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 ?

As I said, lunch clubs are my real objection.

"all religion is crap from start to finish"

Good clear line of argument there- pmsl!

This one is for an hour after school on Tuesdays. Our local school is used for all sorts of clubs after school-for example Rainbows and Weightwatchers. I really can't see what the fuss is about-no one is forcing anyone to attend.

Do you have "deep-seated objections" to a great many things then Ecowarrior? That must be inconvenient for you and the children. Maybe you need to chill a little (genuine suggestion by the way)

DD used to attend a Christian-based after school club, run by trained volunteers from the local church which was v.near the school. The leaders would come at the end of the school say and lead the signed-up children in a "walking bus" round the corner to the church where all the activities took place. It cost a pound a session and they got a healthy snack and did arts & craft, drama, cooking/baking and could do homework there if they wished. Excellent value for money! There was no ramming-of-Bibles-down-throats - it was all very laid back and basically about reinforcing messages about caring and sharing etc. Unless a parent was devoutly religious in some other direction, I can't see why they would have a problem with it. But of course there are always those that do.. and they seem to be those without any religious beliefs at all.. bit odd really.

It is odd, CRH. For ideological objections, their children miss out.

As for it being hard to tell children no, am I the only parent who doesn't find it hard at all? I just tell them no, with a brief reason, and that's the end of it.

Of course, it helps that the reason is logical and sound.

My kids ask at the beginning of each term if they can do this club or that, and it is always a no because the school doesn't run clubs for all age groups on the same day.

I think the line, parents can just say no is missing the point. Evangelical orgs should not be allowed in schools under the guise of fun activity clubs.

I don't get the problem either. It is not compulsory-no one is under any pressure to attend. My local Primary is non denominational, it is also the local church (the only suitable building) it has been for years-the Hall has an altar section, curtained off in the school day, the staff room is the vestry and the Sunday School is in a classroom. It has no connection with the school-children are under no pressure (or even suggestion) to go to church. I am not sure exactly which groups and clubs hold meetings in the afternoons and evenings, I know that Weight Watchers do and Rainbows and Yoga. Why would the school discriminate against a Christian group having a club? It is like saying that Yoga can't hold a meeting. Your DC does not have to go to the club.

Depends what they mean by "Christian themed" I suppose. Is that perhaps its moral stance rather than doctrinal (there are rather large differences among the various christian religions after all). It may not be as Sunday School as you seem to fear, perhaps you should ask what the specific religious elements might be.

For what its worth, I think the scripture union does sound dodgy.

Well, a sports or music club is of no interest to a child who is not musical or not sporty. But a club which is offering fun activities for all, and sweeties, and excitements - but with the aim of peddling crap to kids and making them buy it - is a problem.
It's not hard to go and get a dose of religious crap if you want it. But why must these people keep on and on shoving it at people who don't want it and are not interested?

They are not shoving it at people who are not interested-you do not have to go!!

I am talking about Scripture Union. I am talking about an organisation that actively wants to convert children to Christianity. I have experienced three real life examples of how this works in schools, each one of them unacceptable to me.

"A national Christian Research survey of residential holidays showed that more than ten per cent of children and young people surveyed became Christians as a direct result of attending a holiday. And, in almost every case, children and young people showed a significant growth in spirituality and understanding of the Bible after an event." (SU website)

I do not like it, sam-I-am

The OP didn't mention the Scripture Union-where has that suddenly come into it?

I asked early on if this was an SU club because all teh ones I know like that are run by SU. I may have confused things for some people.

Unless your children know about religion they will not be in any position to make up their own minds about it.

Yes-I looked back but at no point has the OP said that the club has anything to do with SU, I think she would have said if it was. Lots of Christian groups run holiday clubs which are well supported because they are cheap child care- I have never heard of them converting children.

I don't think that posters like madamez want their DCs to make up their own minds-they have made it up for them.

The club might be perfectly harmless. I think it depends how it is run and how it is sold to children. I agree that perhaps the answer is for non-religious parents to start more clubs themselves. However, I imagine that a few people would be a little offended if I started a natural history club all about dinosaurs and leafleted the local church after Sunday School and used it to show children than God didn't exist and tried convert them all into atheists?

My worry would be that they weren't being totally clear about what they were doing. Why would I be worried? because some, not all religious groups have a background of being a little underhand in their evangelical techniques. It is therefore worth getting some more information. I also think the school should have explained the group to parents before publicising it amongst children.

If you started a natural history club about dinosaurs and gave leaflets to the local church after Sunday School they would think it a good thing-it is only if you have a hidden agenda that it becomes questionable.The assumption seems to be that this particular club has a hidden agenda. If you are under the impression that it has then there are two things to do:
a, don't send them
b, request more information.

I'm also mildly amused at the thought of a child being so easily 'swayed'. One sound of the word 'Amen' and they will be scuttling to the seminary/convent

My two go to a C of E school. Dd (11) is quite the agnostic.