Page 6 | Or is teaching 6 Yr old about crucixation out of order?

Whostoblame · 2023-04-08T19:30:25+00:00

I might be over reacting but after multiple nights on the trot sleeping no more than 45-60 mins at a time I'm at the end of my tether. 6 year old goes to a non dom school and we are agnostic/atheist at home. School have been teaching them about Jesus and Easter etc including how Jesus was crucified. I now have a sobbing child every night who can't get the pictures out if her mind (and I'm not surprised!!)and subsequently cant sleep from about midnight, crying. Aibu to complain to school that 6 is way too young to be taught this?!

Mischance · 08/04/2023 21:45

"You are completely over reacting and need to explain to your child it is a story." - but is that what school has told the child?

Newname221 · 08/04/2023 21:45

NeverDropYourMooncup · 08/04/2023 21:37

CofE have them, too. Looking back, I suppose it was what's now called High Church or Anglo Catholicism, but at the time, it was just the bog standard local one where we did Brownies and Cubs, Church Parade, kids got Christened, that kind of thing.

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I’m not in England so have had very little contact with CofE.

I’ve never been in a Protestant church with a crucifix before, and I’ve been in several, and of different denominations.

Sortyourlifeout · 08/04/2023 21:46

TeaForMeandThee · 08/04/2023 21:32

I went to a Catholic school and they made us sit through the film made I assume in the 70s/80s about Jesus which included the whole crucifixion/torture etc it was very graphic, I was 5 and can still remember it 34 years on! Absolutely 0 need to make young children watch it or even be taught about it, even in a Catholic school. I'd simply tell your daughter it's a made up story like fairytales. Easter is about spring time, bunnies, chick's and chocolate, not nailing bearded men to crosses. My children go to a Catholic school, I absolutely would not tolerate any graphic depiction of the crucifixion to them!

Why did you send your child to a Catholic school if you are going to tell her that what she is being taught is a big lie?

Bemyclementine · 08/04/2023 21:46

Surely all 6 yr olds know the story of Easter? In the same way they do the nativity?

Dc2 has been learning more about the Easter story this year, aged 6. He's decided he wants a last supper for dinner. 🤣

He knows Jesus was nailed to the cross. I knew it from much younger having been brought up going to church and attending a Catholic primary school.

RumpleDumple · 08/04/2023 21:47

YABU. The world's major religions have both major historical, cultural and faith based significance (not that they always concur or have much overlap). Crucifixion is a fact. A man called Jesus, who inspired a 'new' religion is a historical fact. You don't have to be Christian to accept that these 2 things did happen.

I would expect a well rounded education to include a discussion on the significance of Easter (how it came about, why some people find it important etc). Knowing about this does.not for a second force people into a belief, does not force a faith upon them. It's a mention (at your DD's age) of something that did happen and which led to the Christian dominance in the western world that exists today. This dominance has shaped our lives, our world, ever since and is so important.

As a disclaimer, i am an athiest. I don't believe in God. But I believe that a knowledge of religion (different from believing and following in a religion) is as worthwhile as knowledge of any other aspect of history.

You can preface it with "some people believe" without denying the validity of their belief. And as an atheist, I'm aware that my non belief is God is just a belief, no more and no less valid as the beliefs in Catholicism or Hinduism etc.

I do detest the atheist idea that somehow they (we) have the automatic right to be dismissive of all other religious beliefs. And that we are somehow superior in our intellect by profession our non beliefs. I suspect you are feeding her hysteria by being vocal about how such things should it be taught in schools. I

Emotionalsupportviper · 08/04/2023 21:48

JustAnotherManicNameChange · 08/04/2023 21:29

1.It's part of the curriculum.

It's good to know how and why things are celebrated, even if personal celebrations are more secular .

Having some understanding of various beliefs, the reason for them, being able to contrast and compare and learning various stories helps with being more tolerant and understanding in the future .

Some exposure (I frankly find it quite limited) to a varied vocabulary, various cultures ,customs and even bits of language.

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And 5.
Many people have a deep and sincerely held faith in God, and a large number of those believe that the Divine was incarnated in Jesus Christ.

Magenta82 · 08/04/2023 21:48

Sailingaround · 08/04/2023 21:31

Would you be ok with paganism being taught in schools as many others see that as nonsense/evil etc ?

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This makes no sense at all, I would expect that most pagans would be happy to have their religion taught, considering the way it is misunderstood by many people it would be good to have the record set straight.

Newname221 · 08/04/2023 21:50

Sortyourlifeout · 08/04/2023 21:43

This is correct and I was going to say the same.

My church has a big cross but not with Jesus on it.

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I’m not Christian but was brought up going to (Protestant) church.

My parents explained the reason is because Protestants focus more on the miracle that he was resurrected rather than the crucifixion itself. Not sure if that was a fact or just their interpretation. It kind of makes sense since the Catholic faith seems to focus more on sins than anything I was brought up with (confessions and such)

PuddlesPityParty · 08/04/2023 21:51

I went to a Roman Catholic school and they had art of it on the walls from day one - I never knew anyone be so upset by it in primary ??

Flounder2022 · 08/04/2023 21:51

Waitymatey · 08/04/2023 21:44

@Flounder2022 - The crucifixion is part of Easter.
what does he know about Easter?

That some people believe that Jesus died and came back to life at Easter. Other than that I’m not sure of the detail.

LuluBlakey1 · 08/04/2023 21:52

My 5 year old knows about the crucifixion - not the gory mechanics but she knows the story from school.

Original poster

Whostoblame · 08/04/2023 21:52

I'm not sure how some can say I'm over reacting and influencing her behaviour when I haven't said how ive been dealing with this with her.....I have of course been telling her it's just a story. She can be very empathetic and she's quite soft hearted, although very matter of fact about death overall. doesn't speak about it like it's a bad thing. No she's never seen a cross/crucifix before, were not a religious family, she's never set foot in a church. we don't talk about stuff like that coz we don't believe in it, I'm not sure how they'd a bad thing
She's on school holidays at the moment but unfortunately it's been this week that she's been having these nightmares. When she goes back I'll ask to see what it was she was taught and what pictures etc were used. Fingers crossed for a better night tonight. Thanks

OP posts:

Emotionalsupportviper · 08/04/2023 21:53

TeaForMeandThee · 08/04/2023 21:32

I went to a Catholic school and they made us sit through the film made I assume in the 70s/80s about Jesus which included the whole crucifixion/torture etc it was very graphic, I was 5 and can still remember it 34 years on! Absolutely 0 need to make young children watch it or even be taught about it, even in a Catholic school. I'd simply tell your daughter it's a made up story like fairytales. Easter is about spring time, bunnies, chick's and chocolate, not nailing bearded men to crosses. My children go to a Catholic school, I absolutely would not tolerate any graphic depiction of the crucifixion to them!

If it was The Passion of The Christ (directed I think, by Mel Gibson), it is an absolute gorefest and totally inappropriate for children (or adults, for that matter. It glories in unnecessary brutality IMO - and I am a Christian)

HopefulElle · 08/04/2023 21:53

My niece got very upset, but after some digging we realised that she misheard it as “Jesus was nailed to a fox” and felt bad for the fox 🤣

Rosebel · 08/04/2023 21:53

It wouldn't bother me but I'm RC and have older siblings so had already learned about this by age 6.
Am pretty sure my DDs were a bit older when they learned about it though. Do you think that it's been exaggerated by other children so made your DD more anxious.
On the plus side I'm assuming they will move away from this subject after the holidays anyway

Sortyourlifeout · 08/04/2023 21:53

RumpleDumple · 08/04/2023 21:47

YABU. The world's major religions have both major historical, cultural and faith based significance (not that they always concur or have much overlap). Crucifixion is a fact. A man called Jesus, who inspired a 'new' religion is a historical fact. You don't have to be Christian to accept that these 2 things did happen.

I would expect a well rounded education to include a discussion on the significance of Easter (how it came about, why some people find it important etc). Knowing about this does.not for a second force people into a belief, does not force a faith upon them. It's a mention (at your DD's age) of something that did happen and which led to the Christian dominance in the western world that exists today. This dominance has shaped our lives, our world, ever since and is so important.

As a disclaimer, i am an athiest. I don't believe in God. But I believe that a knowledge of religion (different from believing and following in a religion) is as worthwhile as knowledge of any other aspect of history.

You can preface it with "some people believe" without denying the validity of their belief. And as an atheist, I'm aware that my non belief is God is just a belief, no more and no less valid as the beliefs in Catholicism or Hinduism etc.

I do detest the atheist idea that somehow they (we) have the automatic right to be dismissive of all other religious beliefs. And that we are somehow superior in our intellect by profession our non beliefs. I suspect you are feeding her hysteria by being vocal about how such things should it be taught in schools. I

You're the nicest atheist I've ever come across. I wish everyone could be like you!!

JustAnotherManicNameChange · 08/04/2023 21:53

It seems that a lot of the people upset about this , have has unpleasant childhood experiences around it. Have you considered that maybe,just maybe things might have changed slightly?

Minierme · 08/04/2023 21:53

I think it’s a very normal thing to learn about and having taught from reception to year 6 (including RE) I haven’t known any children upset by it. So I think either the school are places very very heavy emphasis on all the details (very unlikely) or your panic is making her more frightened or she is particularly sensitive.

PuddlesPityParty · 08/04/2023 21:54

HopefulElle · 08/04/2023 21:53

My niece got very upset, but after some digging we realised that she misheard it as “Jesus was nailed to a fox” and felt bad for the fox 🤣

Bless her 😂 this made me giggle

Original poster

Whostoblame · 08/04/2023 21:54

And I'm not saying these things shouldn't be taught, just I think 6 is a little young is all!

OP posts:

Sortyourlifeout · 08/04/2023 21:55

Newname221 · 08/04/2023 21:50

I’m not Christian but was brought up going to (Protestant) church.

My parents explained the reason is because Protestants focus more on the miracle that he was resurrected rather than the crucifixion itself. Not sure if that was a fact or just their interpretation. It kind of makes sense since the Catholic faith seems to focus more on sins than anything I was brought up with (confessions and such)

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Yes, that's one reason why my church doesn't display a crucifix.

We celebrate the resurrection, not the event leading up to it.

Plus nobody wants to look at a person on a cross, even if it is made of wood.

Original poster

Whostoblame · 08/04/2023 21:56

RumpleDumple · 08/04/2023 21:47

YABU. The world's major religions have both major historical, cultural and faith based significance (not that they always concur or have much overlap). Crucifixion is a fact. A man called Jesus, who inspired a 'new' religion is a historical fact. You don't have to be Christian to accept that these 2 things did happen.

I would expect a well rounded education to include a discussion on the significance of Easter (how it came about, why some people find it important etc). Knowing about this does.not for a second force people into a belief, does not force a faith upon them. It's a mention (at your DD's age) of something that did happen and which led to the Christian dominance in the western world that exists today. This dominance has shaped our lives, our world, ever since and is so important.

As a disclaimer, i am an athiest. I don't believe in God. But I believe that a knowledge of religion (different from believing and following in a religion) is as worthwhile as knowledge of any other aspect of history.

You can preface it with "some people believe" without denying the validity of their belief. And as an atheist, I'm aware that my non belief is God is just a belief, no more and no less valid as the beliefs in Catholicism or Hinduism etc.

I do detest the atheist idea that somehow they (we) have the automatic right to be dismissive of all other religious beliefs. And that we are somehow superior in our intellect by profession our non beliefs. I suspect you are feeding her hysteria by being vocal about how such things should it be taught in schools. I

I didn't even know she had been learning about crucifixion until she was up screaming and sobbing about it so unsure how my "hysteria" (of which there is none btw) has fed into this and caused it?

OP posts:

PuttingOnTheKitsch · 08/04/2023 21:57

JudgeJ · 08/04/2023 21:38

Because anyone taking a pop at other religions gets put on the MN naughty step.

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Things must have changed round these parts. There used to always be an annual thread on how stupid Ramadan was for starters.

I will never forget someone on here saying that it was fine to be rude to Muslims on here because we'd (Muslim posters on Mumsnet) would throw acid in her face.

Anyway, I hope all those who celebrate have a lovely Easter.

AlexandriasWindmill · 08/04/2023 21:58

Emotionalsupportviper · 08/04/2023 21:53

If it was The Passion of The Christ (directed I think, by Mel Gibson), it is an absolute gorefest and totally inappropriate for children (or adults, for that matter. It glories in unnecessary brutality IMO - and I am a Christian)

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The Mel Gibson film is an 18. There's no way they're showing it in schools.

bittersweetmemory · 08/04/2023 21:58

I'm a Year 1 TA and can confirm that the Easter story is on the R.E syllabus. The children are aware that it is a story that Christians believe in and the resurrection isn't presented as fact.

In my experience, although the crucifixion is touched upon, we keep it factual and spare the children the gory details.

Have never known a child to be upset by it and we address any questions there and then.