Bit confused as to why Dd's non religious school is starting a religious based kids club

[CrackerOfNuts]

Dd2 gave me a leaflet today, all excited she was. It is for a new kids club they are going to start next week, which will run for an hour after school on a Tuesday.

Leaflet says that there will be drama, games,etc and the club will be christian themed.

Now I am not religious at all and have not brought my kids up to be either, although that said, I do not mind at all if they learn about and experiance other religions. Dd2 goes to Brownies and attends church parade, but this was our choice.

I feel a bit miffed, rightly or wrongly, that the school have decided to run this club, but make it themed, why not just make it a club ?

I don't understand what your issues are. The club is not complusory. The club has been honest that it will have a christian theme, its not as if they a hoodwinking you into sending your daughter to an ordinary drama club and then indoctrinating her.

Just because a school is not a church school does not mean they have to reject all religion and be militantly atheist. There are plenty of christians who would be quite pleased for their children to attend such a club.

They are giving the children and families a choice.

I really don't see the problem. The organisers have been very upfront about it, no 'Christianity by the back door' tactics.
Children are not forced to go - many children miss various after-school clubs for many reasons and there is no sense of exclusion.

Many many churches run summer 'clubs' where children go for 2-3 hours a day for a week. Again, in our town at least, it is all upfront. Parents are told there will be games, singing, arts & crafts or whatever, and that the whole week is based around a Christian theme. So parents have a clear choice about whether they send their children or not.

In this case, I suspect it is being run either by a Christian teacher or a local church group as part of their outreach. Either way, that's fine, it's not during school time and it's not compulsory.

If you see the wider issue as being the lack of clubs for non-sporty children, take that up with the school. However, the problem may lie with insufficient teachers willing/able to run these clubs, so it might be down to parents to organise something.

But the OP says there are no other general clubs - so the school sends a flyer out about an exciting drama/games-type club and mentions that it's Christian based.

So don't bother to come if you're a hindu/muslim/jew who likes drama & games?

It would be absolutley fine if there was a drama/games club on offer that wasn't religion-based but i do feel there's an element of exclusion here.

And can you imagine the uproar if a games club was started with a muslim theme - there'd be marching in the streets

I'll go against the grain.

I strongly suspect this will be a club run by the Scripture Union (via a couple of mums often). This is exactly what they do. As it's after school, I wouldn't be so bothered but usually they do lunch time clubs.

I object because they are an evangelical organisation whose aim is to reach 'unchurched children' and convert them to Christianity.

Dd1 went to one at her school. There can be great peer pressure to attend lunch time clubs. They encourage children to bring a friend and hand out sweets. After so many weeks, an SU woman came along, gave an odd little spiel and tried to get all the children to say they believed in God and would follow Jesus. There is a lot of uncomfortable pressure in a 'fun' environment.

As gagarin says, I don;t think any other evangelical organisation would be allowed in quite so easily.

Thats was my point gagarin, why make it religion based at all, as this will exclude some children.

I will try and find more out about the club next week and let you all know who it is being run by etc.

Why would there be an uproar? Schools run all sorts of clubs with hundreds of different themes many of which will 'exclude' many children. If you dont like the club dont send your child. If there is no club and it really bothers you start one yourself.

There were lots of clubs when I was at school that I couldnt attend. I couldnt go to choir as I couldnt sing. I couldnt go to any ones that cost money as my parents had none.

The difference is the evangelical element, if it's SU

Actually one of the Hindu mothers at the school my two go to did an 'All about India' after school club. It covered lots of aspects of life in India, the kids cooked Indian foods, had sari draping lessons, learned about religious festivals etc.

Kids school is C or E BTW.

No one was upset, everyone I spoke to thought it was a fantastic idea.

Kids had a blast.

All About India sounds great.

Evangelical stuff, not

"So don't bother to come if you're a hindu/muslim/jew who likes drama & games?"

Lol.. hindu/ muslim/ jewish children would be made very welcome by a christian organistaion. Christianity is an evangeletical relgion. There is no way they are going exclude potential convert material. They want to stop hindus, muslims, jedi knights from going to hell.

What is to stop muslims starting up their own club and indoctrinating kids that Muhammad is God's prophhet? Or humanists telling christian children that relgion is one being joke?

Rather than complaining about the lack of appriopate after school clubs, why don't you do something yourself.

I think there would be lots of objections to an evangelical muslim club or whatever, don;t you?

And I don't think Christianity is 'an evangelical religion'. I'm not sure what you mean by that.

You vote with your feet and don't go to anything that you disapprove of or are afraid of.

Of course Christianity is evangelical. We were commanded by Jesus to go and tell others.

Of course Christianity is evangelical. We were commanded by Jesus to go and tell others.

Of course Christianity is evangelical. We were commanded by Jesus to go and tell others.

Personally, I object to evangelical religious orgs spouting their nonsense in non-denom schools. I don't think this is just about 'voting with feet'. Children want to go to 'fun games and drama and craft' clubs.

We have proper RME lessons.

So Christianity's evangelical then, ST?

First of all, they aren't spouting nonsense. Have some respect!

Secondly, youthwork and outreach is not about teaching bible stories. It is about building relationships and friendships.

I guess some people can't get over other people doing something for nothing.

When they put children under pressure to say they believe in God, then I think it's getting nonsensical.

Schools are captive markets, it is not as clear cut as free choice and 'vote with your feet'. Children are unable to avoid the fun club and they just see the fun activities and the sweets and not wanting to have dinner alone because their friends are at the fun club.

It is devious. The clubs should take place off school premises.

They are not doing something for nothing. I have heard that argument before and it's hollow. What greater reason to do something than to convert. Without pay does not mean 'for nothing'.

RT

you say

'Rather than complaining about the lack of appriopate after school clubs, why don't you do something yourself' Agree 100%

The mum I'm talking about wanted her kid's friends to understand more about their culture and religion, so she gave up her time and started the club.

You can't pressurise children into believing in God. Even God himself doesn't do that!

Without knowing anything about this particular club, I would suspect that it involves lots of games and craft, and the Christian theme will be about friendship, kindness, forgiveness etc. Evil, eh? Something to fearful over?