To get really irate when 'Religion' is taught as 'fact' even though I chose not to send dc's to a religious school?

[Dabbles]

I was raised catholic, but have questioned my faith. Through studying aspects of my religion adn through experience of those who, let us say "live by the cloth", I have decided it is not for me. Dh is not religious. We intentionally chose to send dcs to non religious school, and encourage then to question things they are taught, but give them the option to believe what they choose. However I do not liek the fact that they are encouraged to 'pray' before lunch and taught christmas/easter as 'historical fact'.

AIBU? I really do not see a place for religion in modern day society, science yes, religion, no.

That's just so wrong it makes me queasy. It's the 21st century - have we learned nothing?

Mind you I wish I could go back in time and take RE knowing what I know now. I could have so much fun asking difficult questions

I know someone whose daughter 'got in trouble' in RE for not believing and for asking intelligent questions. She wasn't a troublemaker - in fact one of their best pupils and the school had to back down over it.

50% has to be CHristianity but that's the government not the individual schools or teachers. A good RE teacher (or even one who is not crap) should encourage questionning.

Oh yes, I recognise that Greyriverside!!! The thing is, kids can be very bright, and recognise that being taught from this Cristian ponit of view is a load of *** and react accordingly. She was right to question, I think a lot of them do, (and not just to wind the teacher up)

But even at 50% Christianity, I think still it has to be delivered from a Christian point of view.........

Hercules, maybe you should continue to teach the subject (though I don't blame you for wanting to change). An atheist is the best teacher to have for a balanced view. It's actually unfair and unrealistic to expect a Christian/Muslim to be objective - the more devout they are the harder it is.

To be honest I don't know how religious teachers cope with most subjects. No matter how hard they try it must be painful to say "this is caused by.." when they believe that god is the cause

Well I have just had a look as some of the curriculum guidelines online and it does not seem all that balanced to me - a minimum of 50% of the content has to be Christian, and some schools (one assumes faith schools) are allowed not to teach about any of the other main world religions at all. The others only need to teach about one other main world religion. I think it is a load of crock.

DP's son went to a Catholic school. They were not even taught abut contraception except rhythm method

Greyriverside - I actually know a very evangelical Christian teacher, who once had a complaint raiased against her RE teaching. The parents complained that she was trying to 'convert' their child - to Islam! Unfortunately, they didn't know that she was a dedicated Christian!

I think many of these issues do actually arise in Primary schools. At secondary, most RS teachers are specifically trained to teach the subject, and I for one was given specific advice on how you should treat religious beliefs (was never a problem for me though!). However, at primary level most teachers are not RS trained and so that is where it tends to be taught more as 'facts'. Plus, the children are younger and so, they tend to take things more on face value.

That must have caused some red faces (the parents) when it turned out she wasn't Muslim at all, but Christian. But it goes to show that it's a minefield whichever way you look at it. Much better to keep religion in the home and/or local church.

I really don't know why religious people want it taught in school either. There are so many different flavours of religion that the local school is probably not going to be teaching it quite right (for them) anyway.