[silvek1978]

DS just started school and we just got a note home asking us if we wanted him to participate in RE class. It is not compulsory. This is a non-religious state primary school and we are a non religious family.
I dont have any problem with him taking the class even if it's not what I dont believe in. He can decide for himself how much he wants to take in. He can ask us questions and we can answer the good ol.......well some people like to believe..... After all, I did RE classes all the way through my schooling at a non religious school and it didn't sway me from my beliefs but rather just educated me on another subject at school. My DH however seems adamant DS does not participate. I didn't think he would feel so strongly about this.
I also don't want DS to feel like he is not included if there are only a few kids that don't participate in RE.
So, anyone else in the same position as us? What have you decided and why? Does it really matter?

[BobTheBottersnik...]

DD started school last year and we were adamant that she was not going to do religious education. In state schools it's usually taught by volunteers from that specific church, so you are very much getting one individuals take on their own religion. I'd be happy for DD to learn about religion from a neutral viewpoint, but I don't want someone filling up her head with views that our family does not subscribe to.

[HerringToMarmala...]

Can you find out what he'll do if he's not in the religion class?

I also went to a religious school and never believed it, but I think it depends how its taught - the non-religious schools seem to end up with more preachy people, IYKWIM, I guess because they may be volunteers as WingBob says. My problem with it is that it doesn't tend to be a religion class, but a christianity class. I'd try to find out more about the specific class and what would be organised for those not doing religion before making a decision.

This post has been edited by HerringToMarmalade: 02/02/2013, 09:45 AM

[tazcan]

The RE lessons at our public non religious school are very preachy and the kids are always given lollies in class. Personally I was totally gobsmacked by some of the things DD was coming home saying. The children who don't participate stay supervised in their classroom with their normal teacher and play or colour. Thankfully this year our school is introducing ethics lessons as an alternative.

[2bundles]

I feel the same as you. Education is always a positive.

DS attends a different religion to ours, but it is Christian. He hasn't said anything that makes me think he is being misinformed or brainwashed. He wants to go so he does.

I think about 50-70% of kids go and it is quite an alternate school.

[Elizabeth Swann]

We just moved town, and changed from a religious school to a govt school. Religious education at this school is teaching the Christian origins of Easter and Christmas. The box we tick for "do you want your child to participate in religious activities" is for the Easter Bonnet Parade and the Christmas Concert. I understand that some parents might not approve of these, but I cannot understand how a majority can be so against them, then whinge that they are taken out of school and blame the Muslim community for wiping it out.

[minxy07]

we pulled DS out of RE after about 6 weeks as even though it is supposed to be a class in "general" religion it was totally about christianity and nothing about all the other wonderful cultures and religions that make our school what it is (which when you read the syllabus they actually started was part of teh curriculum.
While our kids are kept in their class room they utilise the time reading, finishing work, colouring etc - nothing to stressful.
As the teachers are volunteers from the church, what is taught a lot of the time is what that person believes. At the end of last year we had a major issue at our school (primary - grade 1 class) where when a child asked a question about santa, the class was told in no uncertain terms that santa didn't exist and that your parents gave you presents! To say the school and parents were horrified was an understatement.
I am all for a class that teaches children a "balanced view" about all religions and I think this is sadly missing from our education system
Just my opinion and experiences

[ImpatientAnna]

I have found that in nsw public schools it's pretty preachy and as it's run by church volunteers, they are often trying get more attendance at the local church. I won't be letting my DS attend when he commences school. I will be teaching DS about eastern religions, DH can do Christianity (his dad was a Presbyterian minister - but he is now an atheist) and we both know a little about Judaism and Islam......though admittedly could do with a better resource with those two.

[epl0822]

I realise there are horror stories about RE just as there are horror stories about unqualified people teaching any subject. However my personal experience of RE was positive. I went to a Christian school and my RE teacher was adamant that RE classes would be, literally, a religious education - so we learnt about several major religions across the world. It was fascinating to visit a mosque and learn about the major tenets of Islam from an imam, then discuss afterwards what was true/false about the perceptions we previously held about Islam. We also learnt what distinguished the different denominations across Christianity and about Buddhism etc.

Even if RE classes teach only Christianity, I still think it's worth learning, for the sake of education. You can be involved and encourage your kids to think critically. I think it's really sad when atheist parents insist on keeping their kids in ignorance about all religions (in fact, I think it's really narrow minded) because we live in a world where lots of people's choices and decisions and politics and such are influenced by religion. You also understand history and other cultures a lot better when you have a basic grasp of religion. If I lived in an Islam dominated culture I would want my children to learn about Islam so they better understand their surroundings and the beliefs of their peers and why they believe what they believe.

[BadCat]

I think it's really sad when atheist parents insist on keeping their kids in ignorance about all religions (in fact, I think it's really narrow minded) because we live in a world where lots of people's choices and decisions and politics and such are influenced by religion.

You do know that atheist parents are often quite capable of teaching their kids about various beliefs? What's more, we can do it without any of the elelments of indoctrination which are so often present in RE classes.

I am an atheist and I would let my child go to RE when pigs fly.