The school is making my 4 years old to sing gospels, how to get out of this?

[Lokova]

My 4 years old DS is singing:

"My God is good, good, God.
Yes, he is..."

I asked why he sings this and apparently the whole school is singing this in assembly. For Harvest assembly all pupils were made to read a prayer from the screen. This is a non religious, local community school. My elder DS went there and there was no such thing. It was perfectly secular.

I don't wish to offend or be unkind to anyone, but it is offensive and unkind for the school to do this to our family. Now I need to tell him not to sing such things and to explain to a 4 years old that the teachers are wrong to make him say such words etc. He would want to join with his peers. This is very wrong. We should not be in this position.

What is the legal position on collective worship? Can they just take over the assembly and the whole school like this to exclude secular pupils?
Surely religious freedoms don't involve the freedom to force-feed and brainwash secular children into religion.

The school actually have a legal duty to do collective worship everyday, although most ignore it.

You can withdraw him from it, but you can't ask them to stop.

The school is required by law to hold a daily act of collective worship which should be broadly Christian in nature. Many schools ignore this requirement (and it sounds like this school did when your older son was there) but that is the law. The assembly and collective worship are normally the same thing. So yes, they can do that. You have the right to withdraw your child from collective worship if you wish.

Christian based worship is a legal requirement in every state school. Some schools follow the rules and others ignore it.

Which las and what exactly doe it say?
What about human rights and freedoms

This is regigeous oppression.

You can withdraw him or just let him join in.

You have the option to remove your child from acts of worship, as is your right and freedom, so not really oppressive...

1988 education act. Not oppressive, just withdraw him.

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/40/section/6/enacted

There is no separation of church and state in England, we are officially a christian country. The Queen is head of state and head of the church of England, we are not a secular state. We are tolerant of those who have other religious beliefs (or none) but the law is clear on this. A collective, broadly christian, act of worship has to take place each day. I have just got the application forms and job description for a teaching post in a bog standard state school - willingness to support the school in putting on this act of worship is part of the job description.

You have the right to remove your child from corporate acts of worship but you do not have the right to stop them happening. If you feel strongly about it then join the secular society and campaign to change the law.

I am actually sympathetic to the idea of a change in the law in this regard, but the simple fact is that at the moment schools have a legal duty to do this.

This is oppressive and unethical to inflict to a 4 years old. Concervatives in power again.

What everyone else said.
I am interested in why you find it so offensive, if you are an atheist then just withdraw him from the collective worship and RE.
OFSTED check up to make sure the daily act of collective worship is taking place, it is non-negotiable for the school.

What are you chatting about? It has been the law since 1944, and kept into the amended 1988 act. Both labour and Tory governments have upheld it.

Just WITHDRAW him.

Although I am a little confused as to why they are doing a harvest assembly in March.

Not unethical or oppressive, you have the right to opt out. Unlike Stalin's Russia or Mao's China.
Just go and tell them, I had Exclusive Brethren in my classes who always avoided all sorts of anathemas and the parents were perfectly happy at the accommodations made. Stop frothing and do something about it.

Harvest assembly? The OP has probably been living in twisted knickers since October.

Lol, it's been enacted in law for ages and this is a Christian country. We have bishops on the house of Lords and everything! For the most part Christianity has helped us develop a tolerant, open and democratic society which is why we attract so many immigrants. My mother always said, even if you don't believe, following the ten commandments will make you a nice person.

You can withdraw your child if you like from collective worship or you can move countries. but if you think is an example of oppression then you are naive and really need to understand how nasty and dangerous living under real oppression can be. There are plenty of countries where people have to. I find it offensive that you think this is oppression try North Korea or Iran or Syria or Germany 70 yeas ago while being a Jew.

But OP as people keep explaining, you can withdraw him. That means that it is neither
oppressive or an infringement of any human rights.

Thing is, the country is generally a Christian country, and as others have said, it is a legal requirement. I think a 4 year old singing hymns in school would be less 'damaging' than being the one child who isn't allowed to join in.

I sang school hymns. I am an atheist. In junior school, they were honestly just nice songs to sing. In secondary school, I didn't sing (but still stood with the rest of the audience, just stayed quiet).

What an odd response from the OP!
The school I teach at is not a church school but we have introduced once a week bible story assemblies. I always preface mine with the usual spiel about how this is a very important story to people who are Christians/Jews, etc...
Actually, the kids love them.
As already said, OP, withdraw your son if you don't want him being "opressed."

It is oppressive and unethical to inflict to a 4 years old (sic)

In what way is your son being oppressed, OP? In what way is it unethical to allow the child to take part in a collective act of worship, according to the law of the country he lives in?

As others have said, it is nothing to do with 'concervatives'.

it's only a song

It is a shock I know, but I've always just explained to the dc that the religious beliefs that they are told about at school are not facts, just what some people believe.

Although when they were very young I'm not sure they took it in, but at 9 & 12, they accept that some people are religious and some people are not and both kinds are fine.

It is neither offensive nor unkind . Neither is it "regigious" oppression!! Are you actually serious?

You sound like a belligerent 10 year old. God help your kids (and no, that is not intended to oppress either you or them!)

Get over yourself.

Did you not sing hymns and say prayers in school? And has it indoctrinated you into a superstitious, religious nut? No? Thought not.