dd's school calls itself "NonDenominal" but they take hte children to church harvest, easter and xmas (etc) ????

[nailpolish]

doesnt make sense

[pointydog]

Overall, Scotland is much more sensible than England about this

[geekgirl]

our school is the same. Calls itself a community primary but rams it down the children's throats at every opportunity, under the disguise of 'daily act of worship' (err, actually, it appears to be more like three times a day)

I asked about it at the governors' meeting (am a parent gov) and was met with rather hostile stares - as if I'd suggested ritual sacrificing of goats at playtime or something.

[oatcake]

sorry, hijack, NP, you there?

[pointydog]

They aren't protestant in the way catholic schools are catholic. Far from it.

Assemblies are usually where schools get in their 'religious observance' which they are obligated to do. The minister connected to my school isn't protestant. Christian festivals are recognised at these assemblies. Sometimes hymns are sung. Usually not.

There will not be any whole class prayers or tea\ching as truth.

[nell12]

Firstly, as a Sunday school teacher I can tell you it has changed!!! We now play games, do arts and crafts, sing songs and also teach. We teach about love, caring and forgiveness I have no problem with teaching a child, ANY CHILD that.

As most of the children in most non-denominational schools will celebrate Christmas and Easter, even if it is just to recieve presents or chocolate eggs, where is the harm in teaching them one of the reasons why these traditions have come about.

As for Harvest Festival, these days it is all about collecting for the poor and needy, the fact that the church or the Salvation army are the bodies that organise collection and distribution of donations means that of course they play a role... mainly in thanking the children for their generosity.


The National curriculum states that all children recieve RE lessons, they will learn about Hinduism (and probably celbrate Diwali) Islam (and will visit a Mosque and celebrate Eid) Judaism (and will visit a Synagogue and make oil lamps or dreydls) as well as Christianity.

[nailpolish]

weelll i mean there are a lot of catholic school s here, the ND ones are just protestant
not ND as i think it should mean

[nailpolish]

to me its so irrelevant

[pointydog]

There are no protestant schools. What do you mean?

[pointydog]

all the minister stuff, it's to do with 'religious observance'. Schools have to do it. You have the right to withdraw your child.

[nailpolish]

pointy
a lot of schools round here still seem to be protestant or cahtolic

where i wen to school it wasnt like that but it appears to be here

[nailpolish]

hippi thats good to know
feel slightly better now

[pointydog]

You in Scotland?

Nondenominational means 'not catholic', just generally Christian as that is the predominant religion of the country.

I'm not particularly happy with the necessity for 'religious observance' either, mind you.

However, in nd schools no one is allowed to teach religion as fact. I wouldn;t worry too much.

[hippipotami]

My ds's school is the same. They use 1 particular church (it is next door). Also, once a term the reverend from that church takes assembly. And, once a term they get the SCAT team in for assembly. (Schools Christiam Assembly Teaching ?) So for a non-denominational school there is an awful lot of churchy things going on!

I am happy to go along with it for now, but I do answer dd's comments of 'God made the world' with 'well, that is what some people believe' because I refuse to let her be brainwashed at such a young age. (The school is an infant school, so the dc are aged 4 - 7 and thus so very impressionable)

Ds is at the local junior school and that is also non-denominational. But they say a hymn in the daily assembly and do a prayer too. Luckily ds (now just 8) is more open-minded about it all and is questioning different religions with interest. At the moment he wants to be a bhuddist.

[nailpolish]

also im slightly worried as ive been elected for the shcool council
first ever meetng tomorrow night

[nailpolish]

im happy to go along with dd going to the church for harvest festival etc
as long as shes not told that the bible is fact etc etc etc and that other people believe other stuff and thats its ok to not believe any of it

[nailpolish]

i dotn want some ancient minister telling my dd sunday school stories though

i hated sunday school so much

[Theclosetpagan]

But what will you do/can you do if this turns out to be the school's policy? Is it enough of a problem to you to consider moving your DD to a different school? If not well - it's an odd set up but something you may have to get used to.

Is there an option allowing you to opt your DD out? If so that's good but your DD may end up feeling and being the odd one out.

PS. I don't think Kristina was being difficult - just trying to give you an explanation of why your school might do this.

[Blu]

nailpoish - Kristina is trying to explain that non-denominational does not mean 'non religious'.

It just means that it doesn't adhere to one of the branches - or denominations - of the christian church. So, it IS Chritian, but not one particular form of Chritianity. therfore would be celebrating harvest, christmas, etc.

[nailpolish]

seems old fashoined doesnt it fio

[Mercy]

Nailpolish - Kristina was only tryign to explain.

ANywya, your dd's school has a very odd set up by the sounds of it!

[nailpolish]

iwant to ask the teacher but i dont want her to think im against the idea when im not!
i dont go to church and i dont like church much (at all actually) but i like the idea of dd being told about religion
i just dont want her to be told "this is fact" iyswim

[nailpolish]

kristina
i do know that all christians celebrate easter xmas etc
thanks


lemonaid
the school is split in 2 - the RC school and the ND
they go to a 'parish' church for the services (to me that sounds like C of S) but i dont know
and the minister comes to assembly

[lemonaid]

Non-denominational isn't the same as non-Christian. It just means not specifically CofE / Methodist / Catholic / whatever (although do they always go to one particular church for these festivals?)