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

[nailpolish]

doesnt make sense

[pointydog]

There are no protestant schools. What do you mean?

[nailpolish]

to me its so irrelevant

[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

[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.

[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.

[oatcake]

sorry, hijack, NP, you there?

[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.

[pointydog]

Overall, Scotland is much more sensible than England about this