To be shocked at this....

[Tanktop]

I have just been told by my dd's nursery teacher that as we opted for her not to attend the reglious classes at school she cannot stand at the front of the church along with the other kids at this years nativity play and will also be unable to take part in other such event within the church. We live in Italy and apparently this is a new rule over here which has been enforced to avoid upsetting parents of non catholic's children who may be offended if there kids took part in such events.

Our DD who is only 3 has never been baptised so we decided attending these lesson were a tad unnessesary. DH and myself are both non practicing catholics by the way. Neither of us have a problems with her attending these classes or the church what so ever.

She advised that the only way we can change the situation is agree for her to attend the classes. Obviously we will have to do this as she would be so upset if excluded from such events.

Do you think this would ever happen in the uk? Surely just our permission to take part would be enough without having to agree to the lessons.

Perhaps they took your decision for her not to attend religious classes as an indication that you are not religious. Therefore you wouldn't necessarily want your child to be involved in any religious activities.

From the other parents' point of view they may feel that, if their children have been attending these lessons all year, then they should have the right to be at the forefront of Christmas events and may object if children who didn't attend had the same priority.

I think their arguement would be that you cant have it both ways. They see the nativity play as an important religious event, so if you don't want her to be involved with the religion then she shouldn't be involved with the nativity IYSWIM.

Not sure it would happen in the UK, but we generally are not as reverent about religion in education.

I don't really understand why you want her withdrawn from the lessons if you are happy with church-going.

In the Uk children get taught RE which covers all the faiths so you don't have to make the choice whether you child joins the lesson or not, it sounds like they are trying to bully you into her taking the RE lessons by stating that she can't join in the xmas events. Why do you not want her to take the RE lessons? We are not very religous but I wouldn't exclude my son from a lesson at school, I think they need to learn about all faiths whether they believe or not.

They are perhaps making an assumption that if you don't want your child to have RE lessons then you also would not want your child going to a church service. Which is a reasonable assumption to make.

I understand both points but surely they could just ask if it was ok for her to take part. Maybe you are right and I was just shocked and upsetafter the teacher spoke to me. Appartently up until this year this was not the case and anyone could take part.

but they probably feel they have asked really when they asked about RE lessons. It would be very hard to keep track of children who have to miss RE but can go to Christmas service but can't go to religious event etc etc

Not very fair that they have changed it this year.

The lessons are only on the catholic reglion and are really the teachings leading up to communion and confirmation. As she has'nt been bapitised she can't have either of these so we didn't think she need to attend. It not RE as such. It also an extra lesson outwith the normal nursery. Now I feel I may have over reacted.

tanktop why not have a rethink about the religous instruction. It's relevent to non-catholics too you know - about loving God and being good etc etc etc.

Somestimes I wonder if people think us catholics are devil worshipers or something -were not - in fact we're almost normal .

I agree with you, tanktop. Seems very unfair to shut a very little girl out because she's not a practising Catholic. She's only three!

Nametaken, I certainly don't think that and like I said it was only as these lesson are leading onto communion etc that we decided to opt out.

Anyway, will change her enrolement form tomorrow so that she can join in the fun and if when the time comes and she decides she want to take holy communion I will be more than happy.

Thanks for all your opinions. Better get sewing that shepherds outfit tooting sweet.