is a school allowed to do this?

[nonreligiousmummy]

My 2 children go to a CofE school. I have no choice in this because it is the only school we can get to. I am very unreligious (sorry) but obviously being a CofE school they have religious stories. I hate this but know that unless I change schools (impossible) I have to put up with it. If I had my way they would not be taught religious studies.

The thing I am happy about is the fact that ds has come home from school on two different occasions now, and said that they were taken to church that day. We (the parents) had no letter or anything to tell us that this would be happening or to ask our permission. Can the school do this? Just take our kids off like that without us knowing? I think its a bit out of order. I don't know what to do. Thanks.

no god isnt responsible for good results! Presumably church schools tend to do well because the majority of the parents have committed to attending church regularly and maybe have the same approach to school work.

Well all I can say is, go and visit a few CofE schools - you'll be amazed at how unchurchy and utterly normal they are.

Sobernow: Then you are Daily Mailising the facts.

@ sobernow

The most intolerant group here seem to be the atheists... ahem...

morningpaper - I very much doubt that! The reason there are so many religious schools and parents send their kids there is because they are free, not because all the parents are ardent godbotherers! I know that from my own friends, who trail along to church every week without any religious belief at all.
As for taking over the cost of the schools outside the state system but keeping them free - I don't think so. Running a school is v expensive. Churches only contribute a tiny amount to the costs - either 10% of the cost or it might be only 10% of the maintenance costs (a fraction of the budget!). I hardly see them suddenly coming up with the cash to run them themselves instead of sponging on the rest of us.

Jampots - precisely! That's why they are selective.

And what the hell is intolerant about wanting all state schools to be open to all!!! I am astonished. There are no schools which refuse to take the children of religious homes, are there? There are lots who don't want my kids. I think the intolerance is all one way.

What does the current Pope have to say about homosexuality? I bet it's really tolerant.

there's loads of non-denominational schools around - why would a non-christian family want a cofe school?

aloha: They are popular because they have a reputation as good schools with good teaching. No other reason.

Maybe those of us outside central London don't recognise the set-up you're complaining about though? The CofE schools round here have catchments - if you're in catchment, you've got a place. Church attendance only comes into play if you're out od catchment and they're oversubscribed. So therefore, we aren't overrun with "god-botherers", just normal people who don't want to walk far .

aloha, i always chuckle when you go off on one about religious schools because for all your outrage at the indoctrination it is inevitably you who sounds the most doctrinaire and fundamentalist... "wicked"! sounds like the language of pope benedict!

Morningpaper - I know they aren't popular for their religious aspect! That was my point. Which is why I don't think that if all state schools became secular there would a sudden explosion of the kind of extremist religious private schools that Jampots was suggesting.

Jampots, of course I don't want my kids to go to a sectarian school. I don't think that the state should be funding such schools either. I don't think they should exist. I think state schools should be open to all children, regardless of their parents' race, colour, political or religious beliefs.

Calm down ladies. I didn't say that all religious people are tolerant. I said that religious tolerance is one of the great things about our society. By which I mean tolerance and appreciation of religious practice and diversity is one of the things I think is fantastic about Britain.

I'm sorry BK, and I do know you are Catholic, but I find the attitudes of the church towards homosexuality and condom use - to name but two, are pretty reprehensible to put it mildly. I'm no more enamoured of the morality of other religions either. And yes, some of my best friends are Catholic!

Aloha: I don't think that anyone's children are being taught at school that condoms are evil or that homosexuals are wicked ...

Oh, I'm tolerant of the existence of religion. In the home and the church/mosque/temple/synagogue. I think absolutely that people should be free to practise any religion or none. But I do not feel tolerant of the use of religion to discriminate against children in the education system.

see what i mean, aloha, reprehensible? ok you're entitled to your beliefs same as i am, and presumably you will pass them on to your kids, the same as i will. it just irks me to think that passing on my strongly held beliefs is indoctrination but you passing on yours is... what exactly?

MP, those are basic teachings of the Catholic faith. And yes, Catholic schools do teach in accordance with that.

BK - I am absolutely in favour of your right to indoctrinate your kids any way you like.
I am not in favour of state funded schools doing it. Big difference.

aloha, rc teachings on those issues would not be taught in those terms in any decent rc school.

Have re-read this thread and agree with VP