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.

Don't know if this will help but when I taught RE in a Catholic school, it was suggested that a pupil be withdrawn from RE classes and the the Head basically said no - the religion being an integral part of the school life - if you don't like it, withdraw your child from the school. guess it would be the same for trips to churches and things like that.
I agree with flashingnose - you have lots of experiences in childhood - if having a bit of religious instruction is the worst, then I think you'll probably be OK.

What's 'hysterical" about not wanting your children to be taught that myths are true by the people you have to trust to educate them? I think bandying around words like 'hysterical' can be quite patronising, actually. And pretty insulting. I happen to think religion very effectively promotes hysteria. Did you see those loons outside the Vatican? Like teenagers at a Beatles concert.
And morningpaper, yes I do think you can be taught ABOUT politics without anyone telling you explicitly to vote Conservative. Of course teachers have their own beliefs but I would expect good ones to at least try to be impartial. That is not the case when children are told that Jesus will save them and that God loves them, or when they are dragged along to church to worship a mythical deity.
I never said it caused damage - but I don't like it. Just as you presumably wouldn't like political doctrine shoved down the throat of your young children.

And I do find it SO patronising when I am told that making children go to church/teaching them that god exists MUST be good because Christian morality is good. That's an opinion, not a fact. I find the morality of the Popes past and present to be utterly abhorrent to me. I think they thought/think totally wicked things.

Aloha, just popping in to say how much I love your use of the word 'wicked' - I so rarely see it and enjoy the outings you give it on religion threads!

Aloha, I've never met a teacher who's shoved anything down anybody's throat. I think that's the problem. You assume that teachers who have a belief will be unable to teach that belief impartially. I don't see any evidence of that in this thread, or in the majority of people's experience.

I would have no problem with my daughter learning someone's opinion about politics, whether I agreed with it or not. There's not a day goes by in this house without a raging debate about politics/religion/ethics/the monarchy/whether Ecover is a rip-off etc. - learning is surely a lifelong process of argument and counterargument, isn't it?

You'd never think I had friends who go to church, would you?
I don't discuss religion with them - it all comes out here, I'm afraid.
Beauty of the internet and all that.

Aloha I don't know who these adults are that have the capability of instilling their contrary beliefs so firmly in your children's mind - I'm very jealous of their powers!

Aloha maybe you should discuss religion with them! Why are you so afraid to do so? We can't get through a dinner party in this house without deconstructing our friends' political/religious/cultural views...

(Now I think about it, our American friends haven't been back for some time...)

Morningpaper - of course I don't think any of the things you are accusing me of. The whole point of religious schools is that they are NOT required to teach about religion in an impartial way. They are perfectly at liberty to tell children that God is real, and to worship him. This is hardly impartial. That is like standing up in front of a class of kids and telling them that the Labour/Conservative party is the only source of truth and that those who don't vote for them are wrong. It is the OPPOSITE of impartial. How many times do I have to say, I don't oppose teaching about religion. I support it strongly. It is interesting to hear the stories and myths and find out what other people believe. What I oppose is teaching that any religion is the truth and I oppose the worship of deities (any deities, from Aphrodite to Allah) in school.

Oh, God, I'm not afraid of anything. I just don't want to upset/fight with my friends. They know I don't believe and I know they do.

Aloha: in which case I'd strongly recommend not sending your children to a church school (the original poster's error). Or going to church. Or mixing with religious people.

Did you go to a church school yourself?

No I didn't go to a church school - they were pretty rare in my day and seem to be springing up like mushrooms these days.

That's because everyone wants to go!

That's another argument altogether. There are social reasons IMO why some - and ONLY some - church schools do well. And remember, they are selective. They choose who can come in.

If I sent my kids to a Jewish school for instance I would expect them to take part in Jewish activities and not kick up a stink about it.

so aloha why do SOME church schools do well then?

But the stories you're quoting are just parables. I don't think anyone ever sat down and said "Once there was ACTUALLY a Samaritan..."

When I was 6 stories were stories! I didn't worry about the historical accuracy of religious texts until I was well into my 20s ...

Did these kind of stories confuse you when you were a child? I don't understand the hostility.

And it's all very complaining about organised religion, but we've got nothing to compare it to because atheists have never been organised.

In our county they have to take you if you're in catchment, religious or not.

so does this bring up the religious school v private school debate - one I believe has never occurred.

For those anti-church schools, would you prefer your child to go private assuming you also disagree with that?

I wouldn't send my child to a religious school because we are not God-botherers. And anyone who does and then complains they are too religious is absurd.

But on an intellectual level, any British child who does not know the stories and beliefs of Christianity will have limited understanding of British culture - Shakespeare, literature, poetry, history, our political institutions and traditions are all incomprehensible without this teaching.

My children go to a non-Cof E school and I get furious at Christmas that - so as not to offend non Christians - they only sing non-Christian Christmas songs. So instead of Away in the Manger, it s atrocities like Santa Claus's Supermarket ie they suck all the spiritual message out until only the consumer event is left.

I m happy them learning about Juddaism, Eid and Buddism etc, but we are historically a Christian country and this is information all British children need to be citizens.

sobernow: you seem to be advocating the abolition of religion then?

What damage do you think that religious teaching will do? (as it didn't damage you, why do you think your children will respond in a way that will damage them?)

agree VP