RE in Year 1

[Enilec21]

Hi there, wondering if you can chill me out about this!

We’ve just been told our Y1 kiddos are “going to be learning about the symbolism of bread and wine in Christianity. For this, we'd like the children to share some white bread and blackcurrant squash”.

Is it horrendously horrible that I don’t like this?! I don’t know if 5yo’s should know this much about it and its made me uncomfortable. How much detail will the teacher go into? It seems unlikely the teacher can skirt around the fact bread and red wine represents the broken body and blood of Jesus Christ.

We don’t have older children so this is all new to us.

I think that sounds rather small minded, it is a fun way to learn. Nothing more.

@SausageinaBun so no Nativity plays should be performed then?

A nativity play isn't role playing a religious activity. Christians don't take part in nativity plays as part of their worship or religious observance. There's plenty of religion adjacent activities that don't involve "role playing" an act of worship/observance.

@SausageinaBun most churches I know usually put on a little Nativity play or scene with the children who belong to the church.
So it is a "religious activity".
In my humble opinion anyway.

The funniest picture in my DS' RE book from last year was when they staged a mock baptism and they all took a turn dunking a doll in a bucket of water.

Lol - I don't know whether ours did that; a brook runs alongside the school grounds, so they could have gone for the full biblical experience if it had been raining enough recently. We probably would have heard about that, though.
We did hear about DD 'getting married' in year 1, however. Quite an occasion, apparently. I think there may even have been a DVD.

@Enilec21 have you considered exercising your right to remove your DC from the class?

I think you are over-reacting. Why not ask the teacher if you have concerns?

Why grotesque? I'm not Christian. My child seems to have learnt that they represent Christ. He doesn't think Christians eat Jesus. He was a bit sad Jesus was crucified, the stuff about being nailed to a cross but actually we told him this I don't think he learnt it from school. So what I'm saying I'd they're going to come across stuff from history and religion that is sad, horrible and grotesque. It needs Introducing gradually. The news on the radio in my opinion is far more shocking.

As a teacher at a church school (not catholic) I can say that all the children taught the fundamentals of the Christian faith (along side those of other world faiths) including the communion. We eat bread once a week during collective worship. Those children of other faiths can opt out with no fuss. Most of the kids could tell you the symbolism of the bread and squash!

There is strict canon law around administering that in a worship setting so is the local vicar doing that? If not, are you sure your Bishop is aware and ok with that?

As an atheist I would have two main objections to this. I don't want my children to think it's OK to trivialise people's faith and faith practices. And I don't want schools to normalise and over simplify Christianity.

@CurlewKate they will be learning about non Christian religions and cultures too.
It's not trivialising things - just teaching it to FIVE year olds.

@Needmorelego "@CurlewKate they will be learning about non Christian religions and cultures too.
It's not trivialising things - just teaching it to FIVE year olds.

I have absolutely not problem about them learning about faiths, obviously including Christianity. I do have a problem with them doing this ridiculous charade of something they are not remotely equipped to understand. I can't see what possible purpose it serves.

@CurlewKate I see it as an attempt to make something more interesting/fun than just explaining the facts. This is little children. They learn much more by "doing" than just being told.
They are roll playing what happens at a church service.

@Needmorelego "They are roll playing what happens at a church service"

Well, one aspect of a church service that won't apply to them for some years. What is the learning objective?

@CurlewKate the "learning objective" will be what happens at a service in a Christian church.
In a couple of weeks the learning objective will probably making some Diva lamps and finding out (and maybe roll playing) what happens at a Diwali celebration.

@Needmorelego
"In a couple of weeks the learning objective will probably making some Diva lamps and finding out (and maybe roll playing) what happens at a Diwali celebration."

Making Diya lamps is entirely different. They are not specifically part of worship. You don't have to be a Hindu to light one and join in the celebration of Diwali. Any more than you have to be a member of the Christian church to have advent candles or to join in a Harvest Festival.

@CurlewKate but they aren't really doing worship and holy communion. They are pretending. Like in a play.

I think it's very important that kids learn about all different religions and cultures as early as possible, considering what a racist and small minded country we have become.

@Needmorelego "@CurlewKate but they aren't really doing worship and holy communion. They are pretending. Like in a play"

I have grasped that! Presumably they will
then role play the Crucifixion?

@Kiuyni "I think it's very important that kids learn about all different religions and cultures as early as possible, considering what a racist and small minded country we have become"

I absolutely agree.

No @CurlewKate - because they will do age appropriate activities in RE at this age (5 year olds remember!)
Also I've never known of a church that does a crucifixion as part of the regular weekly service 😂

@Enilec21 The most useful thing for you to do is read the RE Agreed Syllabus for your LA. Religious leaders and teachers have agreed this but schools have discretion in how it’s taught. I’ve attached the various options from my local one. I would really see it as role play and not give it much thought. It’s hardly what defines the school and the education there. You can always ask the RE teacher for more details. However learning about what you don’t agree with is part of learning. It helps dc evaluate what they do want. Plus all schools, religious of not, teach the agreed syllabus. Daily act of worship is entirely different.

@CurlewKate a secondary school might do a Passion Play I suppose 🤔

If you’re really worried you do have the right for your child to be withdrawn from RE lessons,