Religion at school

[nornironrock]

Just wanted to see if I'm being crazy....

Both my children get RE at school, and learn about all the different mainstream religions - including little trips to places of worship. I think this is an important part of their education in terms of understanding their world and support it fully. My work takes me to many different countries, and understanding of the local beliefs and customs is invaluable.

However, as an atheist, I find it really concerning that they are not told at school that absence of religion is OK too. Luckily for our two, they have a mother who does believe in God and a father that doesn't, so they get that information at home.

Does anyone else share my concern?

Thanks. I hope I've explained myself clearly!

I totally agree with you. I feel that would be much more balanced.
I also feel politics should be taught. Politics has as much influence in our society as religion. An over view of each main party and the basic understanding of local government would be useful.

Are you sure they have not been told that? What age group are they? Most curent GCSE spec include atheism and agnosticism and the reasons for against believing in God. The new spec to be released new year will include a substantial about on humanism.

*amount not about

Politics is taught is schools as part of psche.

They're pretty young - only 8 and 6, but we live in a part of the country where they are exposed to religion a lot.

I'm not anti-religion as much as I am pro choice, but I strongly believe all children should be aware of all of their options.

They definitely should be told that some people don't believe in any gods, and the rational viewpoint should be treated just the same as all the others.
Unfortunately, along with all their other flaws, the new government are a bit pro-superstition, so there could be more fun and games on the way...

RE is a legally required subject which can only be removed by an act of parliament. However in many school RE teaching does not meet legal requirements. The content of the RE lessons is decided by each local authority as an agreed syllabus, normally on the panel sit members of faith often including a humanist from the area and educational professionals. So as much as I disagree with the current goverment and think they have screwed over RE teaching by saying we are not a humanity for purpose of the Ebac I don't think there is much scope for them to change the teaching of RE.

I do agree that children need to understand that no religion is an option and I would hope at primary school that is put across to the children but judging by the understanding of the 11 year olds I teach I know in primary schools is very varied.

Thanks everybody for your comments.

As much as I personally am not a fan of religion, whilst it continues to play an important role in the lives of a significant number of people,then I do think it should be taught. I want my children to understand what other parts of our society are thinking about, and indeed, I would like them to make their own choices in terms of whether they would like to be a part of a religion, or not.

They're lucky, I guess, in that they get more than one point of view at home. Sadly, I don't think this is true for a great many children, who are indoctrinated to a religion without being given a choice.

I removed my children from religious education classes as it was too biased in the Christian faith. You can do that you know.

Schools have a legal obligation to "lead active" worship. THis can be interpreted as the head sees fit.

Our local primary is led by a rabid christian, prayer is said every day in class, there is bible study, religious assembiles with local clergy leading prayers and giving blessings. My DD thought that the Noah's Ark tale was a history lesson. It took me years to get her to realise it was a fictional tale.

All this in a non faith state primary

Disgusting.

While I agree with you I don't think you understand that there are no secular state schools in UK and no one appears to have explained the various education acts on collective worship. Heads seem to assume you know. Schools are breaking the law if they don't do as your school does. It needs an Act of Parliament to change it.
They are not 'non faith' schools - they are non denominational - people seem to misunderstand that word.

Yes I do understand. I used the term "non faith" to distinguish the school from a faith school.
You are correct of course. There are unfortunately no secular schools in the UK.

The problem comes because lots of people do not understand that if it isn't allied to a particular faith it is still a Christian school.

Personally I don't really care.

My children have always been in religious schools (a pretty hardcore one for primary) where I don't think atheism was ever mentioned, yet I don't think they have ever believed in God even for half a second.

They are pretty confident atheists yet have a very grounded knowledge of religious culture and quite a lot of tolerance for it. They see it as benign silliness.

I think we need to give kids some credit...most of them are bright enough to make up their own minds.

I agree Shayne- I am always surprised that people have so little faith in their children and think they are empty vessels. Bring them up to question everything- starting with you- and you can just let them make up their own minds.