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?!

I’m surprised that a mosque would charge admission, unless it was a really small local one in a poor area, strapped for cash and they
asked for a voluntary donation.
Given that the visit is to learn about the religion (unlike a trip to a cathedral which would be as much about architecture and history), I’d say it’s also against the spirit of Islam and I’m pretty sure it is against the letter of Islam too.
All that said, cfs are to be found amongst all castes, colours and creeds so, what can I say, plus ca change!

I’m an RE teacher. Last time we visited a church we had to pay to go. Ditto the synagogue.

someone is there showing you around. Electricity when you’re there. They’ll all get juice and a snack. They need insurance to do that. DBS checks. It’s not a PR exercise for the mosque; they don’t need to win over a group of primary school kids.

Totally agree

Seems fair enough to me. If you don't like it don't send your kid in.

Wowzers!! Why do your posts get banned
for saying you think religion is a c u l t!?

Is that not just freedom of speech?!

I have no issue if others want to be religious, I just think they are brainwashing patriarchal nonsense!

I found this interesting and wondered whether Hindu temples charged as there's a beautiful, ornate one in North London that i was curious about.

it seems they have lots of school visits and have a seemingly very thorough 2-1/2 hour visit plan which is free plus an even longer one for which they charge £1.50 per pupil.
They also have a restaurant which is apparently extremely reasonable!

No, DS will be going as I fully appreciate it's good to be aware of what other people like / do. But I think it's poor of any religion not to do this for free.

And I will pay because I don't want the school to lose out financially.

Sounds far more reasonable

Trust me, these places all use these school visit numbers and photos to brag about how good they are at community outreach

Best answer is for your child not to go surely. When dc's class went to the mosque they got a guide to explain it to them and then a selection of trad Pakistani /Indian pastries and sweets to try. Those cost money.

londonmandir.baps.org/visit-us/school-visits/
The free trip actually lasts 2 hours and the paid one lasts half an hour more.

Have to say it looks really interesting.

Do you just think school trips with any form of admission should be free then? Museums? Zoos? Galleries?
Since it’s ‘not the same as an adult’.

So you expect the members of that mosque to give up their time and money to provide entertainment and education for your child at their expense?

Wow that's entitlement op

If you are sending them despite not agreeing with religion or paying for the educational trip, it's pretty much a non issue ?

It's to a very big ornate mosque so may well be compatible but all buildings need upkeep even your local church will have a donation box

If you don't want your kid to go don't send them. In fact don't send them to any place of worship if that's your perogative. You paying your one paltry fee for your son to attend isn't saving the school a ton of money so get off your highhorse. A teacher has explained what the finds are likely for. Your kid isn't going to pray or be indoctrinated just see inside of a mosque and what they do. A large mosque is often a community hub, with kitchens, places for weddings,etc. If you don't care for how fancy it is big deal. The assumption that they are skimming money is wholly offensive.

@jannier donations are different to an entrance charge!

I still don't think places of worship should be charging kids to go look around them...

How much is going to the institution?

You think it's poor because you don't like religion! It must occur to you that they have over heads too?

Who wants to continually show around schools. Who despite your idea that is a "PR" exercise are actually very unlikely to reap any other financial gain from it.

Why would they put up with that for free?

Your kids are benefitting by learning about various beliefs they will go to several religious buildings understanding others and accepting people believe different things will help them in their futures like at work and stop them being drawn into hatred and violence why object to that.....in a mosque and a gurdwara they will be offered hospitality.

How do you know please explain why we should trust you? Do you follow all religious buildings on social media or something.

"Why isn't everything free?"

So, he’s going then?

In the summer I went to several cathedrals and smaller churches the big ones asking for £15 or more the smaller having suggested donations of between £3 and £5...small parish churches.
All religious buildings have struggled through lockdown and many are considering closing some where there are alternatives nearby. I run a toddler group based in a Methodist church prior to Covid the halls were let out every day and most evenings now they have my group one morning instead of 2 and 1 letting another morning. In the evenings it's empty no dance classes, no yoga, no girls brigade and boys brigade merged with another church. The upkeep is the same the rent and utilities higher they can't leave it unheated in the cold and are now open to people as a free warm room that costs.

Why should we trust you OP? It doesn't sound like you have any experience with any religion so why do you think you know best about why they offer school trips?

Many religious communities offer it to break down stereotypes and prejudice against religions. Many children will hear negative words spoken about non-christian faiths (Christian as well but less common). As a result, antisemitism and islamophobia is rife.

Yes, religions do benefit from reaching out and promoting interest in their religion, but they also do it to foster better relationships and prevent hate crimes.

They absolutely don't do it to brag about photo opportunities. When actually, unless they have explicit parental consent, they're not allowed to post photos of children.

I get that you don't think the trip is worth £3 or whatever the charge is, that's fair enough. But don't start coming on acting like you know all about religious motivations when you state yourself that you don't have a religion.