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Original poster

Atheist in Catholic school

79 replies

KidsTunes · 08/09/2009 11:18

Our DD started in a Catholic school last week and we're atheists - or, at least, me and her mother are, I don't suppose you can really assign a tag like that to a 4 year old. She's going to that school because we live out in the countryside and it's our local school, and besides 90-something percent of schools in Ireland are Catholic.

Anyway, they do a morning prayer in class, and the idea is making me feel a little squirmy. We discussed it with the principal before she started, and he recommended we don't take her out of the classroom when there's religious education going on so she wouldn't feel excluded, but now I feel odd about the whole thing

Any thoughts?

OP posts:
glastocat · 08/09/2009 13:16

I sympathise, as I am in the same predicament. My son has just started third class in his irish Catholic school, and I must admit it really grated on me having to send him there. Thankfully its a great school with lots of emphasis on different cultures and religions, and its all worked out well so far. My son participates in the religion classes (half an hour a day is compulsory in alll schools here - what a waste of time!). He didn't take communion though, we just took him out for the day instead - it didn't bother him at all. Roll on the day when there is a true seperation of church and state, and church and education for all.

undercoverelephant · 08/09/2009 13:51

Goosey, I think a good teacher should be able to respond to your DS's statement about not believing in God. Surely it would be a good starting point for a discussion about beliefs? (Although if the school has a big religious agenda then maybe not!)
I really think that is what RE should be about - whatever age the child is. I wish I had been better taught myself. My father rejected catholicism as a teenager and brought us up aetheist. I still am strongly aetheist, but had to overcome the prejudice I'd inherited as a kid that most religious people were "nuts." I think it really helps kids to understand WHY people believe.

elliephant · 08/09/2009 13:58

Have to say I totally disagree with the idea that Irish RC schools more vigoursly religious than english ones ! IME it's the opposite. No one checks if you go to mass, no demands to be seen to be inolved in the Church etc as you have in England. Far more a la carte in Ireland..

seeker · 08/09/2009 14:00

Must be just where my family are then.....

stillstanding · 08/09/2009 14:07

I have quite a lot of Irish Catholic friends and they always say that "the best Catholic is an English Catholic". Something about them having to survive persecution et al

MumNWLondon · 08/09/2009 14:07

I wouldn't want my child to be excluded from classes, and i think that what you teach at home is IMO more important that what goes on at school.

Explain to your child on a regular basis that its a Catholic school so they pray and learn about being catholic but that you don't believe it, so when they are praying she doesn't have to join in so long as she is quiet and when they learn about being catholic, well it will be interesting for her to see what other people believe.

glastocat · 08/09/2009 14:09

Agree with elliephant, there is no compunction for us to attend church at all, we have always been open about our stance (since enrollment). There are a number of children in my son's class who did not take communion, it wasn't a bother to the school at all.

UnquietDad · 08/09/2009 14:12

With all of this going on it amazes me that people don't see secular schools as the way forward.

glastocat · 08/09/2009 14:20

Unquietdad, who doesn't see it as the way forward? I'd love to be able to send my child to a secular school, but its not going to be an option for most here for a long time.

UnquietDad · 08/09/2009 14:23

Well, whenever I put the argument for them on here, there is a vocal contingent shouting me down.

Fennel · 08/09/2009 14:27

but on this thread you've got some of the vocal minority who'd love to have secular schools. most of us here are agreeing with each other.

ilovemydogandmrobama · 08/09/2009 14:29

I went to a Catholic all girls school and there was a Jewish girl who was exempt from studying new testament. She went to the library for a few weeks, but then wanted to know why her faith didn't believe in it...

undercoverelephant · 08/09/2009 14:32

Secular schools don't appear to be an option here in the UK. Probably one or two kids in my DS's class of 30 practice any religion, yet they all have to sit through daily Christian worship.
Why?

undercoverelephant · 08/09/2009 14:33

practice/practise - oops

stillstanding · 08/09/2009 14:44

Glastocat, I quite like faith schools and would like my DCs to go to one. I have no problem with my DCs being exposed to religion in a school environment and don't see the threat. I would hate to see them "banned" as such.

Having said that, I totally understand why others feel strongly about sending their children to a secular school.

In an ideal world we would all get to choose ...

glastocat · 08/09/2009 14:52

Exactly stillstanding. I understand why some loonies people want to send their children to faith schools but it should not be the default, or indeed, the only option. I feel quite strongly that the half an hour of religion a day which is mandated by law, would be much better spent on other things, like learning a language for example. I would prefer that all state schools are secular, and religion should be kept to home and church.

stillstanding · 08/09/2009 15:00

Aaaah - you see you had me there, was nodding along, until the "loonies" thing and then I just get pissed off and think ffs maybe that's why children need to be exposed to a little religion.

glastocat · 08/09/2009 15:02

stillstanding, that was a joke.

zookeeper · 08/09/2009 15:08

not a very funny one

glastocat · 08/09/2009 15:11

Ah whatever, it made me smile anyway. Still, I do wonder about stillstandings logic. She fails to find a bit of rib-tickling funny, as is her preogative, but her reaction is that my attitude means my children should be forced to have a religious education despite my wishes. [hmmm]

stillstanding · 08/09/2009 15:26

It really isn't "rib-tickling", glastocat - it is properly offensive and if you don't see that you need to think about it.

Anyhow, just to be clear - I would NEVER want your children to be forced to have a religious education despite your wishes.

I don't think I said that ...? Was just saying that when I see that kind of intolerance and offensiveness it makes me think that children's exposure to religion may be no bad thing.

Fennel · 08/09/2009 15:27

is that cos religion is so inoffensive and tolerant?

(here we go...)

sorky · 08/09/2009 15:28

I was amazed that 40-odd posts in this was still civil, but.....

glastocat · 08/09/2009 15:37

If you find that offensive, imagine how it feels to be told that you're going to burn in hell!

stillstanding · 08/09/2009 15:39

I thought this thread was incredibly civil until the loonies comment and even that glastocat made clear that she meant as a joke - albeit I don't think it is one.

Fennel, I know that some religious people can be inoffensive and intolerant but I don't think anyone here has done that? It is quite possible to make one's point without resorting to petty name-calling. It just causes offence and clouds the discussion. Practically everyone on this thread agrees on the actual issue.