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.

wuzzup
Where have they learned such things?
As you have avoided them learning about other faiths at school and you live in a non racially mixed area?

Yes and Yes

Well, she would say that, wouldn't she?

After all, her DCs are intelligent and have scholarships, don't you know.

No suberbanRhonda, you have simply misinterpreted what I have said. If you know the meaning of non sequitur then apply it. I said what I meant.

Wazzup you have been extremely disrespectful to my father, who not only participated in the war but won two medals for bravery (which is some going for a radio operator). You are entitled to say you disagree with someone's view or that you think they are wrong, you are not entitled to call them disrespectful unless they have actually been disrespectful - as you have. I am hardly being disrespectful to those who fought in the wars by following my own father's example. You on the other hand are being extremely disrespectful to him.

Where have they learned such things?
As you have avoided them learning about other faiths at school and you live in a non racially mixed area?

In the case of Hijabs, from some pupils at their school who come from a largely Moslem country. In the case of Haradi, it happens that my almost monocultural area is actually home to a small ultra othodox Jewish community. They have a synagogue near my DC's school. The school were invited to go along to see the synagogue (which was actually provided by and paid for by a Christian when Jews were not allowed to purchase land or build) and learn something of the history. They also learned about the Jewish faith and various sects.

wuzzup You have sent your child to a faith school with a narrow curriculum, you are entitled to make that decision, though I think, based on my husband's similar education, it is sad one for your son and I certainly would not perceive any of the schools that match that description to be amongst the top independent schools. Ampleforth, Stoneyhurst etc may be top faith schools but I cannot think of another measure that would put them "top" in the sector.

However you then tried to extrapolate that to generalising about the independent sector. In my experience of schools that are widely recognised as the best in the sector by whatever measure you may choose are characterised by seeking to prepare their pupils for life in a multi cultural and increasingly global world, to expose them to all sorts of ideas and develop strong critical thinking skills. Progressive as much as traditional.

And the values and teaching in state schools is not different. Difference in resources, cohorts, facilities maybe but in providing an education that prepares them for the world, the same basic values prevail.

No suberbanRhonda, you have simply misinterpreted what I have said. If you know the meaning of non sequitur then apply it. I said what I meant.

Where's the non sequitur in the post you refer to, then?

However you then tried to extrapolate that to generalising about the independent sector

I did not say this. I said all independents are different and that it was not possible to generalise.

All I have done beyond that is describe what their curriculum is. I amquite atease with that whether you like it or not. I cannot agree with you that state schools are developing anything like the critical skills you seem to think. Nor do I believe that the social education in such schools equips them for life in this modern world as you do. But I am happy to disagree.

Talkin Peace...of course a classical education IS of great value for its own sake...never mind the geopolitical context.

and why on earth would a child want to know the differences between various styles of hijab so they can address the wearer inclusively? I certainly hope my dcs are concerned with that.

Where's the non sequitur in the post you refer to, then?

I quoted it with my comment.
A non sequitur is an argument that does not follow. Its a logical fallacy. In the case in question the poster made a comment about my typing error and suggeted that my inability to type invalidated my view on a different matter ( the topic of this thread). I pointed out that using typing errors as evidence to conclude an argument was not valid did not follow. It was non sequitur.

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.

cough No. Not generalising at all.

My dcs are at indies but I have a lot of experience of state schools (my dns attend them) and they just teach to the curriculum with grades in mind.
I also think Gove was right to insist on the teaching of British history...why not for goodness sake. We live in Britain and it is still a Christian country with a very rich history.

You know, I think you're a little bit of an intellectual snob, wuzzup.

I asked you four or five times what it is you want to protect your DCs from, after you said in one post that you wanted to protect them. You never replied (surprise!).

But the moment I suggested you used the term non sequitur incorrectly (as you did), you were all over me like a cheap suit.

In what way is the UK a Christian country, 3kids?

Suburban, the UK is Officially a Christian country, with the Church of England as the Established Church and the Queen as the Head of the Church....in that way!

in a Christian country I would expect every state school to teach Christianity, or at least teach about Christianity

Oh, you mean historically, 3kids.

Actually, I don't think you'll find anyone on this site who disagrees with teaching students about Christianity. As well as teaching about other world religions and beliefs.

The problem comes when people think students should be taught Christianity.

in a Christian country I would expect every state school to teach Christianity, or at least teach about Christianity

What would you expect in private schools, 3kids?

my taxes don't pay for the private schools so I don't mind which religion they teach. My dcs are in private Cof E and they attend Church weekly. That is my choice as it is my money.
However , as a tax payer I expect my taxes to be spent on teaching the official religion of the UK which is Christianity...and , no it's not historical, it is actual. Whether people like it or not we live in an OFFICIALLY Christian country. The last census confirmed it. The Monarch is Head of the Established Church.

I can't think of any state schools - other than deregulated Academies and Free Schools - which don't teach about Christianity. And of course there's the compulsory act of collective worship, which must be of a broadly Christian nature too.

But I would never send my children to a school which taught only Christianity, and taught it as Religious Instruction rather than Religious Education. That would not do them any favours at all.

and I would prefer it if students were taught Christianity rather than about Christianity and then also taught about other religions.
I was brought up a Christian and am now an atheist but want my dcs brought up in the religion of this country. When they are older they can choose, as I did. I don't care if they are not taught about other religions they can learn that later if they are interested.

As an atheist, I feel I have no right whatsoever to dictate my children's beliefs, no matter what age they are. They went to a C of E primary because I liked the feel of the school - and I was very open about my atheism on the application, before anyone asks. It was a great school, very inclusive of other faiths. And yes, the DDs did go through a phase of believing, which was fine with me.

I have let them choose their path faith-wise from the time they were old enough to talk. Why wait until later to allow them to do that?

And really - Christianity isn't the religion of this country any more. Yes, we have an established Christian church, but if you look at what real people do in their real lives, we are a diverse country of many faiths. The established church is an anachronism and I am in favour of disestablishment.

3kidsandme
I was not born in this country.
To get my UK passport I had to swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen.
It was all rather surreal as I'm an atheist republican.
My other nationality avowedly separates church and state and yet has the most rabidly religious political system in the world.

The UK is not a Christian country - it is one of the most secular countries in the world.

wuzzup
you live in a weird part of the country that magically has a Haredi community in amongst no other ethnic groups
oh yeah, except the magically appearing moslems
in fact, a swift check of the census data shows that you either live in North London or next door to Walter Mitty.

3kids
BTW your taxes do pay for private schools due to the huge tax breaks offered to the charity ones

pointythings, how do you know what real people do in their real lives (what's the difference between lives and "real" lives btw)? You can only know what a small proportion of people do. That is a really arrogant statement. You certainly don't know what I do. And I'm not sure what real people are. I know many, many people who are Christian, even though I am not. And they are all real.
TalkinPeace, As to my taxes paying for private schools because of the "tax breaks", they don't. The schools are educational charities and, as such have tax advantages. They receive no money from the Government. The parents or alumni or investments pay for the running of these schools. Hence the word "independent". Did you lie under oath then when you swore allegiance to the queen?

One of my roles as a responsible parent is to guide my dcs not just "leave them to it".
Oh, and by the way, there are quite large Haredi communities in Manchester that I know of because I used to live there.
And whether or not you like it, this IS a Christian Country.