Learning about other's beliefs

I think the first step towards peace between people must be understanding. It is so important to be tolerant and listen, you then then form your own educated opinions. Children do need to understand that there are people with different opinions to theirs and different cultures. I think the Oman is doing a good thing and the parents should let their children listen and then discuss at home what they think with their parents. Close mindedness does not help anything.

Radicalan, how would you get rid of religion? Bann it? They tried that in Russia

Schools should not be an arena for the promotion if imaginary friends, of any variety. The sooner we get rid of religions world wide the sooner we may see peace..........

'If I want my child to know the Goddess then I will show her' was always my reply to such things.............

Thank you all for your comments.
I am still unhappy about their decision but it is not for me to judge them on how they bring up their children- although I have told him that I feel he is very wrong to make the children feel different.
They know why they are missing school that day but I don't think they really understand.Their older brother is at secondary school & does religious understanding lessons or something like that so was very sanguine about the whole thing.
Interestingly my sons went to a C of E school- which was local village school at the time. My other son's children go to C of E village school too.
I worked with a few Muslim women in various companies- in those days you never saw a hijab & they all wore western clothes & were just perfectly normal people & we got on well. We discussed arranged marriages etc. over the coffee machine & although some had had them they were of the opinion that their parents would only choose a loving partner for the who would look after them. I told my son all this.
I can't do any more so I will just let it go now & see what happens when children go back the next day.
It has saddens me to be honest- I thought I had brought him up to be more tolerant.
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I studied Islam and it is a peaceful religion but is open to interpretation.Very few Imans are radical and i am sure the HT will have done her homework and will during the remaining school year will invite leaders of other religions to give a talk to the children.
It is your sons decision but i think he is being very short sighted.

Sorry bags I forgot about the ruling that school assemblies should be primarily Christian. Is that still the rule? I agree about the difference between religious observance and religious education and certainly disapprove of indoctrination.

That sort of sharing thing is fine, but any half decent RE teacher should be able to instruct kids in the basic tenets of major religions, which is all they need. Anyone who is interested in finding out more for themselves is perfectly free to do so in their own time.

I remember once a Muslim boy asked if he could bring his prayer mat into school to show his classmates. What interested them most was the inbuilt compass to help locate Mecca, as the worshipper has to face his mat that way

Other people can believe what the hell they like. I don't feel I need to know what their personal beliefs are. History of religions and their influence on society is another matter altogether.

We withdrew Minibags (at primary school) from religious observances, which are (ridiculously) still required in British schools. We'd no problem with her being taught about various world religions but we did not want her to be forced to pray or 'worship' in any.

Her secondary school has had days led by evangelical christians. I object to those too but she's of an age now where she can generate her own scepticism.

anya me too

Most Muslims are kind ,hardworking people but the Iman is there to talk about Islam. I wouldn`t personally keep my children away but maybe have a discussion with them after about religion in a general way ie that people of different cultures believe different things and leave it at that !

Though I'd abolish faith schools entirely f77ms if I had my way.

Absent is correct in saying that no HT would be stupid enough to invite extremist views. While some people seem to find it hard to believe most Muslims are kind, hard working and peaceful people.

Ignorance is bliss then?

I have mixed feelings about this . luckygirl has a point in saying which brand of Islam will the children hear and will leaders of other `faiths ` be invited to speak . I would prefer religion to be left out of schools altogether as I feel it is a form of indoctrination and has no part in education especially when it is taught as fact .

It's not just religion, how would he react towards gays and lesbians, for instance? Take the children away from those too? They are going to get a huge shock when they move away from the protection of their parents and move into the big wide world.

In my opinion, we all need to learn to accept each other, with the exception, obviously, of people hurting us. I brought mine up with acceptance of different cultures, religions, sexuality, ages etc. Now my son is in university, like millions of others, with people of all nationalities, and he is enjoying getting to learn about them even more.

I don't think parents should be in a position to withdraw their children from any school-day activities and lessons, whether sex education, evolution theory, comparative religion or mathematics. I cannot for a second believe that any head teacher would be stupid enough to ask a politically extremist imam to speak to the children. I am sure that he or she has also made it clear that any bid for conversion is a no-no. The more we learn about and understand other cultures and belief systems, especially those whose lives and countries are closely interwoven with our own, the better it is for all of society.

I think you are right Anya, my GC attend an International school in a Muslim country where they learn about many faiths and cultures, they are learning tolerance and understanding and how to communicate with people from different cultures.

I think that's a disgraceful thing to do. Presumably this Imam's talk will only last a short time and these children will miss out on other curriculum subjects for the rest of the day.

GS1 attends a catholic primary school. They have children of all faiths there and have had visits from leaders of other religions who come in to speak and explain their religion. These religious leaders are accompanied and introduced by the school priest. That's what tolerance and acceptance of others views is all about.

And besides, Islam is changing in this country at least. More and more Muslim women are challenging dress codes and their place in society and their role within the family. I know several very strong, westernised Muslim women personally.

Crafty cat I agree with you and I would expect a school to be certain that someone invited to talk was able to relate to children and give a balanced view. What a pity your DS and DIL do not feel able to trust the school to manage the talk appropriately.

It is fear and misunderstanding that is creating so much that is wrong at present. How much better it would be if people could respect and learn about differences rather than be judgemental. My DD and family live in a Muslim country and my daughter often comments how much she is treated with respect, not something that happens very often now than when in the UK.

I think its very good for kids to learn about other religions ,takes the mystique out of them and the fear that seems to follow islam these days.All the moslems I know are hard working,family orientated members of the community ,with small businesses to run and they emply local people .No different to the christians ,the sikhs ,the jews etc ..its in all our interests that children understand that .Its fear that causes the problems ...

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I would hope this school is going to invite representatives of other religions to speak the its pupils too!

They would get the same reaction from me that Jehovah's Witnesses get, or anyone coming to the door unsolicited.

A smile and a polite 'no thank you'.
However, that doesn't always work with JW who can be quite persistent so when I tell them that I am RC they usually go.