Cant get DC into a faith school

[angelfireabbey]

I know this is possibly the wrong place because it seems the whole of MN is atheist or totally secular. However, there is a lot of discussion by MNers here about getting intofaith schools ( often without any faith because they are good schools).

I am a little bit fed up with it. I take my faith seriously. I take my DC to church and we believe. I wanted my DC to have a faith education. There are only two faith schools where I live. They are oversubscribed by parents who seem to have suddenly aquired a need to attend church to get a vicars signiture.

I had my pastors signiture but we didnt get a place. So instead my DC is stuck in a state school where the teachers and other children laugh and say that they have " imaginary friends" ( or simply they are nutters!) and that they believe in fairly stories etc. Sound familiar MN parents? ( I bet you wouldnt say it if someone were of say Jewish or Muslim faith though would you?). It is offensive you know.

They have an atheist teacher who clearly knows next to nothing about Christianity.

I would settle for any faith school although there are no others ( of any faith ) within 40 miles of us.

So how do I get into one? I have asked my church community. I know they are doing their best and we are praying hard but I am sure some savvy non religious types must know more here. So I am asking.
I see thread on thread where parents are scamming the system.So how does a genuine person get in?

Thanks.

*Isn't that what schools are about? Teaching pupils to become good citizens who have been given the skills to question, debate , reach their own conclusions

No,poisonwoodlife, in my opinion state schools are generally about teaching pupils to be good NON THINKING citizens who can trot out what ever political idea is currently on the agenda. To have a different viewpoint is not acceptable. After all there are some things which are not acceptable.

Independents on the other hand I think tend to a more traditional and therefore less controversial curriculum. A more classical education.

wuzzup, what do you want to protect your DCs from?

Rabbit - why areyou sodesperate to want to make me see your view point of the white poppy? I do not shareyour view. It is not from ignorance. I do not need you to "educate me". I simply do not agree with it.

If it is possible as you and other posters suggest that we can be allowed to have different opinions, then surely this is one of them? Why do you feel the need to continue to make it an issue?

I'm kind of in awe that the state sector can apparently be both radical/progressive and also encourage lack of thought, while a more 'traditional' approach encourages more critical analysis and probing of conventional ways of thinking.

Wazzup, you might want to do a little more reading about the PPU. As I say, I'm not an adherent, but I do try to take a balanced view of history.

why areyou sodesperate why are you so desperate. Sorry I did write that correctly, it seems my phone is not doing as it is told.

Independents on the other hand I think tend to a more traditional and therefore less controversial curriculum. A more classical education

If you think this means it is any more or less free of a political agenda then you are very naive.

I would agree with Suburban, unless you can explain differently it sounds like you want to protect your children from views that are different from yours.

rabbit, I found your post interesting and informative. Not desperate in the slightest.

Wazzup, you might want to do a little more reading about the PPU

Same as I said to Rabbit. I do not need to be educated. I do not share the view. What is wrong with my thinking differently on this to you? I do not agree.

There are lots of people who do not agree with the PPU.

Not sharing their view is quite different from spouting historical nonsense as you did above. I don't share their view either, but at least I've taken the time to find out a bit about the history so that I'm not talking rubbish about it.

Big difference between understanding something and agreeing with it. It's part of that critical thinking bit.

wuzup I totally understand what you are saying about how history and how things can be seen from differing perspectives. Often you feel that opinion is taught as fact in some areas of state education

I think it was good for your dad to raise these points with your ds.

Thanks for that but clearly we are in a minority in thinking this way.

wuzzup, what is it you want to protect your DCs from?

wuzzup that is certainly not what my DDs peers have experienced in our local state schools.

I just showed your post on your son's RE curriculum to my DH who attended a famous Benedictine boarding school in the 70s. He groaned, he freely admits it was an education that left him woefully ignorant, not just about Religion, but Literature, History etc etc. He has generally not intervened in the educational choices for our DD because he really finds it hard to comprehend the joy that a good education and a chance to indulge in the questioning academic study of humanity and science can give and which I am proud to have fostered in our daughters. Only one thing was clear they were going to be protected from a faith school education however much the brothers promised to ease their way into the exclusive faith schools..........

We have likewise changed history to elevate Mary Seacole above Florance Nightingale.
her name was Florence

And the point of that is? Typo police?

Its a non sequitur.

wuzzup when i worked at an independent the GCSE syllabus was like that. My own o level RS looked at Mark's gospel.

Traditionally this is a christian country so I think this should be reflected in the RE Syllabus. Also it helps students to understand British History to a certain extent. In lower years other faiths are explored.

Wuzzup
Would your children have recognised the Haredi?
Would your children understand why they dress like that? even though the hats are now cheap pressed felt as if from a fancy dress shop and the coats were spectacularly badly tailored in cheap fabrics
Would your children understand the difference between hijabs of various styles and thus know how to address the wearer in an inclusive manner?

Or is the multicultural world what you are trying to protect them from?

I just showed your post on your son's RE curriculum to my DH who attended a famous Benedictine boarding school in the 70s. He groaned

So what poisonwoodlife? Again I askthe question - why do you feelthe need to make me share your view?

OK so you and your DH dont like it. You are not paying the fees. You are not making the choice. They are not your DC. I like the curriculum. I like the school. My DC are happy there. What more is there?

I have my point of view. I do not ask you to share it. Nor doI ask you to question my position. I have not questioned your choices.

I'm not in the least desperate for you to share my opinion. I don't care what you think about the White poppy. I do care that you stated that to wear the white poppy is to insult those who participated and died in the wars since as I pointed out my father participated in WWII and wore the White poppy in memory of his mother who died in WWI and whose service was not recognised until very recently by the red poppy (and I for one do not 'buy' the supposed change of policy over this).

Ok, people, I think we all know what wuzzup wants her DCs to be protected from, don't we?

Or is the multicultural world what you are trying to protect them from?

Believe it or not TalkinPeace, the independent school my DC go to is far more culturally diverse than the local state comprehensive because I live in a part of the country which is still a largely a mono culture. The independent has pupils from many countries and many cultures overseas. So, in sending them there I have exposed them to a far more diverse set of cultural experiences than they might have had at the local school.

Its interesting - because its half term a couple of the regular private school parent posters are not here.

But I'd be very surprised if they would agree that fee paying schools are mainly there to protect children from the multi religious world.

A classical education is only of use with a modern geopolitical context, not for its own sake.

So, in sending them there I have exposed them to a far more diverse set of cultural experiences than they might have had at the local school.
No you have not.
Because the school has a strongly Christian ethos so is in fact trampling on their different cultural identities.

You have not answered my questions by the way.
Do your children know what a Haredi looks like and why?
Do they know the different types of hijab?

RabbitofNegativeEuphoria, I understand that you belive that what you have chosen to do is what you consider right. I understand how you have reasonsed it. However, you must be aware that many people consider your position to be less than respectful. It isnt just about my personal view. I have expressed my view. You have expressed yours. Let it go.

Oh, and you misunderstand the meaning of the phrase non sequitur, wuzzup.

But I'm not desperate for you to agree with me on that

I do not have to answeryour questions TalkinPeace, but as you ask, Yes and Yes.