Calling atheists (and anyone else with an opinion) - am I right to get a bit peed off about this?

[Tinker]

Eldest daughter goes to a state school, no relgious affiliation. However, it does seem to hasve close (too close, for my liking) ties with a local church - Christian. Have tolerated that.

Yesterday, she came home very excited, telling me their school had been picked to sing on a cd. On closer inspection of the leaflet, and then reading the website, it's a Christian thing. I won't stop her doing it but I am a bit peed off that a) I wasn't told about it and b) I feel they are using kids to promote Chritianity.

I'm going to investigate the site (popconnections.co.uk) a bit more when I get a chance and will write to the head but just wanted some perspective on this. Anyone else know about them? Am I over-reacting?

I think you are right to get a bit peed off but not to get seriously peed off, if that makes any sense...

I wouldn't like it either, do write to the head. DS was given a book about Jesus at the toddler group he goes to with the childminder, I didn't like that but he is to young to know so I let it pass, but I don't want my children to be indoctrinated.

I don't think I would be worried. I think it will be fun for her to see how the recording process works. Most Adults in the UK went to schools where they sang hymns, said prayers, took part in harvest festival etc., and we're not exactly the most religious of countries.

LOL at religious dd giving up tennis Fairymum - the second service is the work of Beelzebub

Actually just saw the bit about Alpha courses - I would be against my child being involved in something that supported this - they may be 'Christian', but I think many of their beliefs are objectionable.

Thank goodness for interfering education firewalls that block the sound files on that website
Tinker, I'd have had misgivings too, especially if I thought the finished product was going to be played to people in the developing world at 150Db until they acknowledged Jesus Christ as their Personal Saviour.
I think the endorsements from a variety of LEAs and non-denominational schools should reassure you that whatever the artistic merit of the project, it's not proselytising by a back door.
Anyway, count yourself lucky. Our school's in-house "no obligation to purchase" Christmas CD this year featured the PE teacher doing a rap version of We Wish you a Merry Christmas. It made Daz Sampson sound like Grandmaster Flash

ROFL acnebride - make that any form of tennis full stop. It is currently responsible for a 9am start in our house on a Saturday and dh frantically trying to travel back in time in white shorts to the days when his joints didn't creak and he could see the other player without his specs on.

my dd (10 yo) came home yesterday and informed me she would like to become a Jew! This was after one lesson learning about this particular religion. I informed her that when she is old enough to get herself to and from the Synagogue(sp?) she is welcome to become whatever she chooses! My oldest dd (12) has just taken part in a school trip to a mosque and a gurwhara(again please excuse my appalling spelling!!) they had to remove shoes, wear a hat, wash etc. What concerned me most about that was the person at the mosque asking the girls "how do you feel about Muslims after 9/11?" the girls didn't answer and the person kept repeating the question! We are a totally non-religious family and if I were in your position, as others have said, I would voice my concerns but not worry too much.

I wouldn't want my DS to take part in it. Although if all his friends did and he wanted too... Is this during the school day? During lunch? After school? How long will it take?

I am suprised at the views being expressed re Alpha course - my mum did it years ago and my best friend (that was a bit of a shock when she told me as I was unaware she even went to church on a regular basis) and neither of them are homophobic (my mum has more gay frinds than anyone i know - and thats in a small village in Scotland!) ditto with my friend. Both have close relatives who have had abortions and have NEVER expressed anything other that support for their decisions. My friend (3 children, 2 step children, job) doesn't even go to church very often and she lives directly opposite hers. Neither of them has ever tried to drag me along either. As far as I knew, the Alpha thing was a sort of doorway into Christianity for those who wanted to know more.

My kids go to local c of e primary and i would've expected to be informed but IME letters often follow my kids' garbled versions of future events a few days later.

Christianity is perceived to be deeply unfashionable and more importantly has been hijacked by the political right in the USA - confusing Nationalism with religion etc and I think a lot of dubious Christian beliefs are not really Christian beliefs but those of the American right wing.

Well, thanks for more opinions. Not only have I got to buy the cd I've got to go and see it performed live next week!

Apparently at least one other mother is going to write and complain so don't feel alone. Really feel I must let them know I am not happy about this.

Agree with the idea of giving them something to reject but also have the what if they accept fear.

lol at all this instant Christians and Jews.

Oi, and no dissing Daz Sampson, he's a local boy

Tinker I really don't think you should feel obliged to buy the CD. It's like school photos and other stuff, you should only buy it if it's any good. My children don't seem offended when I say I'm not having things they have done in the house, and you may set a precedent..

EmmyLou you're right there about the middle american christian thing. my boyf grew up in an atheist family and he has a bit of a warped view about what being a christian (esp a catholic actually) is about. But re the Alpha course, i feel like running a mile when i hear about it cos i once worked with an absolutely raving christian loony who kept on & on about how we should all try the Alpha course. I kind of (clearly wrongly) assumed they'd all be like her...

Would you like her to stick an athiest song in there and a jewish and hindi one??

Really think a kid of that age would be chuffed to sing on a cd and not think about the religeuos aspect of it - if you are bothered have a chat to her about it and explain your views but I would fear that it would mar the ocassion and maybe make something out of nothing for a kid of her age!!

And what if she did accept Tinker? Be it Christianity, Buddhism, Islam or atheism or any other -ism we all have to accept that our children may not agree with our beliefs.

I know Kate, but being a lapsed Catholic sort of really puts you off it and i would find it very weird dd believing in something i didn't and that i actively had to fight not to believe iykwim. I think if she was a nice normal believer (like my parents) and open minded etc it would be ok but if she turned into a raving loony, well, i don't know what i'd do!!

What songs are they going to sing???

Agree it'll be a fun experience for her, I'll buy the cd, go to the show, think she's marvellous etc. Still don't like it. Of course she will/may have different views to me when she grows up (and we discuss this a bit too much atm, wish the notion of god wasn't put into her head at all) and I'll have to live with it but for one who has now chosen to not believe, after being brought up as a believer, it'd feel a bit, er, odd having a daughter who became a fervent theist.

I think children can be attracted to certain religious rituals without necessarily understanding their meanings. My dd goes to a school which openly states it follows a Christian ethos, and dd attends our local C of E Sunday school sometimes.

There is a small contingent of Roman Catholic girls at dd's school, who recently took their first communion. When dd saw this, she claimed that she wanted to be Roamn Catholic - but it was really because she wanted to join in.

Tinker was right to be concerned. It's true that very few young children will even think about what they are singing and will enjoy the experience etc. But they are being subtly indoctrinated. In this case it is probably OK, but 70 years ago it might have been something like the Horst Wessel song (to take an extreme).

However with any luck this will kill off another thread....

Christians do this sort of stuff to pump up their numbers. But I don't sweat it. My kids are simply too smart and well educated to be got by this stuff.

If my kid got seduced into a paedophile cult by singing songs, then I'd have failed as a father in so may ways that it would have happened anyway.

i think you are totally over reacting. it will be fun.
anyway surely you want your child to know about different beliefs so she can make her own informed choice when shes old enough. what are you scared of? that she wont agree with you?

I full agree with you Tinker,
I'm an atheist and would not be happy about this,however,I would allow my children to take part,only because they would be disappointed if they were left out.
If I were you I would write to the head and complain about the lack of concent and the fact, that they can not just asume,every parent will be alright about it.
My children attend a non religous school and I'm often "a bit peed off",about their close links with the local church.The local vicar calles every week and was introduced to the children as,"the school friend" Andrew.I thought this was a bit underhand as well.

It amazes me that everyone gets so hot under the collar on an issue like this!
What's wrong with children creating something together with not only time together but with a purpose to explore for themselves and develop a sense of values?
Pop Connections mission statement reads:

The Pop Connection seeks to teach children the important values of life. The songs focus on showing children what it means to demonstrate goodness and kindness, patience and love, The lyrics teach children about serving and respecting all people regardless of their gender, race, ethnic origin, religion, age and physical or mental capability. The project also seeks to develop a child's creative, social and spiritual potential.

PLEEEEEEEZe !

What's wrong with that?