to think that my DD has a right to a secular education

[Tinnitus]

Two years ago my DD came home to tell EXP and Me about the "true meaning of Christmas". We are both atheists and had purposely sought out a non religious school and so we were perplexed. We took every opportunity to explain that this story was just that, a story, not the literal truth.

Inevitably DD soon started on about the true meaning of Easter and so I made an appointment to see the headmistress of her school. By the time of the appointment I had learned from DD that it was a classroom helper who was feeding her this guff and not a teacher, and I felt a quiet word would suffice.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that not only was the helper indoctrinating DD, but the local evangelical church held monthly assemblies with the children. Indeed it turns out that every school in the country must be affiliated with a church of some type, but is not obliged to brand themselves thus. The head mistress was courteous and obliging and agreed to my request that the brainwashing of DD stop. I made no demands about her education other than She does not come home spouting twaddle.

Two years on and she is beginning to again to talk about Heaven, Hell, God and the Devil. But she has no idea who Adam and Eve were. When I "tactfully" quizzed her about this I discover a local CofE vicar has been regularly talking to the children about his faith, but without emphasizing that it is only his own opinion. Worse still, He has had my DD praying in class.

I have asked the school to live up to their earlier agreement as calmly as I could.

AIBU

'never has been the job of scientist to prove that God dose not exist.'

It might not be their job but many have spent a lot of time on it and a lot of words have been written about it. Strange that scientists are split and many a scientist is in church on a Sunday. I would say they have about the same split as the rest of the population. Science doesn't prove or disprove anything and therefore it is a matter of faith which is a very private thing. Men have gone to the moon and can still believe in God. Everyone is different.

www.humanism.org.uk/education

'Check out this and see if you think we should still debate it...'

@ Tinnitus -- Diatribes are the opposite of intellectual debate; they add heat but not light. Frankly, for someone who seems to set such store by science and the spirit of scientific inquiry, you seem very happy to close down debate (and use of the intellect in general, which you seem to distrust, even in your own child) and replace it with tirades.

Not sure If I'm guilty of tirades? As for shutting down debate, I'm happy to debate the OP and any other related points. but the question of my beliefs have been the main contention on this thread. The question of faith verses science is not really worth discussing here. lets face it, no one is going to have their opinions changed and we are now clearly getting entrenched.

My beliefs are not even the issue in the OP. in fact I have repeatedly said that my problem is with the school breaking their promise. obviously I would not have sought an agreement over an issue I didn't care about. but the relative merits of my argument with religion are NOT the issue.

AIBU to expect DDs school to keep its promises.

YANBU, and it's a pity you don't have the option of sending her to a secular school.

I have no doubt that schools will be secular one day-but not while our DCs are at that age. It will come eventually.