School payment to mosque

[mumyes]

DS going on school trip to mosque.

Mosque is a big one, very wealthy. Don't want to be too outing. But think v ornate, v wealthy, wealthy area etc.

Parents being asked to contribute financially to trip, which includes a payment to the mosque.

I have no issue with laying for bus etc, but I do have an issue paying the mosque! Ffs, it's a PR exercise for the mosque after all isn't it?! just do it, why charge and already strapped primary school?

Miserable bastards. Charging a school to show them inside a mosque?!

And I'd say this if it was a church or temple or Godess knows what! Do churches really charge?!

Why are you so convinced it's some big PR gimmick from the mosque?

It's normal for schools to be charged entry to these places - like they have to pay to get into museums, or theatres, or leisure centres, or theme parks.

Just pay the money, ultimately your child will be much better off for experiencing a culture outside of his own and learning a thing or two about one of the world’s greatest and most important religions.

I dont know how I feel about this. I used to organise these trips and the local church didnt charge but there was one mosque in our area so literally hundreds and hundreds of schools would approach them, i reckon theyd have to employ an educational outreach worker to cover all the requests. Whereas we are tripping over churches which had a vucar with a congregation of a dozen. A lot of cathedrals have land that generates income too for historic reasons that arent available to mosques plus we have an established church so since thats the case they should let me look round.

If you don't like it and do t want your child to go then just sign to say they can't take him. He can sit in school while his friends go on the trip. I'm sure he won't mind.

@mumyes ok then.
That's your opinion and I have no problem with that.
The way you have worded this post though is clearly out to shock - you could have just said "place of worship".
You've made yourself sound a bit Daily Mail there I'm afraid.

Alternatively, it may be a payment for workshop / visit leaders rather than purely ‘for entry’.

Cathedral KS2 workshops as a comparison

What schools are paying for is the time and expertise of those leading the experience for the children on that day, as well as towards eg specialist educational resources such as replica items that can be handled as part of the experience. As a teacher, it is these expert who can provide the real educational value of the visit.

Lols! The ultimate insult!

How much is it?

Is it the mosque asking or the school?

We went on tour of our local mosque and it was extremely interesting with amazing architecture. The tour was free and all about the mosque inviting the local community in to enjoy its garden and the cafe (where you can keep your shoes on and women don't need to cover their head).

We don't charge (parish church) but my former work we charged £3 per child and that included a key stage 1,2 or 3 workbook plus 2 staff members and use of the hall for packed lunches (we provided squash). It's not free to open a building, especially if they want heating, people to facilitate the visit, information on the buildings.

And there you have the religious intolerance....

It's a cultural building that will have maintainence and insurance costs associated even with visits. I think it's reasonable for non worshipers doing sight seeing to make a donation.

Even if you aren't religious and are a devot atheist, then I think these trips are important in terms of social understanding. Plus money may well go to the local community who aren't well off. Having an impressive ostentatious building doesn't mean it is well off or will always be well off and be used by the well off. Good planning means saving for the buildings future in 50 - 100 years time.

Perhaps one of the questions your kid could ask is where the money the mosque raises from it's visits is spent. They might get an answer you don't expect.

If you really object that much, don't go.

But ultimately this is about your intolerance and not about the mosque.

DS is a confirmed atheist but does get that religion has its value and place in society for many. He doesn't impose his views on others... You don't have to be religious to do that.

PR gimmick is very harsh. I live in a part of Leeds with a large Muslim population. I know many Muslims including Imams. They're all very keen to interact with people of all faiths and people of no faiths. They put a lot of effort in to community engagement and want to build positive relationships with non-Muslims. Muslims I know are often involved in community work such as helping out at homeless shelters.
I think Muslims are often maligned in the press. Rags such as the Daily Mail deliberately try and stir up hate which leads to many people being suspicious of Muslims. Exercises like this are really important in building mutual understanding between different communities. In my experience donations are always made when schools visit places of worship.

It pretty common for all places of worship (any religion) to charge, or expect a donation, when opening their premises for non standard business.

I suspect its the religion in question that has you frothing at the mouth.

Charging entry for a service is funding themselves.

Part of the reason we teach children in school about other cultures in a positive light is because not all children get that at home and we have to balance out the prejudice.

Don’t let him go then 🤷‍♀️

Plenty of religious buildings from other denominations also charge schools. For example, Norwich Cathedral charge £3-£4 per pupil.

When we start doing topic work along these lines and we have carpet time to find out what the children already know, you wouldn't believe the amount of children who will put their hand up and casually say "my mum/dad/nana/uncle says that all <insert people> are <insert stereotype>".

Really? The poor child should not be deprived of an opportunity for cultural learning because of the bigotry of his parent. This is where the school need to step in and make sure he’s able to attend regardless.

Of course they do

Do you object to RE in all forms or just all trips?

These cults sorry religions, should fund themselves.

This would be a reasonable view if you weren't also expecting them to allow your child to tramp about inside one of their buildings.

I'm a Muslim, I've never heard of having to pay entry to a mosque before ever. And I oppose paying entry to any place of worship, I think it's wrong.

These cults sorry religions, should fund themselves.

Ah, and there we have the crux of the matter.

OP, if you don't want to pay for your child to go to a mosque, then don't send your child on the trip. Your choice. But don't kick up a fuss if the mosque asks for a donation/payment, it's not that unusual.

I work in a place of worship, a church not a cathedral but stunning and very expensive to maintain. We have a small congregation though for London but we have loads of visits from local schools. We never charge. On the contrary we provide squash and biscuits for the children.
I think its a bit odd that it's not transparent what the money is for- you could ask the school or call the mosque up- I would!