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Original poster

Why is religion forced on all children at school?

323 replies

Kateyoz · 22/09/2016 09:46

We are not religious and so chose a state school not a faith school for our boys but they come home every day singing hymns they are taught in assembly - the school said we can withdraw them from assemblies but why should they be made to miss out? Shouldn't state schools teach all beliefs and not focus on one, or leave religion to the parents and keep it out of school? Feel like mine are being indoctrinated into a religion against our will

OP posts:
UnmentionedElephantDildo · 22/09/2016 09:50

They do teach all (well, all major) religions. And assemblies can be really variable in content, as with the useful (woolly) stance of the CofE just about anything would fit the requirement.

Only when people actually use the opt-out in any numbers will there be an adequate demonstration that it's not satisfactory. It's one where voting with your feet is needed.

ImYourMama · 22/09/2016 09:51

For gods sake, hymns have been part of the English assembly for decades- they're not 'indoctrinating' your kids, they're just nice songs. I sang them in school assemblies and I'm firmly Atheist. Don't be so ridiculous.

eurochick · 22/09/2016 09:56

I completely agree with you OP. I think there should be no worship in state schools.

Minstrelsareyum · 22/09/2016 09:59

Hi op, I believe all schools must have assemblies of a "broadly Christian nature". That includes non denominational schools. The are not telling your DC that they must be a Christian or what to believe in. All kids will make up their mind about religion in their own time, don't worry. My DS goes to a CofE secondary (our choice - he and I are church goers, DH is not and now DD has decided she's not a believer any more. Absolutely fine with me. I always said up to them to decide. But I'm pretty certain the few and far between school assemblies and Christian worship time/songs have not influenced them in any way.

Traalaa · 22/09/2016 10:00

Seems a bit weird to me to still be singing hymns in assembly - they don't at my son's comp, but's that v.multi faith, so might be why. I do like the way they teach RE these days though. It's v.philosophical and makes them think about the world and how we choose to live.

SiaMia · 22/09/2016 10:01

I withdraw my children. As a do a number of other parents. Once we started lots of others did.

I think there is about 16 of them now in a relatively small primary school.

Original poster
Kateyoz · 22/09/2016 10:01

I don't think it's being ridiculous - the assemblies seem to focus just on one religion so dont give a balanced view and that's a religion that doesn't support equality for things like gay marriage. Just because they have been part of assemblies for decades doesn't make it right for today.

OP posts:
Lumpylumperson · 22/09/2016 10:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MephistophelesApprentice · 22/09/2016 10:07

It's all part of the health and safety policy: It's the schools commitment to Pascal's wager, just in case there is a god. After all, could you imagine how many parents would complain if the earth split, the skies filled with fire and the Divine Host purged their heathen children from the blighted earth? You'd never hear the end of it.

LeRoom · 22/09/2016 10:07

We live in a country where most people were practising christians for a long time, which has left its mark on our culture. It really is time now that state schools were secular, and religions became a home matter but our society hasn't quite got around to it yet.

In fact, things are, rather worryingly, going the other way Hmm

humanism.org.uk/help-us-oppose-plans-for-100-religious-selection-in-new-religious-schools/

MephistophelesApprentice · 22/09/2016 10:07

It's all part of the health and safety policy: It's the schools commitment to Pascal's wager, just in case there is a god. After all, could you imagine how many parents would complain if the earth split, the skies filled with fire and the Divine Host purged their heathen children from the blighted earth? You'd never hear the end of it.

MephistophelesApprentice · 22/09/2016 10:07

Oops, doubled up.

DollyBarton · 22/09/2016 10:11

I agree with you OP. Religion has no place in schools except as a topic of academic study. People are so indoctrinated they think singing religious songs of praise to 'our Lord' is not indoctrination😄

Having said that my kids are signed up for the best local primary which is Catholic but I'll be giving them a more balanced view of religion at home.

balence49 · 22/09/2016 10:12

I couldn't agree more! I have a year 5 in a c of e school. I have been driven slowly mad with some of the things they have had force fed over the years. I have never moved schools as this is my issue and as long as I don't make an issue of it my child seems oblivious.

Now looking for a school for my toddler... Sad thing is, either put up with the bullshit and get a otherwise quite good school, or send them to one of two terrible county primary's in the area.

I honestly believe that yes they should learn a bit about every religion presented as some people believe. Rather than the ramming it home as truth and ridiculed if they dare to question it.

Badbadbunny · 22/09/2016 11:31

So you wouldn't go to a church wedding, christening or funeral then?

The UK is a Christian country, most of England is CofE, so it's to be expected that certain gatherings will have Christian/CofE influences.

It's not indoctrination at all.

People are free to make their own minds up, to attend or not, to believe or not.

Some of the people complaining will happily go to other countries and take part in religious events there without batting an eye lid!

Original poster
Kateyoz · 22/09/2016 11:44

I disagree that most of England is still C of E and there is a big difference between attending someone else's chosen ceremony and being taught one religion every day in school by teachers who children need to trust and believe. www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/23/no-religion-outnumber-christians-england-wales-study

OP posts:
Alfieisnoisy · 22/09/2016 11:52

Dolly so you think it IS indoctrination but happily sign your children up for a Catholic eduation with the airy justification that you will give an alternative view at home.

Hypocritical quite honestly. They WILL be indoctrinated given your previous post.

OP grow up and stop worrying about something s insignificant. So they sing a Christian hymn....who bloody cares as long as they are not being dragged to church.

NerrSnerr · 22/09/2016 12:04

The U.K. Is officially a CofE country. That's why The Queen is head of the Anglican Church. That's why state schools still do prayers, hymns etc.

I went to your typical village primary school 30 years ago and did the usual prayers at lunch, hymn practice, christingal, harvest festival etc. I have still been able to think for myself and am now an atheist. Would I worry that my children will sing All things bright and beautiful at school? Of course not! My children may choose to become a Christian (or other religion) and of course that's their choice and nothing to do with me!

viques · 22/09/2016 12:25

The reason religious practices form part of UK state school life goes back to the very beginning of state education,the first schools established by Methodists and baptists led directly to legislation enshrining how religion ( meaning of course c of e ) would be recognised and promoted in state funded schools. This legacy still exists, despite numerous education acts since.

The secular year in the UK still largely revolves around the Christian calendar, lent, Easter, Harvest, Christmas etc .It is so deeply engrained into our culture that I think it is important for all UK children , of whatever religion or affiliation, to recognise these origins and references whether or not they are Christians.

JustRichmal · 22/09/2016 12:27

I once did withdraw my dd from assembly and RE lessons in a non religious state school. I had a meeting and we reached a compromise that when talking about religion the teachers would explain it was belief and not fact. Also they found songs which had no religious content for the children to sing. There really is no need for the children to sing hymns..

SpringSpringSpring · 22/09/2016 12:38

The UK is a Christian country, most of England is CofE, so it's to be expected that certain gatherings will have Christian/CofE influences.

Most of England? CoE church attendance stands at about 760,000 in a country of over 50 million.

NerrSnerr · 22/09/2016 12:43

In the last census 59% of people said they are CofE. I wonder what percentage of people are like me- not CofE but happy for in school worship?

specialsubject · 22/09/2016 12:45

the schools have to do it, we are not a secular country.

With a new monarch on the throne in a few years we may be able to change this. Right now no-one dares.

Eolian · 22/09/2016 12:49

They do teach about lots of religions - in their R.E. lessons. But they are supposed to have an act of worship too (i.e. not a lesson), and the UK is officially C of E, so that's what the act of worship usually is. I'd rather schools were secular, but I don't for one minute believe that my children will be indoctrinated by singing a few hymns and listening to a few boring Bible stories. They (age 8 and 11) are just a bit Confused that anyone actually believes in that stuff.

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