Should I be worried about my 6 year old coming home with this?

[Nebula360]

He wrote it on the back of an r.e. worksheet.

I just asked him why and he said “because I don’t think there is a god!”

I’m just worried what his teachers would say if they saw it!

I don’t think I’d be bothered by this, but I know my own mother was when I expressed the same opinion. For what it’s worth, I still believe the same.

Have a conversation with him, understand what prompted him to write it, and help him see that there’s fundamentally nothing wrong with that view, just as there’s nothing wrong with believing there is a god. Presumably RE lessons are teaching about lots of faiths, and that’s a good thing.

He's got great handwriting.
And I wouldn't care what the teacher thought

I would say that tearing up a cross is unacceptable. As is writing that on a Christian symbol. I have taught Year 1/2, and would expect children of that age to show respect for other people’s beliefs.

I think the tear was accidental as it had got creased up in his bag.

Maybe show him some Maradona footage?

I just said to him it’s fine if he feels that way, but not to say it around other people, as it might upset them.

So your son thinks for himself. Who gives a stuff what the teacher thinks, he doesn't have to believe in god. I personally do, but your lad has the right not to.

A good teacher could use it as the basis of a discussion

Why would you be bothered what his teachers think? My children attend a C of E school (all the primaries in the area are) but we are not religious. They talk about different religions not just Christianity, however I do say to them that not everyone believes in Jesus/God etc.. and that it's a personal choice. They know they can make up their own mind about what to believe. Have conversations about it with him and keep it open for discussion.

Unless he’s at a faith school where religious education is supposed to be about learning and practicing that faith itself, RE is mostly about exploring different religions and beliefs, including the beliefs that some people hold that there isn’t a god, or they aren’t sure if there’s a god. His teacher isn’t likely to have thought anything in particular.

It’s fine. No need to worry.

I agree with him. No problem if it was my child.

What he wrote was fine but it'd be really interesting to know why he decided to write it.

Was it because he felt it was 'naughty'?

Bit random otherwise even in an RE lesson.

I was just a bit shocked that a 6 year old would write this. But he’s always had a very enquiring, scientific and factual mind.

It’s completely fine, even at school, for him to say that he doesn’t believe in god. It’s only not fine for him to tell other people their beliefs are wrong or that they’re stupid for believing in god.

I'm with the boy. I doubt the teachers would care.

This wouldn't bother me at all, he's correct, there is no God. He should be allowed to express how he feels.

His prerogative if he wants to hold that opinion, the teacher couldn’t tell him off for his belief. However, it is offensive/disrespectful of other religions to write that message on something symbolic of that religion (whichever religion it may be) as he appears to have done here and you should gently point that out to him.

I would be impressed with his critical thinking.

I might suggest to keep it to themselves when in school though.

Would not bother me in the slightest.

His letter formation and sizing is really great, but the reversed g is a problem. Does he always reverse the g? I would talk to the teacher about that. I'm also surprised with such good letter formation that he hasn't done any cursive, even "he". It seems a bit odd to me. Even year 1 have done the "he" by this stage.

On balance, I'm going with "not written by 6yo" and reporting accordingly. Not that it's even an interesting one. What's the point?

My DDs went to a church school and DD2 was adamant there was no such thing as God at 6. They were allowed to state this in class and discussion was actively encouraged.
Unless you want to indoctrinate your child then of course he’s allowed to write what he has. And “respecting” someone’s religion does not mean agreeing with them about it!

It’s definitely his writing and he always does the g backwards

That's a very definitive opinion for a young mind still forming his views on the world

It wouldn't worry me at all but I'm atheist. My son at a similar age said 'god is just an unevolved Godzilla' (obsessed with pokemon at the time!)

It’s totally fine. I’d be pleased with the handwriting and the potential for independent thought ( if it is his own thoughts).
However I’d be very concerned about any teacher who had a problem with this!
Chat with him about it .

Children who write neatly and can spell all those words at this age... do not. You've got to get a real kid to write this stuff for you, that's the only way it'll fly under the radar.