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 ?

Slightly OT: does the Scout/Guide movement still discriminate against the rational? I know one know longer has to be an Anglican to join, but I would not be keen on encouraging DS to tell lies in order to be allowed to join an organisation.

To join you have to take the promise-quite simply if you can't make the promise then it is not for you. To join any organisation you have to agree with the aims-you can't expect the organisation to change to suit you!

I don't think anybody has implied that their motives are anything more than promoting christianity - (is this sinister?). I would say it is insulting to have so little respect for other's beliefs that a religious club is promoted to children as a 'drama club' without explaining to the parents what is involved first. Perhaps they want to promote the teachings of Brecht, perhaps they want to keep young children off the streets. Its not clear from the OP. Whatever their ams are, I would want to know.

I didn't think it was insulting to assume that mission might be important to christian groups, and I don't think its insulting to be concerned that some christian groups have beliefs that I don't agree with - e.g. thinking gay people are sinners. My principles are important to me, and I consider it my right to be informed about people running after school groups,

madamez, no they don't and have not for many years.

Almost all of ds' Cub pack are confirmed or notional atheists or agnostics, and no-one seems at all bothered by this. That includes his Pack Leader, and it was the same in Beavers - Leader not a churchgoer.

Look for a Cub pack which meets in a non-faith location, such as a school or Cub Scout Association Hall. The "churchy" ones are usually affiliated to a specific place of worship.

You don't have to be a churchgoer but from Beavers up to leaders you have to be able to give the Scout Promise, and renew it at intervals:

On My Honour, I promise that I will do my best
To do my duty to God and to the Queen,
To help other people
And to keep the Scout Law.
The Scout Law is:

A Scout is to be trusted.
A Scout is loyal.
A Scout is friendly and considerate.
A Scout belongs to the worldwide family of Scouts.
A Scout has courage in all difficulties.
A Scout makes good use of time and is careful of possessions and property.
A Scout has self-respect and respect for others.

You can obviously lie, but I wouldn't be happy with my DCs doing that.

I think you actually say "my god" rather than "to god" which opens it out to different faiths.

I have copied and pasted the promise from the scout web site. I think that you can interpret it to mean 'my god'. In interviews the most common response is that people believe in God but are not part of any organised religion.

oop sorry its the brownies/ guides who say "my god"
My DD is both a guide and a cub and ds is a scout, so have been through all the promisesgot a little confused

Thanks for pasting the promise, AbbeyA. DS is only 3 at the moment so too young for that sort of thing. But I don't want him pledging allegiance to the Queen either....

I am not saying that Scouts/Guides etc should not be run any more than I am saying all churches, temples, mosques and stone circles should be bulldozed. Other people are at liberty to form or join religious organisations just as I am at liberty to think they are all mad for doing so.
My objection to the organisation described in the OP was that it seemed to be the only provision of an activity club, endorsed by a secular state school, yet it was peddling a specific brand of crap (Christianity as opposed to, for instance, Buddhism, Islam, Vaudun or Marxism) which would be neither necessary nor appropriate for a bunch of children raised in a diversity of families.

Well perhaps the real issue is for the school to offer more clubs. I would have no objection to a Marxist or Buddhist children's club operating on school premises after school. I would possibly/probably not send my children, but that's my prerogative. Just as the original poster can make that choice for her children. I wouldn't object to the club running even I didn't agree with it.

Just because one group has got off it's backside and offered a club that some parents might not like, doesn't mean it is not appropriate. Those parents who don't like it or who would prefer other activities need to lobby for some, or heaven forbid, organise something. Most schools and communities have a wealth of experience and skills. Sometimes people just need to be invited in.

Our school clubs include the obvious sporting ones but also ones ranging from gardening club to chess club and 'sticky kids' club' which is for infants and involves singing lots of action songs. Some are run by teachers but others are run by parents. Some need very little in the way of skills, more just enthusiasm, it's not rocket science.

So perhaps those who think more clubs are needed should get together and sort something out. Ask the children themselves - some of the clubs on our summer term list, including the dance/aerobics one, are new ones which were suggested via the school council. The school council (i.e. children themselves) then advertised in the school newsletter and asked teachers to find adults who would run them.

I don't think it's got anything to do with the school endorsing a club. Our school regularly sends rubbish home advertising things like Kumon, little Ninjas, Stagecoach, keyboard lessons - some take place on school premises, others elsewhere. They aren't actually endorsing any of them. I don't send my children to any of them for various reasons - they don't want to go, I don't want them to go, they are too expensive, they take place at the wrong time for us, we are doing something else or something similar already, I might even disagree with the whole concept.

That's what parents do. They make decisions.

Cracker, you rogue, you never came back.

Is it Scripture Union or not?

We have a similar club at our school taken by the head who is very religious. It is for year 1 and 2 only and they basically get told a story out of the bible, have a play outside for 40 mins, and then say a prayer before coming out. It is very popular with the kids, nothing to do with religion, just they all adore the head! I was not too bothered as it is a Community Primary school and they have to religious education as part of their week, and it gives me an extra hour of free childcare.