Not my kids school but blimey, seems a bit heavy handed to make the threat of permanent record on the kids notes.
'other religions' seems to imply non-Christian but it's not clear and it doesn't look like a religious school.
[img] 
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and to cap it all it's in Comic Sans!
Refusal to allow your child to attend this trip [b]on religious grounds[/b] it should say, possibly.
Nothing wrong with that IMHO. Why woud anyone not want their kid to do this if not for racist reasons? I'm a full on atheist and I'd expect my kid to go.
Whilst I can appreciate that RE is part of the National Curriculum, on what planet is wanting to avoid it "racial discrimination"? That's outrageous.
If that is true then 😯 followed by a dose of 😯
The idea of the trip sounds great.
WTF the 'Racial Discrimination' note threat is all about, I don't know.
Send your child along as demanded, but ensure that they wear a colander on their head all day as accords with your families strict pastafarian beliefs.
It's the pre-meditated warning that is concerning.
[i]It's the pre-meditated warning that is concerning. [/i]
this.
It just seems completely overboard as an opening shot.
Why not ask for slips to be returned and, for those who don't return them, send out a more detailed letter explaining why the trip is necessary and what the consequences are (and further explain why it would go on the permanent record which I really don't understand).
What has any of this to do with race? Thank goodness the writer has nothing to do with education.....oh, wait....a Head Teacher!!!!
If that is the first notice of the "event" it is well out of order. If the school is concerned of resistance to religious education, they should go into much more detail about what the day entails to alleviate any possible concerns.
Frankly if I had received that letter I would be complaining to the LEA/Ofsted/governors ect. Threatening a child's educational record like that is just disgraceful.
So the parents decision to not allow the kid to do the trip will mark the kid out as a racist until he/she is 18.
Could be interesting when doing interviews for colleges.
'So, I see you are a racist....'
Why woud anyone not want their kid to do this if not for racist reasons?
As an atheist, I once discussed with a Muslim co-worker as to whether he thought it was a good idea for me to send Christmas cards to my Muslim neighbours. I was thinking Santa and Xmas trees rather than nativity scenes, my thinking was that it was 'compliments of the season' and I'd be honoured if I received an Eid Mubarak card or some such from them.
He told me that it'd depend to an extent on the nature of their household's faith but it was likely that it would cause offence as it'd be interpreted as them 'supporting' an alternative religion. (I'm paraphrasing as it was a while back, sorry.) So I can see why, rightly or wrongly, some parents would want to hold their children back from such activities.
It's still not racism though. It's intolerance, ignorance, fear and indoctrination, but it's not racism.
Religious, errm, intolerance comes under the same banner as racial discrimination, I think.
It's not the kids fault if it's parents are afraid to expose them to the details of religions other than the one they believe in though.
and to cap it all it's in Comic Sans!
Not that strange, Pretty standard font in Primary Schools these days.
My OH's school use it for everything as standard.
The person who wrote the letter needs to learn more spellingz & grammarz.
Mrs Small looks really funny.
[url= http://www.littletongreen.staffs.sch.uk/Contact+Us ]Picture[/url]
Stupid, stupid letter.
Send it to the Daily Mail, whoo-whee, their heads would explode. 😆
I think its actually quite clever isn't it?
the real religious bigots, of whatever persuasion, close minded and those who refuse to tolerate / integrate with others would be the ones exposed....
As an aside, I'm wondering how RE is taught in schools these days? When I was at school it was the Christian Bible story taught pretty much as fact, and that was it. I'm curious as to how concepts such as faith and belief are taught.
They do a much better job nowadays, like they do with everything. Education has come on a lot in 30 years as have many things.
It's learning about religions around the world as you'd expect.
The Daily Mail already have it 🙂
Why woud anyone not want their kid to do this if not for racist reasons?
Because i am not religious and as far as I am aware not liking the beliefs of the religious nor wiahing to have my kids exposed to it does not make me a racist. Could you explain why it does?
It is odd, and I would wonder if it is legal to put a racial discrimination note on the file for the actions of the parents - its not like the skipped school to go on an EDL march
As THM notes what has any of this to do with race?
MORE IMPORTANTLY it is NOT a statutory requirement to attend RE but it is a statutory requirement for schools to deliver it so it is also factually incorrect
In England and Wales Parents have the statutory right under Section 71 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 to withdraw their children from RE lessons and acts of Collective Worship at all maintained schools, including faith schools. Parents are not obliged to give a reason for requesting withdrawal.
The parental right to withdraw a child should be freely exercisable and the school must give effect to any such request.
To assume everyone who does it is a racist is a massive non sequitor and I thought the point of RE was to teach tolerance - apparently this is not extended to those of no faith as I assume they are not part of the local community
I will be surprised if this is real tbh
What a silly letter to make the assumption of racism if one does not attend ...
🙄
It'd be interesting to see how it's all presented. Religion baffles and frustrates me the more I think about it. It must be difficult to teach and make sense of it. I think I'd rather see it called Cultural Education or something similar (may be less hooha about it if it was) and have religion as something linked to cultures, backgrounds, shared experiences, etc., I think that'd make more sense.
The parental right to withdraw a child should be freely exercisable and the school must give effect to any such request.
Thanks for posting this Junkyard. Good to know. When the times comes with my kids I'll be having a good look at what is being taught before letting them attend!
How has the child (whose decision it is unlikely to be), let alone the parents, been shown to have discriminated on any ground, unless their reason was objecting to one particular religion/race?
This is what happens when you combine thick people and political correctness.
Very well IMO. The sole teaching of the synoptic gospels as it was in my day has long gone. The A level which combines ethics and philosophy is particularly good and challenging. A lot of questioning analysis and interesting application. The philosophy can be esp challenging for 16-18 year olds.
As an aside, I'm wondering how RE is taught in schools these days?
And is atheism taught, from the outside it seems that there is still an assumption that everyone is a believer until they make a decision not to be.
I would ask the school why they think it's "racist" and then watch, and probably help, them tie themselves in knots.
Er, there is no national religious education curriculum and it is not part of the national curriculum but it is statutory that it is taught. V strange/heavy handed letter IMHO (I am a primary re coordinator) but perhaps there are local issues we don't know about?
Seems a bit harsh to label the sprog as a racialist.
And is atheism taught, from the outside it seems that there is still an assumption that everyone is a believer until they make a decision not to be.
No, why would it be?
They tell you about stuf that goes on in the world around religion. They don't try and get you to believe it, or debate its merits. It's not a sermon and it's not theology.
I don't get your point about assuming everyone is a believer - what do you mean?
When I were a lad, circa 1993-2000, we were taught about all the major religions; Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Judaism, Buddhism. They were all taught with the same approach ie learn about key beliefs and key figures within that religion then we'd have a trip to a mosque, synagogue, chapel, temple. T'was all quite civil as I recall. Permission slips were sent out, if you didn't want to go, or your parents objected, then you didn't go. I thought it was a great excuse to get out of the school building and see something different.
Junkyard - lazarus
As THM notes what ....
Blows a kiss up north!!!! 😉
Send your child along as demanded, but ensure that they wear a colander on their head all day as accords with your families strict pastafarian beliefs.
😆
I'm convinced it's a stupid letter after all.
This is what happens when you combine thick people and political correctness.
In my opinion, impossible not to have one without the other.
really tucker what is the politically correct view on genital mutilation out of interest?
I'd challenge that.
They can't label the child as racist when it's the parents making the decision, a nice embarrassing court case with that school has got my juices flowing already.
Annoys the hell out of me when schools try to shove religion down the throats of the pupils...by junior school I'd decided religion was utter tosh and thankfully my parents then started writing letters to the school asking for me to be excused from RE which the school did.
I'll do the same for my children when they can make that decision.
The absolute best thing about that letter is that the majority of people who read it will naturally assume it's the work of someone trying to stir up racial hatred (which of course is a criminal offense).
And just to note, 'race' is being used here in its modern form, to denote a group of people who are 'different', even if that difference is one they chose, e.g. various religious groups, 'travellers', presumably pedophiles, etc.
really tucker what is the politically correct view on genital mutilation out of interest?
The PC is view is it's only mutilation on girls, on boys it's 'circumcision' which is fine, because to say otherwise would be 'racist' against believers of Abrahamic faiths.
The HMG (Higher Moral Ground) is of course that genital mutilation of legally unable to consent children is abhorrent regardless of their sex. If they want to chop bits off their genitals when they are old enough to consent, good for them, the debate is not about the 'benefits of circumcision'.
Not sure that is just the PC view you have said there tbh but I would like to politely withdraw from debating this with you on this thread and lets leave the thread be.
To be clear I tend to agree with you on the issue in general but you state it in too extreme a manner.
Not sure that is just the PC view you have said there tbh but I would like to politely withdraw from debating this with you on this thread and lets leave the thread be.To be clear I tend to agree with you on the issue in general but you state it in too extreme a manner
Thumbs up smiley were one available.
Since when is Islam (or Sikhism, Hinduism, Christianity) a race?
Being British (or Indian or ****stani or French) is a race.
I once spoke to a Muslim bloke who had just been taking his wife & kids to see Father Christmas. I asked if they thought Father Christmas was OK with them - he reckoned if he was a nice man with a big beard he was probably a Muslim too!
Oh, and it's a spoof letter , surely.
I'd be apoplectic if I received a threat like that. There would be a very loud conversation with the head teacher.
wrecker - Member
I'd be apoplectic if I received a threat like that. There would be a very loud conversation with the head teacher.
...and ask her to have a stern word with whoever was responsible for such rubbish!!!!
I am all for trips to museums etc but I wonder what/how much multicutltural awareness will be taught by looking at artefacts. For the subject in hand, they must be more interesting options.....
The Daily Mail already have it
as do a few other papers which don't get "blocked" on here:
http://swns.com/news/schoolchildren-told-punished-racism-attend-religious-workshop-islam-40466/
http://www.expressandstar.com/education/2013/11/22/school-at-centre-of-religion-row/ especially loving the classic local paper "people looking grumpy" picture in that which also makes it into:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/10468353/School-children-as-young-as-8-told-they-would-be-labelled-racist-for-missing-school-trip.html
My wife is an RE teacher (as well as being amazing) and she doesn't believe they can do that.
Apparently parents can withdraw their children from RE entirely if they so wish.
Annoys the hell out of me when schools try to shove religion down the throats of the pupils...
Although, obviously, they aren't doing that in this case.
It clearly says the children will not be taking part in any religious practices.
But don't mind that eh.
Oh how I would love babybgoode to come home with a letter like that.
An interesting meeting with the head would follow and they had better have done their homework about under what legal framework they were going to try and tarnish BBG a racist (or me for that matter).
EDIT - From an educational point of view I would encourage BBG to go on such trips but if I got that particular letter I would withhold consent out of principle.
Quick question - as a parent do you not have the right to withdrawn your child from any school trip?
Cheers
Danny B
Ms Small was probably looking forward to sitting down with a slightly chilled Chatdonnay and then all hell breaks loose on the web!!!! I wonder if her beaming smile is as broad now? Leaving aside the silly note, I am starting to feel for her now.... 😉
Read their latest Ofsted report.
Graded INADEQUATE in EVERY category.
[quote=oldnpastit opined]My wife is an RE teacher (as well as being amazing) and she doesn't believe they can do that.
According to the news stories I've linked they can't - were forced to back down by the council. Interesting to note that the school has also been in special measures whilst she's been head - not really doing herself any favours with letters like that!
OMG is gets worse, it will be hemlock not Chardonnay now!!!!
100 childrens parents also told to pay £5.00 for them to go, = £500 quid for 2 buses.
Somebodies obviously not very good at maths either.
And I completely missed the bit about requiring a GP's note to verify sickness.
Well I would happily bill her the £50 a GP would want for a sick note in such circumstances.
In fact, no I would not. If she would not believe me as a parent as to the health of my child I think I would argue a complete breakdown of trust and would remove my child from the school together.
That actually makes me more angry than the racial discrimination bit to be honest.
Great head they have there - maybe she should move on and head up the Coop bank or something...
Next weeks headlines in the press,
Head teacher quits job, at failing school over lack of ability to write a non threatening leter to childrens parents and carers.
and appears on breakfast tv to tell her story, and becomes an immto keep them amusededite media sensation to people with little in their sad little lives.
...and ask her to have a stern word with whoever was responsible for such rubbish!!!!
So Ms Small isn't the head?
It's was a joke! Ok a poor one it turns out! 😉
[quote=Simon_Semtex opined]Read their latest Ofsted report.
Graded INADEQUATE in EVERY category.
In fact it merely "Requires improvement" in the latest report
Lol at people wanting to be excused from RE because you think religion is tosh. Just because you think it's tosh doesn't make it any less a part of the world about which you need to know.
It would be nice if we could pick and choose out schooling wouldn't it? Then we wouldn't have to have our views challenged ever! What a wonderful world that would be.
I see thanks to the handy +Share I can now share this on [url= http://www.amenme.com/amenme/AmenMeChannel.aspx ]AmenMe[/url].
My joy is complete.
So you don't have to do RE if you're racist? Is this a bnp manifesto promise?
It's political correctness gawn mad, I tells ya.
It would be nice if we could pick and choose out schooling wouldn't it?
Well you can pick for your child to go to a religious school but you cannot pick for them to go to a non religious school free from RE. Yes it would be nice if we had the same choices as them. it would not be fair for me to insist on atheism classes in their schools which is what they do to us all irrespective of our choices. they have choices we dont. How is that fair? only one side picks and chooses and they do it for us all.
Then we wouldn't have to have our views challenged ever!
I await the invite to their places of worship to do just this - they and you would support this I assume and it will be enshrined in law as well obviously
Molly you are the most religious atheist in the world
I dont mind having views challenged I mind having to do it every week funded by the state and being branded racist if i decline the invite.
This seems appropriate:
[url=
now[/url]
and being branded racist if i decline the invite.
I think that bit only applies in one particular niche school? Nicely slipped in there
What does religion have to do with race?
DenDennis - Member
I think its actually quite clever isn't it?
the real religious bigots, of whatever persuasion, close minded and those who refuse to tolerate / integrate with others would be the ones exposed....
No, not really.
Why woud anyone not want their kid to do this if not for racist reasons?
Because i am not religious and as far as I am aware not liking the beliefs of the religious nor wiahing to have my kids exposed to it does not make me a racist.
Bang on.
MORE IMPORTANTLY it is NOT a statutory requirement to attend RE but it is a statutory requirement for schools to deliver it so it is also factually incorrect
Bang on again.
In England and Wales Parents have the statutory right under Section 71 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 to withdraw their children from RE lessons and acts of Collective Worship at all maintained schools, including faith schools. Parents are not obliged to give a reason for requesting withdrawal.
Right on brother.
The parental right to withdraw a child should be freely exercisable and the school must give effect to any such request.
To assume everyone who does it is a racist is a massive non sequitor and I thought the point of RE was to teach tolerance - apparently this is not extended to those of no faith as I assume they are not part of the local community
I will be surprised if this is real tbh
I agree with this too.
Wonders will never cease - I agree with Junky on a thread regarding religion!
I wouldn't have a problem with my children going on this trip - but how on earth people would see refusal as inherently racist is beyond me...
Just send the kid - your fault for having them!
@ dannybgoode
In fact, no I would not. If she would not believe me as a parent as to the health of my child I think I would argue a complete breakdown of trust and would remove my child from the school together.
So schools should believe every parent on face value when a child is absent? 😯
You might be honest and send your child in unless they are really poorly, but many give in to slight sniffles etc. which is not an authorised absence. The key is honest and open communication between schools and parents.
Political Correctness gone mad 👿
How can refusal to send your child on a Religious trip be classed as Racial Discrimination? Race & Religion are 2 separate things.
Why should the child have a Racial Discrimination note made on their school records, when it is the parents choice.
Who in their right mind would employee someone who sends official letters on behalf of their organisation out to parents in Comic Sans.
So much for freedom of choice! 🙄
The key is honest and open communication between schools and parents.
The key is respect and treating each other as adult equals...
I'm starting to wonder if one of my favourite argumentative tandem riders is back on the forum..?
That is a very weird and inflammatory letter though..
The religion activity sounds pukka, but that threat is a bit nuts to say the least.. I suppose we can guess [i]fairly[/i] accurately at the intent behind it, but really!!?
However, I'm from a town that is only economically viable due to a very large teacher training college, and I see very few children come out of there that aren't completely divorced from reality, so it doesn't really surprise me either..
Well I'm not him - I always wear a helmet!
The key is respect and treating each other as adult equals...
Absolutely. Unfortunately parents do lie sometimes to schools (unsurprisingly).
as indeed has the school in this case as there is no statutory duty to attend the statutory duty is for schools to deliver RE
It would be a poor world if the default was to assume the school or the parent was lying just because some do.
I don think they can demand a Dr note either tbh
Don't get me wrong - this letter is totally out of order. However I didn't imply the default position was to assume either party is lying.
Schools can request medical evidence to help code absence appropriately, but this can take many forms and this letter is not the way to do it!
How do we know that letter to be real?
Seems like a docted one to stir up the kind of reaction it has on here IMO. 🙄
How do we know you are real?