Page 5 | Primary school teacher imposing her opinions

Chichi444 · 2025-10-09T08:47:36+00:00

My son age 9, came home yesterday and told me that during their free reading time in class his substitute teacher had instructed everyone to pick a book of their choice but it had to be a non fiction so my son and his friend picked the bible, but they were later told to go and select a different book as the bible in her opinion would be classified as fiction my son and his friend disputed this as we are Christian and so is my son’s friend. The teacher reaction to their disagreement was “there’s no proof whatsoever that the bible is real” so they were forced to pick different books. I am absolutely furious about this! aren’t teacher meant to remain impartial on topics such as religion and politics? and is there anything I can do as a parent for there to be consequences as I find this unacceptable. thank you for reading!

Original poster

Chichi444 · 09/10/2025 21:55

Chichi444 · 09/10/2025 21:54

Well I mentioned this as ideologically speaking is those on the far left who usually discredit faith religion and propagate atheistic beliefs so that’s what I meant as is not ideal in a church a school as faith is at the core of the school ethos

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And again I don’t see how that’s an insult

OP posts:

Snugglemonkey · 09/10/2025 21:56

mammabing · 09/10/2025 12:30

I feel like this post might be becoming derailed into whether or not the bible is fictional.
The fact is whether the teacher is correct or not the professional standards say you shouldn't impose your own beliefs on your students. We are told to keep it to ourselves and speak impartially. Or do the ‘some people believe…, other people believe…’

This is not about whether the bible is a completely invented story and there is no god. It is about the fact that there are aspects of non fiction books, quite possibly the entire point of the exercise, that are not included in the bible. Especially if it was a children's bible, which are very story style and highly illustrated.

ChattyGeePeaTea · 09/10/2025 21:57

StrawberryFreckles · 09/10/2025 12:04

I think she’s right.

It’s got no features of a non fiction text. Photographs, contents page, index, tables, captions .

Why did they both choose the same text? Have they no minds of their own?

Absolutely roaring at the idea that the Bible has no contents page or index. It literally gives "chapter and verse." And depending on whether or not it's a children's Bible (which it's likely to be in a primary school) it's likely to have pictures and captions too.

It's unarguably a non-fiction text in libraries - it's in the 200s in the Dewey Decimal System under religion / mythology (although boasts its very own section at 220). Fiction is all in the 800s.

itsraining2024 · 09/10/2025 21:58

I’d be fuming and write a letter to the head. So insulting to one’s beliefs.

HashtagSadTimes · 09/10/2025 22:03

Snugglemonkey · 09/10/2025 11:52

The bible is a work of fiction, it did not fit the brief.

i would disagree. As a minimum it can be respected as an ancient text. The NT could be posited as a form of biography.

I think the teacher handled - it not great.

stichguru · 09/10/2025 22:04

I'm Christian. If the point of the exercise is to be able to pick out facts and opinions from a non-fiction text, then the Bible doesn't really fit the bill in layout and style. A respectful teacher would have explained it like that though. It was disrespectful to simply say it was a fiction book.

RedLeggedPartridge · 09/10/2025 22:05

There are some really nasty atheists on this thread. OP I’m sorry you have received the amount of vitriol you have. It’s not on to call your son thick, what sort of person would do that? It says a lot about them.

My child would also not consider the Bible fiction. At her CofE school the Bible is often taken out of the school library as a reading book (they have interesting, colourful, child-friendly versions), so I think it’s entirely possible that 2 friends might choose it. Maybe they were both Christians.

It was wrong of the teacher to impose her atheist views on the child - in her professional capacity she should have remained neutral.

Original poster

Chichi444 · 09/10/2025 22:07

RedLeggedPartridge · 09/10/2025 22:05

There are some really nasty atheists on this thread. OP I’m sorry you have received the amount of vitriol you have. It’s not on to call your son thick, what sort of person would do that? It says a lot about them.

My child would also not consider the Bible fiction. At her CofE school the Bible is often taken out of the school library as a reading book (they have interesting, colourful, child-friendly versions), so I think it’s entirely possible that 2 friends might choose it. Maybe they were both Christians.

It was wrong of the teacher to impose her atheist views on the child - in her professional capacity she should have remained neutral.

i appreciate you 💞

OP posts:

earphoneson · 09/10/2025 22:10

Chichi444 · 09/10/2025 13:23

The fact that some people think I’m making this up is so bizarre…
anyways my intent wasn’t to debate other mums here on their views and opinions on this actual factuality of the bible.

just to mention also his usual teacher doesn’t have an issue with the children picking the bible as a non fiction as this is something my son would do once in a while.

And no my son is not thick someone mentioned this something very wrong for another mum to say something like this about a child , how weird…

i was more wanting to get advice on what to do next and measures that can be taken from the head as I know this brakes the impartiality rule.

Also is a Church of England school and aren’t we in a Christian nation.
I feel like there’s more and more extreme leftist coming into the education system is very troubling.

Sorry you feel people and their views are ‘extreme leftist’, I.e incorrect or even offensive to you?

Posters understood what you are asking. They just don’t believe any impartiality rule was broken. The teacher said this is not a factual book as facts can be proven. Do you disagree with that?

We don’t know her believes and she’s not imposing them - she might as well share your faith.

RedLeggedPartridge · 09/10/2025 22:11

StrawberryFreckles · 09/10/2025 12:04

I think she’s right.

It’s got no features of a non fiction text. Photographs, contents page, index, tables, captions .

Why did they both choose the same text? Have they no minds of their own?

We have lots of children in my class that choose the same book. Children often like to have the same things as their friends.
It’s really horrible to say they have no minds of their own just because they chose the sane book.

Pollyanna87 · 09/10/2025 22:11

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 09/10/2025 12:11

Your DS was being a smartarse.

He knew exactly what she meant by nonfiction.

I might remind DS about Christian values. I vaguely remember Jesus saying something about loving neighbours. I'm not sure your son's behaviour falls into this category.

We love God first. We live by the word of God. There is nothing un-Christian about this boy’s behaviour.

Paddington5 · 09/10/2025 22:12

Arlanymor · 09/10/2025 12:33

How incredibly rude of you - you don't know the faith (or non faith) of anyone on this thread. If you don't know what constitutes non fiction then that's one thing, but to just insult people for pointing that fact out to you is quite another. Oh but I guess you put emojis at the end so you were 'just joking' and not intending to cause offence...

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It’s you lot being rude by telling a Christian the Bible is fiction.
What a needlessly nasty bunch

Arlanymor · 09/10/2025 22:13

Paddington5 · 09/10/2025 22:12

It’s you lot being rude by telling a Christian the Bible is fiction.
What a needlessly nasty bunch

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Did I say that? Don't think I did. Not once. I said it wasn't non-fiction. But sure, pick on me.

signiffig · 09/10/2025 22:13

I agree with her opinion but I would not have shared it the way she did.

RedLeggedPartridge · 09/10/2025 22:15

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 09/10/2025 12:11

Your DS was being a smartarse.

He knew exactly what she meant by nonfiction.

I might remind DS about Christian values. I vaguely remember Jesus saying something about loving neighbours. I'm not sure your son's behaviour falls into this category.

Another nasty comment. Calling a 9 year old a smartarse for choosing what he thought was a non fiction book.
My child is a Christian and would not regard the Bible as a fiction book.

ChattyGeePeaTea · 09/10/2025 22:16

Chichi444 · 09/10/2025 18:47

I just wanted to say thank you, to all that has been shared so interesting and detailed love it!

I’ve managed to book a meeting with the head as I was informed teacher will be returning as substitute and wouldn’t want similar exchanges to reoccur as I find it it highly unprofessional inconsiderate and simply disrespectful this are 9 year olds not university students.

like other mums have mentioned on here already she really could have said it in a different way sometimes is not what we say is how we say it I strongly believe

I also double checked if my son was retelling the story right and indeed he was as I asked another adult that was given feedback on this.

Also My son has genuine fascination with bible stories he constantly talks about different events in the bible and enjoys analysing and connecting dots , so for the mums that said is unlikely for two young boys to pick the bible as a book of interest you are wrong.

Lots of kids at my DC's C of E school would pick the Bible for similar reasons (and also there's only so many times you can read the books about wild cats, the Titanic and the Moon landings....)

I'd definitely have a word with the HT given that it's a faith school. You might like to ask what they think the SIAMS* inspector would think if they walked in and overheard that exchange!

*For the benefit of the thread, SIAMS is like Ofsted for church schools - church schools get a SIAMS inspection as well as Ofsted

ScrollingLeaves · 09/10/2025 22:17

The ‘Left’ are not necessarily as kind or inclusive as they think they are. They can be authoritarian.

RedLeggedPartridge · 09/10/2025 22:18

StrawberryFreckles · 09/10/2025 12:19

Maybe he’s thick though and can’t remember learning the difference between fiction and non fiction texts in nursery, reception, year one or year two.

I was walking my dog yesterday and there was a girl in a supermarket trolley being pushed around the skate park by a boy vaping. She was on the phone to her mother and she was telling her that she had been to school but they had told her that because she was five minutes late they had told her that she wasn’t allowed to go at all and the mother was incandescent about it.

Absolutely furious she was. She was going to go up there and give them a piece of her mind. “They can’t do that, turn you away, you could get knocked over by a car. Don’t you worry Anya I’ll sort them out.” etc.

I was agog at how any parent would believe their child’s obvious lies, but now I know.

It really doesn’t come across well when you call a 9 year old thick.

Philipthecat · 09/10/2025 22:19

InMyShowgirlEra · 09/10/2025 11:25

The Bible cannot be described as a non-fiction book and does not have any of the features of non-fiction books.

She was absolutely correct that there is no proof the Bible is real. I'm sure you would be equally annoyed if she handed out copies of the Quran and stated it was factual.

Your son was being facetious by picking out the Bible when instructed to read a non-fiction book.

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What utter rubbish.

As a Christian (church leader), I have nothing but the utmost respect for the texts of other religions and treat them as they are treated in that religion. That would include treating the Quran as a non-fiction text , not stacking other books on it and keeping it off the floor.

OP, the teacher was in the wrong. Regardless of their personal beliefs, the Bible is not a work of fiction in the same way as a storybook. And is classified as non-fiction by the majority of the worlds library systems (such as the dewy decimal system).

Naanspiration · 09/10/2025 22:20

InMyShowgirlEra · 09/10/2025 11:25

The Bible cannot be described as a non-fiction book and does not have any of the features of non-fiction books.

She was absolutely correct that there is no proof the Bible is real. I'm sure you would be equally annoyed if she handed out copies of the Quran and stated it was factual.

Your son was being facetious by picking out the Bible when instructed to read a non-fiction book.

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Agree with this.

A lot of people consider all religious books to essentially be full of ancient waffle.

NorthenAdventure · 09/10/2025 22:30

Philipthecat · 09/10/2025 22:19

What utter rubbish.

As a Christian (church leader), I have nothing but the utmost respect for the texts of other religions and treat them as they are treated in that religion. That would include treating the Quran as a non-fiction text , not stacking other books on it and keeping it off the floor.

OP, the teacher was in the wrong. Regardless of their personal beliefs, the Bible is not a work of fiction in the same way as a storybook. And is classified as non-fiction by the majority of the worlds library systems (such as the dewy decimal system).

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You can't be serious 🙈
To echo you... 'what utter rubbish'.

NorthenAdventure · 09/10/2025 22:32

ScrollingLeaves · 09/10/2025 21:53

She had no right to interfere with a 9 year old’s religious beliefs. It is crude and tactless of her.

She could have simply shown the sort of book they meant: such as ‘Sea Creatures’ ‘ Dinosaurs’ etc without ever saying the Bible is not ‘factual’. That is very reductive and over simplistic anyway for such an enormous book written/told by so many.

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But... it's not factual. This is a fact 😂 🤦🏼‍♀️

ScrollingLeaves · 09/10/2025 22:36

Naanspiration · 09/10/2025 22:20

Agree with this.

A lot of people consider all religious books to essentially be full of ancient waffle.

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Your son was being facetious by picking out the Bible when instructed to read a non-fiction book.

That is your presumption based presumably on your own beliefs. There are many Christians who do believe that the Bible is not a story book but either the word of God, or at the very least, the text book of their religion.

As a faith school is supposed to be mainly for children with a faith, and this was Christian, the OPs ds may well have chosen The Bible in all seriousness as a non story book.

The main thing is that the teacher did not steer the child away from the Bible tactfully.

Thinking of how on “Desert Island Discs” the person going to the island is told they must not choose The Bible or Shakespeare, it seems these books are effectively in their own category.

NorthenAdventure · 09/10/2025 22:36

Ooogle · 09/10/2025 18:34

Remember that you’re getting the story from your young child and it might not be exactly word for word what happened…

I agree with this too. I'm a teacher and kids rarely get it exactly right when telling their parents... so many times have I had a parent ranting to me about something I apparently said or did, and I gently corrected them...

Ooogle · 09/10/2025 22:53

NorthenAdventure · 09/10/2025 22:36

I agree with this too. I'm a teacher and kids rarely get it exactly right when telling their parents... so many times have I had a parent ranting to me about something I apparently said or did, and I gently corrected them...

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Same! I have had this sooo many times. It would be good to meet with the teacher if you feel this strongly about it and ask for her side of the story too as opposed to just assuming your child’s recount of the conversation is word perfect.