Do Christians on here feel that state Church schools should be scrapped?

[nolongeraworriedmummy]

Ok this is a thread about a thread really but I just wondered what Christians thought, to me being a Christian is about living everyday as a Christian but have just read a post on another thread that says if I want Christian ethos and morals for my child I should give them a bible at night and take them to church on Sunday and they shouldnt be allowed to have daily prayers and religious assemblies as there is no place in school for that basically,

What do you think?

I would also be quite happy to see an end to state faith schools. Like Roisin, though, I think a general background in the main faiths in Britain today (ie, marking Eid, Hannukah, Diwali etc, as well as Christmas and Easter) contributes to better understanding in the community.
I don't think the complete secularisation of state education, as in France, is the right way to go.

certainly my kids learn about evolution.

creationism is bullshit to the exteme and really makes me angry.

its quite clear in days or yore when there wasn't the scientific knowledge to explain things - such as evolution that they were explained using stories such as adam and eve.

anyone who believes that adam and eve is a true story and not a way that was used to explain how human life began coupled with right and wrong is a crack pot

Don't you think it is quite amazing that Genesis 1 matches the scientific view of the Big Bang and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere - it was written centuries before Enlightenment!

I don't have a problem with faith schools so long as they are as open to anybody as the non-faith schools. The one is our area is - there is no requirement to be a member of a church and that is as it should be.

I also thought it was part of the national curriculum that children in all schools learn about all faiths to a great or lesser extent. No problem with that either.

I have never met anybody who actually believes in creationism let alone anywhere that teaches it as the truth but that would unacceptable. I don't believe in creationism but I don't see any harm in mentioning it as an idea but not as a fact.

I don't think if they follow my rules (as everybody should of course ) that faith schools are divisive since all schools are supposed to teach comparative relgions anyway. You don't have to believe in any religion if you don't want to but I think for the purposes of understanding history and politics and to teach the ability to think about abstract concepts/philosophy then it has a place in schools.

Message withdrawn

Creationism should be addressed in school; apart from when questions are asked (when they should be addressed directly) it should be part of the RE curriculum not science. I have the qualifications to compare Genesis to Hindu creationist theory, Buddhist belief etc etc- a Scientist wouldn't- they are far better placed than me to teach about the mechanics of evolution.

kids ask about Creation>> is an excuse to slip religion into class.

If you're teaching astronomy and a pupil says "my uncle larry does astrology" do you stop the lesson to discuss his uncle larry?

Creationism is irrelevant in science classes.

Genesis 1 matches the scientific view of the Big Bang and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere>>

I just went and reread Genesis 1 and I can see nothing in there that remotely resembles the Big Bang and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere. Which bits in particular?

If it is on kids' minds, then it is worth discussing. We discuss all sorts of things in our (science) lessons. It's not just about getting through the curriculum.

One of my old English tutors at university told me a few weeks ago that whole chunks of the syllabus are becoming incomprehensible to most of his undergraduates because people are not taught fairly basic stuff about Christianity. They don't necessarily have to believe it but they ought to know the core beliefs.

Otherwise Chaucer, Milton and large parts of Shakespeare will become completely lost to us. That's a big part of our country's culture.

Taught about it yes, in history and RE. Just not as a valid alternative in science classes.

Eduation should not be so compartmentalised that you cannot discuss something from outside of your subject.

It is frustrating as it is when pupils do not bring their maths into their science lessons. We encourage them to use their full breadth of education in whatever they do.

Okay I guess I should just ask outright

Squeakypop (and anyone else who teaches) what do you teach about creationism. That it's a belief and not part of science at all - or something else?

Custardo Im going to sound really thick but what do you mean by ergo church schools

What is Creationism as opposed to just Creation?

doh just read it properly, therefore haha! Have been awake since 3am in my defence!

I assume people say creationism to distinguish it from when an artist shows you his creation, but I'm happy with either word.

So okay, what do you (and anyone else who teaches) teach about creation in science class. That it's a belief and not part of science at all - or something else?

Well I was responding to SqueakyPop who said 'creation' which I simply took to be about god creating the world. I see your distinction, but my question is the same for either.

It really depends what the children want to know. You can't predict until you are there, and I don't think any Science teacher would have Creation as one of the Learning outcomes.

A typical scenario is that you start telling them about the big bang, CO2 in the atmosphere etc. (I teach Chemistry so more to do with atmosphere rather than Biology that deals with evolution). Someone asks about the biblical account and you say that nothing you are teaching contradicts that etc. If they are unconvinced, you go through the seven days of Creation and see that the order or events is consistent with what you are teaching.

Bottom line is that they don't have to have a crisis of faith.

No, they shouldn't be scrapped. I want to send my child to the CofE primary in the next village (about 2 miles away). We (DH & I) are practicing Christians, attend church weekly, & groups mid-week etc. We will still be in category 8 out of 9 for priority, so don't see that there is a massive discrimination between us and people of another or no faith.

If they are unconvinced, you go through the seven days of Creation and see that the order or events is consistent with what you are teaching.

I have nothing to be ashamed of. Stop making it sound like some kind of conspiracy.

The key thing is to meet hte kids where they are and not fob them off. That is completely the wrong thing to do.