Why, when so many places in England ONLY have CoE state schools....

[Blu]

...do so many posters get berated for questioning the level of worship and religous practice their children are expected to participate in?

Often a poster will explain that their only local state schools are CoE, only to be told 'what do you expect?' 'you signed up for it!' 'You chose to send your child toa faith school!'.

Many many people really do not have a choice. The ONLY state education on offer to them is in a faith school.

Why do they get shouted at?

And is it OK that this lack of choice be the case? Shouldn't state faith schools in this position be a bit sensitive to the fact?

Because lots of people don't read OPs properly (am sometimes guilty of this, myself).

There's a really long thread about this already. You must have noticed it.

Yes, georgiem, I have, and when I had got half way up and people were still shouting at her, I wondered whether people who live in places where pretending to be religious to get into a state faith school is routine, that they simpley do not realise that in many areas of England (I don't know about other UK countries) it just isn't like that.

This isn't exactly a thread about a thread, but about something I have lo-o-o-ong observed on MN.

I think it is a serious flaw in our state education provision that many areas (typically rural) simply do not offer non-faith schools.

I agree entirely Blu.

I don't see the problem really
It is not surprising that the majority of schools in this country are Christian faith schools as that is the predominant religion in the country , just as if I lived in Italy I would expect Catholicism to be followed by most schools

We only have faith schools close to us, 2 cofe and 1 rc, so regardless what you are it will be a faith school that you go to.

But Christianity isn't the predominant religion in this country; something like 60% of population are secularists. Of the hardcore 20% or so who would call themselves definitely religious, many are Muslims (largest single group, I suspect) and some are Jewish, Sikh, other faiths.

I agree blu I as well
all schools should be secular end of discussion

[bangs gavel down hard]

The problem, Compo, is not which religion the schools are, but that in a democratic country and one where the religion is not law, many people have no choice but to send their child to a school which is religious.

There is a specific issue about our multi-everything society, but even if there wasn't, there is a point of principle about the separation betwen religion and education. IMO.

And clearly, many people DO feel uncomfortable, at least, about thier children taking part in actual religious practice.

As it happens, on the thread currently running,my own advice would be as beety's was - see it as a performance.

But if parents of other faiths or no faith find religious observance within school an issue, then that is a probelm for them, and the choice of school is not of their making.

oh right, I thought it was still the predominant religion tbh
how come Songs of Praise is on every Sunday night and not another programme from another religion?

Britain is a Christian country, our monarchy is the head of the church of england. We just choose to have many other faiths here too.
If you moved to a muslim country would you moan that your kids had to partake in their religion at school.

Oh no youd probably embrace it because its their culture, but in Britain we are not allowed to have a culture unless its someone elses.

If it bothers you that much complain to the council about your lack of choice and that you find faith schools of this country offensive.
Or you could single out your child because of your beliefs and refuse to let them take part in christian festivals or giving thanks for meals.

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and your point is?
No havent read, am jut answering OP and giving my opinion, which I am entitled to do, whether its deemed right or wrong by the MN mafia

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"We just choose to have many other faiths here too."

Er, as citizens I do believe we have the right not to BE of the same faith as the monarch!

And I have enough problems with the messy mix of church and state in this country - I wouldn't move to a country where the religion IS the state - as in a country with Islamic rule. In a country with Islamic rule I would expect islamic education. This is a democracy, therefore I expect (and believe I have the right to) a non-religious choice.

But you are right - it is the fact that the Queen is Head of State and the CoE that gives us this anomaly - and I am of course, in favour of disestablishment.

'?% of people watch Songs of Praise THEREFORE all schoolchildren shall take part in Christian worship in their state schools' is not a logical argument, imo.

Not sure about now but when i was teaching the National curriculum contained a Religious education part and teachers had to deliver an act of worship [christian] evey day. I believe I am right in saying this. It is what I remember.
Many teachers I worked with were very uncomfortable with this.
I used to ask children to listen to a piece of music and think.
The whole notion that Britain is a christian country is old fashioned and slighlty mad.
I agree that education and religion should not be linked like this. Yes educate children about religions but indoctrinate No.

'?% of people watch Songs of Praise THEREFORE all schoolchildren shall take part in Christian worship in their state schools' is not a logical argument, imo.

I didn't say that

Totally agree Blu.

Also just for your information really we don't have the same issue in Scotland. The majority of schools up here are non-denominational the remainder being RC. A non-denom school is still required to undertake acts of worship which refelct the local community but only 3 times per year. These are generally Christian and in fact Church of Scotland based but there are I think a couple of primaries which have succesfully swapped to other types of religion - not 100% on that that may not have passed the proposal stage. IME there is still an undercurrent of Christianity in most schools but as a general rule it is fairly low-key. I would guess however that in some of the more remote communities where there is a very strict Protestant ethic there may be more empahsis - but this may in fact represent the community in those cases.

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oops that should have been Hello Pruni and I also totally agree with you.

But think we have had this conversation before and I do need to write essays so will NOT procastinate and get involved.

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I think that christian religious leaders still have influence in politics and politicians do not like to be thought or seen being aetheistic so the religious bits are there and only a major battering by up in arms parents will have any effect.

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26 seats in the House of Lords are given to bishops.

So any legislation passed in the commons has to get past them.

26!