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Primary education

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Primary school offered place at C of E school

134 replies

Emma2021 · 20/06/2021 08:44

Morning

Our grandson who will be about 4yrs 6 months old in Sept 2021 has been offered a place at a C 0f E school. Presently he goes to a nursery within the London borough they live in but there are 10 others on the waiting list for that school so he has been offered this c of e school.

Two reasons why his parents inc us do not want him to go there. First is religion as we are not C 0f E and no disrespect to anyone and secondly he is used to the nursery and that is a non Cof E school.

We have noted that several of the ladies that take their children to the c of e school are quite vocal re relgion and 'born again' etc.

We are not ultra relgious, ie all of us but we do not want a C of E school or any other reglios school inc our own faith but a standard school ie one that does not inc name of a relgion/etc.

I do not mean cause offence to anyone and we are relatively open minded but I've met born again and other types of relg people that bang on about religon and we don't.

Many thanks,

OP posts:
BackforGood · 23/06/2021 17:33

we can all say what we wish because we have freedom of thought and freedom of speech.

...except that isn't true. MNHQ (quite rightly) delete posts that are offensive to many groups. Absolutely fine to have no faith, or to hold any faith - be that a major World religion or something less well known. Fine to identify as a witch. Completely fine to disagree with others, but that is different from being offensive, in my opinion.

I can't understand, however, why it would be ok for an RS/RE teacher to be a staunch Christian but not an atheist?

I can't see where anyone has said that is okay ?

I have no idea what faith my RE teachers were, or if they have no faith nor most of my dcs' RE teachers - which is fine, their role is to teach about the major world religions and to teach philosophy and ethics, difference and similarities between faiths and how culture and faith are intertwined, not to suggest that any one belief system is more important or valued than others. No RE teacher (possibly with the exception of a Muslim school, Jewish school or Catholic school where you 'opt in' to following that faith, as a family???) would present their faith as "the truth" - or, if they do, then they aren't doing their job correctly.

I don't think, as an atheist, that it's helpful to use dismissive language like sky fairies. Disagree, but do it respectfully, as we'd want to be treated, and "live and let live" as long as they're doing no harm.

Exactly

Very well put @Poppitt58 This is definitely about the total lack of respect you had for your pupils and their families Liverbird 77

GreyhoundG1rl · 23/06/2021 19:59

You sound completely obnoxious, Liverbird. So glad none of my children were exposed to such bile.
Bet I now get deleted while your disrespectful shite is allowed to stand 🤷🏻‍♀️

Liverbird77 · 24/06/2021 13:35

@BackforGood @GreyhoundG1rl do you get the irony? Between you, you've called me "obnoxious" said my opinion is "shite" and said I had a lack of respect for students (not pupils) and their families.

It's fine though because I don't give a fuck what you say to me. I'm not offended. It's up to you what you say. In the same way, the Sky Fairy, an omnipotent superbeing, probably wouldn't be offended by what I've said.

I do have a complete hatred for many Christian teachings. I've devoted many years of my life to the academic study of Christianity. I am entitled to my opinions, just as you are entitled to yours.

Just to address the points again: I said, and I taught my students, that you absolutely do not have to respect every opinion. You do have to respect a person's right to hold that opinion though.
My students were not aware of my personal beliefs. I was there to teach an academic subject, not proselytise (unlike what goes on in some faith schools I know about).

I commented on this thread because of my views on faith schools. Every point I have made, I stand by. At a playgroup today, I have spoken to a mother who is attending church 50 times to meet the requirements to get a faith reference for a place at the CofE school. She said that she, and most of the other parents she had spoken to, where atheists but just playing the game. The church just wants bums in seats. It is rank hypocrisy.

Oh, and although I probably haven't taught your kids, it's quite possible I could have marked their GCSE or A Level RS exams! I've marked papers written by atheists, theists and agnostics, and I've always marked each student fairly and consistently. That's an objective fact, because I am subject to checks, balances and monitoring by the exam board.

I actually still think you'll both continue to slate me because you don't seem either willing or able to grasp what I am saying. I, however, am bored of this now. I have answered you in as much detail as I am prepared to go into, so I won't be commenting on this thread again.

Liverbird77 · 24/06/2021 13:36

*were

GreyhoundG1rl · 24/06/2021 13:47

I've marked papers written by atheists, theists and agnostics, and I've always marked each student fairly and consistently.
Fair enough.

Jellybabiesforbreakfast · 24/06/2021 14:01

At a playgroup today, I have spoken to a mother who is attending church 50 times to meet the requirements to get a faith reference for a place at the CofE school. She said that she, and most of the other parents she had spoken to, where atheists but just playing the game. The church just wants bums in seats. It is rank hypocrisy.

This is what happens in our area. Our neighbour told us when we moved in that we would have to start attending church to get our DC into the oversubscribed CofE school in the next street. That's what they'd done for their three DC. She was familiar with the requirements to the letter and the family stopped attending once their youngest was in. Having discussed it, my DH and I decided we weren't happy playing this game and would rather go private (but now we're moving so may not have to do that after all). The whole thing is an appalling middle-class racket where the church "sells" school places for regular church attendance.

spanieleyes · 24/06/2021 15:02

Whereas only 3 ( I think) church schools in the diocesan area we are in make any reference at all to religion in their admissions criteria. The rest just have the usual EHCP/siblings/distance categories.

Fangsalot89 · 24/06/2021 17:04

@Liverbird77 I’m sure I’ve missed this but can you clarify what needs your kid has and that aren’t being fulfilled?

Fangsalot89 · 24/06/2021 17:07

@Emma2021 We’ve sent our daughter to a C of E school and we are very non religious.
The reason we did so was it was rated as good and out of all the ones nearby seemed to be the best as it was smaller etc and we wanted her to have a village upbringing.
I was incredibly shocked when they came out with ash on their foreheads and didn’t like it. I’m not a fan of them being made to write prayers and before the Big Bang being taught about god etc but, it’s swings and roundabouts.
When she comes home, we tell her we don’t believe in these things and why but it’s up to her to decide.
She’s not being indoctrinated and from my point of view, I went to a very religious private school and think the entire thing is nonsense.

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