To be uncomfortable with church people giving out psalms in assembly

[Masmavi]

We moved back from abroad last year. This is the first time my son has lived in the UK. He's in Year 7 at a state school, not church-affiliated.
Yesterday he came back from school with a book of psalms. A religious group/church had attended assembly, given a talk and afterwards given out the books.
AIBU to think this is inappropriate? The school has children of different faiths and this feels like proselytising. Is this considered normal in schools here? I'm not talking about church schools.

Yup.
And?

Here we go. Why some people feel the need to be superior and patronising I have no idea.

But that post wasn't "superior" or "patronising"

Psalms is a book of ancient poetry. Now, you might like poetry, or you might not, but it is pretty odd to be offended by it.

As to who comes in to schools to do assemblies, that is pretty much down to who contacts the school and offers. The breadth of those offers, and the generosity of the people who come in in terms of time and in terms of gifts for the pupils will vary school to school, and area to area. Yes, the lessons will teach about all world faiths, but not all faiths have the personnel to build relationships with their local schools.

I didn’t say they didn’t…

Every school has to provide elements of faith expression and faith education. This is a Christian country and that's the law.

Having psalms isn't forcing people to convert.

We need to understand faith, religion and our heritage more, not less. We need to understand other people's faith and viewpoints more, not less.

You were comparing something true and something questionable.

DAILY?!!

Did you get a red plastic tumbler from Colgate with a little rhyme printed on it?

Keep your happy smile
Sparkling, clean and bright
Brush after breakfast
and last thing at night.

I had mine for years till the print wore off.

We also had to go to church (CofS) three times a year at the end of term. I used to quite enjoy a sing-song before we were set free for the holidays.

Provided other faiths get the same opportunity to do a little presentation and give the kids free merch I can’t see a problem. Luckily, if you’re not religiously inclined the Bible reads like it was written by a lunatic on crack.

At my dc school they visit an Angican church, a mosque, a Buddhist temple, a synagogue, a Hindu temple and a Sikh temple as prt of their studies of different faiths.

Sometimes they get representatives in from different faiths to talk to classes but they try to get them.out to the places of worship.

It's informative and nice to see the different faiths.

The little ones on Reception visit the train station instead - not aware of anyone being converted to a train yet though 😄

OP I don’t know why some people are giving you a hard time. I remember this happening when I was at school in the 80s - a Gideon Bible which I’m sure I never opened - but I had no idea it was still going on. It wouldn’t bother me if my children were given one but (until I read this thread) I would find it surprising.

I am intrigued to know who was handing out the Book of Psalms!

I don't remember getting a tumbler 🙁
We sometimes got those pink chewy tablets that showed up the plaque on your teeth to take home.

Yes, daily.

How disappointing for you.

I'm still holding out on the offchance I might wake up as a Stegosaurus.

agree it wasn’t the good choice of words.
It was before my first cup of coffee 😔

Yep the Gideon's, we don't allow them into our school anymore

If you don't have faith how can those who do have faith talking about it be an issue? It's like your kid getting a copy of Goldilocks and the 3 bears right? Cute story but nobody actually has three different sized porridge bowls.

It's only a problem if you actually do believe and are trying to conceal faith from your son. Which nobody would do surely?

@MumonabikeE5

Yes that's quite sad

Dgd was singing Christmas songs this year at school but no nativity

Religious people often prey on the vulnerable and the young.

'Religious people often prey on the vulnerable and the young'

Do they? Often?

That seems a very sweeping statement.

The uk is not a christian country any more. It's secular. There are more non-christians in this country than christians - every belief system is not a minority.

A great number of schools now ignore the idea of daily worship because they rightly recognise that publically funded schools absolutely should not be brainwashing kids into religion.

Teach them about religion, fine. Teach them to believe in God? Absolutely not. Complete waste of time at best, morally reprehensible at worst.

Sounds perfect. If they approach it like this, I will 100% support it. Let's see.

It's a fairly true statement.

Is that adhered to?