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School trips to Church
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Comments
Xx
I'm told to stand up for what I believe in. I've always been told this by my farther, ever since I was born. My mother tells me the same thing, but she says if I get in trouble then I deal with it. Which is fair enough. Do you have a problem with their parenting? Because, if I recall correctly, you don't have any children yourself.
If you were refusing to go on an educational visit because of your faith I'd make exactly the same comment. You can't possibly make an informed choice unless you take the opportunities to get informed and one of the things I feel very very strongly about in life is that people should be given the opportunities to make their own fully informed choices.
Just like I wouldn't go to a slaughter house, I wont go to a church.
Xx
Eh? Why 'respect' bullshit? Tolerate it, maybe, but respect it? Hell no.
I do an hour of RE studies a week, it's not a compulsory subject after year 9... in fact, it doesn't even exist in my school after year 9! It becomes Philosophy and ethics. I'm more than happy to learn about people views, but having to sit and be told? That I don't agree with. I've been thanked by my peers in many an RE class for debating the truth behind what we learn! If we can't question the world as children, when can we?
Xx
Xx
Just to add my tuppence worth. I am also Catholic and I actually sympathise with BA and her parents' attitude. R E in State education is something I fundamentally disagree with. It isn't that I am narrow-minded. Quite the contrary, in fact. I am fascinated by in other religions and cultures, but I don't think it is the responsibility of the State to teach them. In my view, it is meddling with people's belief systems. R E should be down to parental choice - as it is in many other countries.
However, I acknowledge that mine will be a minority (and unpopular) view.
Seriously though, I don't think you should be denying yourself any education, regardless of your beliefs. I have developed, in the past few years since I left higher education, a pure desire for learning that I wish I'd had when I was at school where I could have properly indulged it. Retrospect really is a wonderful thing.
Okay what ever. I am not at a war camp run by Nazi's, I am not a number, I am individual in school and out. Don't like it, tough shit. I am who I am, and that I am proud of.
Xx
i am stunned that someone could write something as spiteful as this.
littlemissy is an amazing teacher, and her class are lucky to be taught by her. you completely miss the point being made and i don't really think you want to see it.
I'm inclined to agree.
Whether Littlemissy is a good teacher, or whether B-A is a good student to be taught, or whether your Mum really does believe this trip is a bad idea - not necessary - it is just spite from all angles.
My tuppence - reconsider - sounds like an interesting trip and yes you could take yourself off to church to hear someone's sermon, but by the sounds of it you probably never will, so why not grab this opportunity so you can be involved in the discussions post trip.
Oh dear. You have invoked Godwin's Law, ergo I'm afraid you lose the argument.
A good attitude to life is just as if not more important than good grades.
You should be aiming to achieve to the best of your ability, not bench mark yourself against others.
If I'd taken the doing well means doing better than the rest of my year approach is good enough I'd be no where near where I am now.
Xx
B-A, you're just fine the way you are. Remember, well behaved women rarely make history.
You dont have to be mouthy and be a total bitch to be different, or to be good at things.
Just wanted to add my opinion to this as I am actually an RE teacher, and a committed atheist. It is not uncommon for Christian RE teachers to take students to their own church, the reason for this is usually that it is a cheap trip, they know the speaker and know they are not going to prosleytise, and they know that they are welcome in the church and are not going to be stepping on anyone's toes.
RE teachers these days are actually incredibly conscious of not forcing their views on their students, even if they hold strong views themselves, and it would be a nightmare for an RE teacher to take students on a trip where the speaker tries to convert - I work with staff who have experienced this and who now avoid taking students to certain places where they know the speakers there cannot talk about their beliefs without trying to force them on the students.
I think it would actually be more useful - and have more of an impact - if you were to go on the trip and then raise a complaint if you genuinely feel that the speaker attempts to convert or force their beliefs on you. They way I see it, there are two options:
1. This trip is a genuine educational visit to a place of worship, reinforcing your prior learning about Christian beliefs and practices and the role of the Church for Christians, or
2. It is a poorly veiled attempt by your RE teacher to take you to his place of worship where he will put you in an uncomfortable and inappropriate position and have someone try and force their beliefs on you.
Now, I personally believe 1. is most likely to be the case, but if it is 2. then this is something that is a problem and needs to be raised. If you don't go, then it is unlikely to be raised as an issue by other students, so it is better for you to go and see if this actually happens, and put in a complaint if it does, than not to go at all and miss out on the educational experience.
Please never be under the impression that all RE teachers love religion, or want to encourage you to be religious or develop some spiritual belief, as this is simply not the case. From a personal perspective, my atheism has only grown and developed the more I have studied philosophy and religion, so it is certainly not the case that RE = personal religious development.
Also, you will find that RE IS compulsory in schools up until the age of 18, unless your parents withdraw you. It is often labelled philosophy/ethics nowdays as RE is an increasingly less appealing label, probably because of all the preconceptions that accompany it as a subject.
Ultimately it is for you and your parents to decide whether or not you go on the trip, but even if you are not religious it will always be useful for you to understand how religion impacts our history and politics in the UK.