to think that my friends a racist?

[avenanap]

I was sitting in her car, having a chat about RE teching in junior schools. I explained to her that I thought RE should encompass teaching more religions than christianity (muslim, Judaism, paganism, budism etc) then she piped up how she thought I was wrong and how our children should only learn christianity (regardless of parents beliefs)as all of the others were corrupting and would mislead them into a life of terrorism! Then she goes on about how our children should be learning about the crusades (sorry, didn't this involve christians slaughtering people from other religions?) and how immigrants are bleading the country dry and using all of our resources. Sorry, I don't find her views accptable, especially as she's married to a Muslim Immigrant and she's applying for a grant for him so he can go to Uni for 3 years! AIBU to think she's full of shit?

Erm. Because he's an immigrant from Iran and she was moaning about immigrants.

She seemed so normal when I met her.

She sounds a woman full of mixed up ideas to me. I thought schools were bound by law to include other religions in their syllabus? Our primary school pays lip service to this, and does things on Diwali ans stuff.
Having said that, two community schools ( not even Cof E) near here have a born agsin evangelical head, and born agains on he staff; one told the chgildren that "muslims are stupid2 because they don't believe in the same god as "us", another forced the children to write
"Dear Mum and Dad, Happy Easter, Jesus is alive" ( My DH has Jewish roots too)

People are racist without realising it.

OMG! I'd have serious problems with that.
Part of the reason I'm moving him is because I don't like the new head's beliefs. I don't mind the fact that he's a devout catholic, I mind that it's pushed down my ds's neck. Ds considers his religion to be Jedi , the school has taken no others into account, this concerns me. I didn't want him to go to an overly religious school. If he chooses the catholic path when he's older and he knows about all of the things (good and bad) the catholic church have done then I'll support him. Likewise if he follows another path, or becomes a wiccan like his mum, this is fine. I want him to have a balanced education though.

avenanap, I couldn't agree more; pushing things like religion is a total no no; I really think it's up to the family and no one else.
We should separate reilgion and state.
In France they don't have this. Where as here, your local school could well be a church one.
Ours go to a Cof E one now, and i get slightly miffed about the God stuff; but like your son's fab jedi religion {grin] , our kids discuss things at home and just say "We're atheists"

Zenophobic, ignorant and stupid. Does she read the Daily Mail?

Well, next time remind her of her immigrant partner from the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Might make her reconsider her views.

vicky1985: I think you mean fuCking. You can say you're not racist all you want, but your actions speak differently.

actions = words

Lol at daily mail. She doesn't read the newspaper or watch the news. I did see her with a copy of the Daily Mail last week though come to think of it. It's the only time I've ever seen her with a newspaper.

I will do that DaddyJ. Thanks .

Avenap - RE teachers (in the state system at secondary) teach all the big six religions and the secular point of view as well, not just Christianity.

Henry VIII was Roman Catholic until his divorce was refused by the Pope, and he executed lots of people including Protestants and reformers, because they stood in his way, not because of their religious beliefs, although he may have used that as an excuse. Mary Tudor had a good go at the Protestants, and Elizabeth I was even handed in who she executed, as I have a sneaking suspicion she was an agnostic.

I think that some people have their brains in neutral and their gobs in gear when it comes to religions, and they don't realise how silly they sound. They need to learn to engage their brains before opening gob and to work out if they are going to offend anyone before they say something. Ignore her, and nod and smile sweetly when she starts.

Our children are at the same prep school. I can't ever remember learning about religion in primary school, it's very odd. Thanks. I'll smile and nod, then reminder about her husband.

Vicky, if your SIL reads the thread maybe she could enlighten us as to what the rejection letter really said/the admission rules used by your local LEA. A LEA has to follow its own rules of priority, which have to be published. If it does not, the parents can appeal and (if they can prove that the LEA have made a mistake) request instant admission.

In our LEA top priority are given to children in care and children with SEN- understandably. After that, it goes to children in catchment with medical or emotional needs, children in catchment with siblings at school and then children in catchment according to distance from school. Then (if there are places left) children out of catchment with medical/emotional needs, then out of catchment with siblings, then out of catchment according to distance.
Catholic schools are allowed to prioritise children of practising Catholics, but otherwise have to follow the rules.

Well, must get off. Busy afternoon, bleeding the country dry!

Haa!

"She doesn't read the newspaper or watch the news."
Her point of view is well informed and thought out then...

My son is learning about the Crusades. There's nothing intrinsically racist about learning about any period of history. Else, learning about Hitler would make you a Nazi.

She sounds like a complete buckethead. Either point out the idiocies in her argument or, if you think she is the sort of person who might smack you one for daring to disagree with her, just tell her calmly that you don't agree and minimise all contact.
I can see that it might be tricky if your DC are friendly, and though some people would probably say you should put a stop to any friendship between the DC I would not agree with that at all: it's not her DCs fault their mother is a fuckwit after all. Just make sure your DC know your views.

vicky

can I just point out that "you're a twat" doesn't really constitute a full rebuttal.

I'm going to get another fuck off now arn't I?

vicky, I don't think pagwatch made you look like a twat. I think you did that all by yourself. There really is no need to be so vicious.

I dont really think coming out with a full"you are a fucking twat" is really a great argument, nor is it very nice.

I have to agree with S&N.
If you weren't racist the issues of Muslim children and muslim immigrants being offered a place at a catholic school would not have been an issue.

But in answer to the OP, yes she is full of sh1t.

lazylinepainter

you might want to duck too

I have no problems with all religions being taught in schools and all history - no matter how bad it makes Britain look (or other countries) - we can't ignore what went on in the past and children should learn from it - although having to feel guilty about it is a complete waste of time - we should learn not to repeat it. The thing that did make me laugh recently was when my 4 year old came home and told me that Jesus made her and put her in my tummy!