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.

I'm quite suprised that a school which has no other withing 20 miles has a church which has that many day time services. We have a VERY large and active CoE church near to us and it only has ONE service during the week (excluding the Toddler one) and that's at 10.30am on a Wednesday and is a said communion, attended by a relatively small number of people.

but just because they haven't visited any yet, doesn't mean that they're not going to. Also if it's that remote the chances are there will be no other 'relgious' buildings to visit - don't know of many villages with a CoE church and a Mosque

well they pray and sing hymns etc. the priest comes to the school so i think he is there for them when they come during school times

Acutally come to think of it at Primary School adn Secondary Schools we had relgious services at Easter and Christmas! We would sing hymns too. And that is a non-denominational school! Wonder if they still do it....

number 136 on Toothaches list of things to check before ds starts school

how old are you kids BTW - sorry missed that bit.

6 and 4

perhaps she should talk to the school. I'm sure they probably sings hymns and pray at assemblies at school - and more than likely the priest does visit them then. But I'd be very suprised if there was a 'service' at the church as well - it is possible that they're getting 'mixed up' about what happened where? - not uncommon at that age....

If there isn't another primary within 20 miles, I would have thought the local council were obliged to pay for transport if your objections are so strong TBH.

Oooh, we had Mr Gillian (or something like that) who came in with his board, and his magnetic cardboard cut outs and told us bible stories... is he still allowed in non-denominational schools?

Have only skimmed over the thread but I agree that a) religious schools shouldn't be funded by the state and b) if you do send your child to a religious school they will, er, practice religion, of course they will!

Btw I'm agnostic but my ds goes a c of e school, and they do go to church, as I expected they would. Equally his grandmother takes him to temple and I don't believe in that either! He knows I don't believe in god (small g since I don't believe in him), he knows his father and other parts of his family do, he can make up his own mind when he's older.

I'd feel the same if I was in your position. as others have said, just gently approach the school and ask if thy need written permission to take your child out of school premises and see what they say. Maybe you could contact the local authority and ask them what the rules are.

dh is an atheist, so my girls get their non-religious ed at home..

We had Mr Blunt... the local Minister (I think?). He came to the school and took the assemblies occasionally. It was always a bit of a skive!
I'll ask my brothers tonight it they still get those religious services for Easter/Christmas. They are both at Secondary School.

Message withdrawn

Give them a sense of pride
To make it easier

Let the childrens laaaaaughter...

I love Whitney..

NRM why didn't you take this up with the school when your children started there? I'm sure if there was no alternative school then your children would have been allowed to sit out assemblies and visits. I went to an 'ordinary' school but we still had christian assemblies and I remember some Jehovah's witness kids were allowed to sit out those.

I don't approve of religious schools myself and wouldn't want my kids to go to one, I think they're divisive (even though they do tend to be 'good' schools.) Even so my DS's non-religious community school still has religious assemblies. It doesn't bother me, he also learns about other religions too (and I consider myself a wishywashy christian )

But you have to expect CofE and other religious schools to practice what they preach, literally. You and I may not agree with it but that's the way it is.

The point seems to be, NRM, that you send your kids to a CofE school, whether you have the choice or not, and you are now complaining that they are 'doing' religion! If it were me I would have stated at the outset that I didn't want my child to be involved in these activities. If it is the only school in the area then there must be other parents with the same views, surely? I would make your views clear now and also see if the Local Authority can arrange transport to an altenative school if you feel that strongly.

Have you looked in the school prospectus/handbook to see what its policy on the teaching of Christianity is? It may well state that the School will attend services in which case I don't see that you will be able to argue with them. Perhaps you could ask them to tell you in advance when they will take place and you could take your children out for that period although how your children would feel about this...

I wouldn't be as vehement about this issue in RL of course - MN is a good place to vent. But I wouldn't want my kids told to worship anyone or anything. Luckily that won't be a real issue for me. Still don't like the acts of worship clause in the education act but with Messiah Blair in charge don't expect any change there. Won't take ds out of anything as I know conformity is important to children, but will give him an alternative view at home.

I have to say to those who say that it wouldn't bother them, would it bother you if your kids were whisked off to the local Conservative Party HQ or Labour (or whatever) and told that this was absolutely the right, good and proper philosophy to follow and to vote that way in the future? I really doubt it. Of course you want your kids taught about politics in the future and to know the difference between different political philosophies, but not to be taught that one is right and you should support it, surely? I bet a lot of you would be - rightly - outraged.
That is how many non-religious people feel about religious teaching in school.

but aloha if it was called the Michael Howard Conservative Primary, I might have a clue...and not apply there

ha ha well yes quite bundle! Aloha, I agree with you about religion in state schools and the funding and all that.

Toothache - check your school! My ds attends a great non-Church school near Stirling but they say the Lord's Prayer every morning, say Grace before lunch, have a religious assembly weekly, a religious service at Easter and a Church one at Christmas! We can exclude him if we want - and to do the head justice, she keeps us fully informed as she knows our views. However, at his age he would be more upset to be left out.

NRM - I didn't particularly want my ds to attend Church services either - and was seriously considering excluding him from the Christmas one -until I had to attend a funeral. It dawned on me then that at least if he went to the occasional church service with the school, he would learn the "etiquette" required so he would feel more comfortable when he is older about attending for funerals / weddings etc.

nrm
1)contact the local eduction authority to getyour options re other placement and transport issues do this today so you are in full knowledge of the facts

2. if you dont like what they say ask for the complaints process, to speak to someone else or if there is an appeals process

3. go to the paper with your story local rags love to stir the shit.

4. contact the school today and ask them about permission re: going off site. and what their policies are/ ask them to send you a copy.

5. speak to school about your child sitting out of assemblies and re classes and not going to services. ask the school to ask the LEA for assistance.

6. learn to drive. this is the simplist option. if it takes you a year to pass your test you then have saved your child from the mass cruelty of christian br-IA-n-washing for all of the followinf years

these are all things you can go and do or find out about.

as a catholic if the nearest school was a muslim school who taught an islamic ethos - and mi had no choice - i couldnt drive, there was no way of walking 20 miles tot he nearest school. i would phone the LEA ask them to provide an alternative placement and a way of getting there. if afterappeal and complaint and writing to the newspaper i was left with no other option - my kids would stay at home until i learned how to drive. THATS how strongly i would feel about it. iwould give up my job - i would give up everything THATs how strongly i feel about my kids being brought up catholic

i would howver accept that as a muslim school it would have its own ethos that i disagree with and i wouldn't try to force THEM to hide their religeon for my families sake - as i would recognise i have choices. even in your situation you have choices. sitting at home and bitching about it won't change anything. whinging about how all school shouldnot be religeous is a valid POV - but again won't change anything.

for a person of religeon we dont seperate out lives into the compartments of home an school. our belief systems permiate through every action in every moment of every day. through every though, word and deed. thats why we sent our children to religeous schools becuase ofits overall ethos which does permiate through intos chool life and the expectations of out children.
thats why for me school and religeon cannot be seperated.

i don't think she's tried the transport route, the question's been put several times on here and not answered.