsory RE. The onus would very much be on you to demonstrate why it should be taught at all, let alone be compulsory. Which would be very hard to do, because it isn’t. I have said a couple of times now I am not fundamentally opposed to outlining the main religious beliefs as part of a civics course. I remain far from convinced it deserves core curriculum status. A lot of my posts have also been aimed at trying to get people to question their assumptions about RE by pointing out the main arguments apply equally to other subjects that are not routinely taught. Mostly falling on deaf ears, it seems

@KeflavikAirport

Which countries are you referring to? The ones without RE on the statutory curriculum?

There are several, you can readily find them on Google.

Do you have any specifically in mind though? As a model of what you think is better?

No, I’m not comfortable sharing the country I live in. It’s potentially outing.

I can only find Sweden,

it may be due to the fact I’m googling in English, and obviously others countries’ curriculums will be in the local language.

I actually searched firstly for France as I was sure they didn’t teach it. However, interestingly, the first link is about them reintroducing it (cautiously) onto the school curriculum, in response to the 2017 terror attacks.

You mentioned other countries though so surely if you are so sure their approach is better you would be able to list them without giving anything away?

Sorry, if you need the above post removing it’s fine. That is literally the only western country I can find - and considering your scandi username (Iceland) definitely teach it.

No need to delete. There are more countries you haven’t mentioned btw.

We had a supply teacher who delivered a one off lesson like that (not a faith school) and many children and parents complained. The head was very apologetic and said it won’t happen again. Have a dialogue with the school and explain that if they can’t stick to teaching facts then you’ll have to remove her from the lesson and raise the issue with Ofsted. (But before removing her from RS fo check if it’s a compulsory exam subject!)

It is confusing for children to be taught something as ‘true’ at school when they are being taught it is untrue at home. This needs sorting out. Faith schools don’t have that problem, but assuming this is not a faith school, they need to rethink their lessons / teach better, basically. If they can’t sortnitnout then your child isn’t getting the education she’s entitled to (and is being subjected to a bit of evangelical brainwashing) and thatnis absolutely worthy of an Ofsted complaint.