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Original poster

Yes/no poll on religion in state schools.

625 replies

seeker · 08/09/2009 14:32

Do you think state schools should be secular, but with RE lessons giving information about all the main world religions as part of the curriculum?

OP posts:
Original poster
seeker · 11/09/2009 11:32

So I am hypocrite if I send my child to ANY State school in the country????????

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Original poster
seeker · 11/09/2009 11:34

Oh, for crying out loud - how do you dress up as a Hindu? Jeans and a T T shirt?

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prettybird · 11/09/2009 11:45

I have now found the relevant quote from the statute book: "each pupil in attendance at a community, foundation or voluntary school shall on each school day take part in an act of collective worship." (Section 70 of the 1988 School Standards and Framework Act) (There is an equivalent law for Scotland). Note the "take part in" - it's not even a simple "attend".

Original poster
seeker · 11/09/2009 11:49

PLEASE tell my why I'm being a hypocrite by sending my children to State School. It's driving me crazy!

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daftpunk · 11/09/2009 11:51

traditional hindu dress seeker....although my ds had a lawrence of arabia/greek waiter look about him....i'm not very good with material and a needle

daftpunk · 11/09/2009 11:53

because if you felt that strongly you would home educate or go private.

Original poster
seeker · 11/09/2009 11:55

But I'm not pretending to be a Christian in order to get my children places at the school. That WOULD be hypocritical!

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daftpunk · 11/09/2009 12:08

oh that happens all the time seeker,

we've been talking about this all week...be nice to end it well....the way i see it is this;

we are a christian country, the law states assemblys take place that are "broadly christian in nature"...i accept those laws.....1000's of parents do...jewish parents, hindu parents....if you live in a christian country you have to live with it i'm afraid.
but like i said, i know schools that are running pretty much as secular...that's fine by me.

answer me one last Q...if there were two schools, one secular and one not...but the non-secular school was a million times better, which one would you choose.?....don't worry, i wont tell anyone...whisper it if you like..

prettybird · 11/09/2009 12:12

So dp - you are condoing schools breaking the law are you?

MrsBartlet · 11/09/2009 12:13

Oh dear - I'm with seeker all the way!! My dd also goes to a top grammar school where I am sure they pray but as there aren't state schools where they don't have to do this - I also fail to see the hypocrisy! Anyway having had to pray at school all her life she is pretty much inured to it. It's just a shame she has to waste time in school on something we belive to be nonsense.

AvengingGerbil · 11/09/2009 12:14

Seeker, you seem to want someone to answer this (silly) question, so I will. I would not send my child to a church school under any circumstances. I do not have the option of sending them to a secular school in England (unless I am personally wealthy enough for private education, and even there I'd struggle to find one) BECAUSE THERE ARE NO SECULAR SCHOOLS IN ENGLAND.

(sorry if I deafen you, but you don't seem to hear)

Schools in England are ALL required to be non-secular. We have NO CHOICE.

AvengingGerbil · 11/09/2009 12:14

Sorry I meant DP not Seeker, obviously.

Original poster
seeker · 11/09/2009 12:15

I really want to know why I should give up my dd's grammar school place to a Christian.

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MrsBartlet · 11/09/2009 12:18

Dp - do you seriously think that people who don't believe in god should have to home educate their dc or send them to a private school and not be able to access state education?

daftpunk · 11/09/2009 12:22

because seeker, you are probably undermining the ethos of the school, what do you say to your dd..? don't listen to all that rubbish at assembly..?

daftpunk · 11/09/2009 12:27

AG/MB....no i don't really think that, ( but if you feel that strongly, then yes, perhaps you shouldn't be at that school) i think people should accept the laws of this country and be grateful that we live in such a tolerant society...be thankful your children have brilliant schools to go to with committed teachers, help your school.... work with it...stop bloody moaning.

Original poster
seeker · 11/09/2009 12:30

I wouldn't dream of saying such a thing to my 13 year old! She knows my views and is MORE than capable of making up her own mind.

But even if I did, I's still not be being hypocritical - rather the opposite, actually.

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Original poster
seeker · 11/09/2009 12:32

I'm not moaning about my childrens' schools, I am moaning about a particular bit of Margaret Thatcher inspired legislation that I fondly hoped that the Labour party would repeal.

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AvengingGerbil · 11/09/2009 12:32

dp, if you are an example of how tolerant British society is, may whichever deity you choose help us all.

daftpunk · 11/09/2009 12:43

ha ha seeker, the labour party promised lots of things...didn't deliver on half of them...why i've had it with them.

AG...i have had to accept loads of things i don't agree with, because if i say anything i'm "homophobic" "racist" bla bla bla.....i have to be tolerant of the society labour has created for me.....a society i have to live with 24/7....all you have to do is accept that your dc spend 10 minutes a week singing a hymn....

daftpunk · 11/09/2009 12:47

seeker...100% sorry i crashed your thread..the only reason i've stayed here is because i think eveyone on it is cool..totally accept your opinions...even though i'll never agree with them

Original poster
seeker · 11/09/2009 12:55

You always say "singing a hymn" - it does sound very unreasonable to object to that.

But I'm talking about praying to God. I'm talking about being told by teachers AS FACT that God made the world. I'm talking about children thanking God for things. I'm talking about Christianity and its beliefs permeating lessons.

If it was 10 minutes once a weel singing a hymn it wouldn't be a problem!

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MrsBartlet · 11/09/2009 12:58

"because seeker, you are probably undermining the ethos of the school, what do you say to your dd..? don't listen to all that rubbish at assembly..? "

But dp that is exactly the point we are making. We do have to undermine the ethos of the school because it doesn't fit in with our atheism and this isn't right. Religion should not be practised in school and then we wouldn't have to. I object to the fact that the same person who teaches my child 1+1=2 (a fact)also tells them that Jesus is the son of God(a belief). When they are young they just accept this and what are we supposed to say? Sometimes your teacher is right and sometimes she is not??

Fortunately my dc are old enough to question things now.

And as to your point about this being a christian country - historically it is but how christian is it now, really?

Original poster
seeker · 11/09/2009 13:19

And, actually, I would not be undermining the ethos of the school, because it would be a caring, compassionate, loving outward looking purposeful place even without the lip service the excellent staff are obliged to pay to Christianity. And i do everyting I can to make sure my dd does her best to uphold the best traditions of the school.

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Snorbs · 11/09/2009 13:40

DP, your question about whether a parent unhappy about the religious underpinnings of state schools would send their child to a school that sang hymns "once a week" is specious. To then call it hypocrisy is risible.

It's akin to someone asking you "Would you send your child to a top grammar school if they had a single copy of 'Jack has two mummies' in the school library?" Well, would you? Or are you a "hypocrite" too?