Religious Education in London preps

[javaprogrammer]

I see that Religious Education (RE) is necessarily provided in state schools but can be 'opted out'. How about in prep schools?

I see that all London prep schools have it as a subject one way or another, although I understand it is to introduce and explore all faiths without any worships or biases. My family has no faith whatsoever and we don't want our dc to be taught any religion or join any discussions in any way whatsoever.

What's your experience? Can I opt out?

While the legal right to withdraw a child from RE is guaranteed in all UK state-funded schools this piece of legislation does not apply to independent schools. Because prep schools operate under private contracts rather than state funding agreements their curriculum is governed entirely by their own internal policies and terms of admission.

So ask the school.

Remember that if your child has no knowledge of the Christian or other faiths, art history, literature and a lot more will be much less explicable to them.

This. It sounds like you’d be raising an ignorant child and putting them at a disadvantage in life.

Anyone has experience in opting out?

Why do you want to opt out? Not having a faith is not a good reason not to understand faith. Given the situation in the world today, having a good understanding of politics/religion/current affairs etc is vital (IMHO) to help you navigate it.

RE is an essential humanities subject, essay writing, understanding the worlds as it actually is. Billions of people’s culture, millions of people’s religion.

Opting out looks like you think it’s about religious practice

It is some Europe nonsense. I never studied this stupid subject in Asia or US. No wonder people in Europe are living in the past.

MY DS attended a C of E state primary school. Vicar used to go and take assemblies, carols in the local Church at Christmas etc. Guess what? At the age of 10 my DS decided he didn't believe it and announced he was an atheist, but that he understood that some people did choose to believe it.

He had made an informed, educated choice. That is not living in the past. And don't get me started on the US.

The people who opt out are generally religious fundamentalists who don't want their child to know about any other religions. in the UK atheists don't generally withdraw their children from religious education.

Unless your child attends an explicitly religious school (you will know if this is the case as they will ask you if you observe that religion at the admission), religious education will be a study of all religions in the sense of 'this is what muslims / Sikhs / Christians etc believe'. It is taught from a more anthropological and atheist perspective.

I would argue this is actually very important for treating children to be inclusive and respectful in a diverse society. Understanding many people have different beliefs and that that's OK.

I personally believe religion makes people dumb, which has been echoed by many scientists. I wouldn't be as recalcitrant if they use symbols such as Mickey Mouse rather than impersonated figures like J or M to tell the moral stories.

Judging by this post, I suspect it's something else altogether that makes people 'dumb'.

Well surely this is a good reason for your child to study it? To understand the thinking of all the dumb people?

Religious education is not the same as religious instruction. It’s general knowledge and a foundation for understanding history, geopolitics, culture and business.

They don't teach religion or engage in any religious activities in public schools in the US, though there is pressure in some states to do so. Private schools, which do not get any public funding, can do what they like wrt religion classes or religious practices. Separation of church and state is real.

The topic is necessarily included in history and history of art courses in public schools, as it pervades much of the subject matter.

But they don't tell the moral stories. You aren't really listening when we're explaining to you what the syllabus is for religious education in the UK.

It's more like anthropology, ie: this is what this group believes, this is how this group celebrates. This is why this group believes in god, this is why this group doesn't. It isn't preaching.

And this is probably why there are no Christian fundamentalist nutters influencing US politics today.

It’s really important to learn about different cultures and belief systems, especially in a multicultural city like London. I’m not religious either (at all!), but my daughter often comes home telling me interesting facts about different faiths. I don’t understand why you would want to opt out. It’s not indoctrination!

Lol sure and the US is such a forward-thinking country where people of different faiths live in perfect harmony, right?!

If you feel like that about Europe and Europeans, may I suggest you seek education in the US or Asia ?

Okay so this is clearly a spoof 😁

Who is the dumb one here? Three guesses!

Actually, the US consists of fifty states, and yes, it is quite forward thinking in many respects, and people do tend to rub along well. Headlines about trump and the noisy Rght are not the full story.

Indeed.

I know the US well and have lots of American friends, and yes I also keep up with the news, which is real and matters. But sure, go put your head in the sand.

My cousin was opted out of religious education. It made it something interesting.... she "found"religion at university and became a missionary...