Easter celebrations cancelled at Primary school

love0c

Why did she make it a thing to write to parents saying she was cancelling the Easter parade. Children love this sort of occasion. I feel she intended to invite trouble to her door.

All children love it? When as a Catholic I wasn't allowed to do the walk to the local CofE church, other kids were fed up they had to do it. I was the envy of my class.

Wyllow3

She had a meeting with parents and the result of it was not to parade to the church anymore for an Easter Service. She has said they will be celebrating Easter.

A few parents weren't happy but most were. Asking children from different backgrounds (some presumably just atheist) to parade to a Church is not at all common anymore unless you perhaps are a C of E school.

Children of different faith backgrounds are quite happy to celebrate Christmas as we have seen , in the school, but to parade through the streets?

Then the red tops got the story and made it into a shock horror big deal end of the world type thing

ignoring how few schools actually do it anymore.

I hope the school will be allowed some space to work things out and the media also.

Re a demonstration - a group did threaten it a few days ago, whether it will happen we'll have to see?

You aren't following the Trump tradition of ignoring the facts.

Allira I hope you realise if you don't have the elf on the shelf you've cancelled Christmas, denied Christmas and ruined years of tradition. Don't try saying you'll go to Midnight Mass and think that makes up for it. 😂

Easter bonnets every year.

I bet by the time they get to Year 6 they’re thoroughly bored with Easter bonnets.

Again…….🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

She had a meeting with parents and the result of it was not to parade to the church anymore for an Easter Service. She has said they will be celebrating Easter.

A few parents weren't happy but most were. Asking children from different backgrounds (some presumably just atheist) to parade to a Church is not at all common anymore unless you perhaps are a C of E school.

Children of different faith backgrounds are quite happy to celebrate Christmas as we have seen , in the school, but to parade through the streets?

Then the red tops got the story and made it into a shock horror big deal end of the world type thing

ignoring how few schools actually do it anymore.

I hope the school will be allowed some space to work things out and the media also.

Re a demonstration - a group did threaten it a few days ago, whether it will happen we'll have to see?

Why did she make it a thing to write to parents saying she was cancelling the Easter parade. Children love this sort of occasion. I feel she intended to invite trouble to her door.

sazz1

Despite the fact that the head has said children will take part in all the usual Easter crafts, and celebrate Easter in classes, some are still looking to cause trouble. I'm reading online there's going to be a demonstration outside the school today. Really hoping it doesn't take place as its very intimidating for parents, teachers and the children.

Where have you read this please sazzl?

Despite the fact that the head has said children will take part in all the usual Easter crafts, and celebrate Easter in classes, some are still looking to cause trouble. I'm reading online there's going to be a demonstration outside the school today. Really hoping it doesn't take place as its very intimidating for parents, teachers and the children.

theworriedwell

Allira

theworriedwell

A church service is a different matter but people seem very focused on the bonnets.
Unless it's a C of E, Catholic or Anglican church then a church service is a different matter but I think posters are focused on the bonnets because Miss Mander stopped both the service and the bonnet parade.

The bonnet parade is just a bit of fun which young children enjoy and helps them with their creativity. It seems quite mean-spirited to ban that even if she wants her school to be completely secular.
I presume the Easter holidays have been re-named as the Spring holidays too?

Personally, I think learning about all religions and why we celebrate certain events with festivals is part of education. Learning about each other is important and teaches understanding and respect instead of fear.

But telling children that Easter bonnets are part of Christianity is misleading. It's cultural in some parts of the UK but it isn't religious anymore than the elf on the shelf is.

I don't like that Elf on the Shelf, nasty creature.

But I shall be decorating my Easter bonnet.

sazz1

I think Jesus would say
Open up your heart, your home and your table ie food, to these poor souls who are fleeing their own country.
Do you have a spare room?

Cold, harsh and snipey sazzl. No I don’t have a spare room. I have worked with those poor souls who are fleeing their own country and done a little voluntary work since I retired.

Easter bonnets are a celebration of Spring! Eostre was a Pagan goddess, not Christian. The Easter festival later became a Christian event.
What’s wrong with celebrating the arrival of Spring, new life, warmer days, etc.? It doesn’t need to be portrayed as religious. It’s part of our culture. Anyone who doesn’t like it should live somewhere else…

Many many English primaries are church schools, established to educate poor local children in Victorian times. They usually pay at least lip service to their C of E basis.
Nobody is obliged to send their children to these happy little family schools. If they do, they can expect them to be taught what Christmas and Easter mean. They’re not obliged to believe it.

Allira

theworriedwell

A church service is a different matter but people seem very focused on the bonnets.
Unless it's a C of E, Catholic or Anglican church then a church service is a different matter but I think posters are focused on the bonnets because Miss Mander stopped both the service and the bonnet parade.

The bonnet parade is just a bit of fun which young children enjoy and helps them with their creativity. It seems quite mean-spirited to ban that even if she wants her school to be completely secular.
I presume the Easter holidays have been re-named as the Spring holidays too?

Personally, I think learning about all religions and why we celebrate certain events with festivals is part of education. Learning about each other is important and teaches understanding and respect instead of fear.

But telling children that Easter bonnets are part of Christianity is misleading. It's cultural in some parts of the UK but it isn't religious anymore than the elf on the shelf is.

theworriedwell

Witzend

theworriedwell, my Gdcs’ primary school is C of E, but it’s a very cosmopolitan area so there are quite a few children of other faiths (or none!). At each Nativity play we’ve attended, there have been quite a few evidently Muslim parents in the invariably packed audience.

Well Muslims believe in the Virgin Maryam giving birth to the baby Isa, to Christians Mary and Jesus, so there really doesn't need to be a problem about the Nativity play. What the Head at my children's school was that there would be nothing to offend the Bible or Koranic version although I believe there are a few differences like Joseph and Bethlehem not being mentioned in the Koran but I don't think that offended anyone.

The story's the same, the difference is that Isa (Jesus) was a prophet not the Son of God.
So yes, the Nativity is fine.

Wyllow3

What I hadn't realised was that what the had cancelled (part from the bonnets) was that the school actually walked to the local church for a service. She has now said it will be marked within the school. her first decision - and presumably this one too - had been made ion consultation with parents.

I'm happy with her compromise: no way should she resign, its a tough issue and different schools all over the country will be doing different things,

as I've said already, my Grandchildren's school has no service, which is not unusual, and its not a multi cultural one.

And as some parents have said, the controversy was a "storm win a teacup"

Its covered news wise in an undramatic, non shock horror way here

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0mwd083l4lo

The people who intended to demonstrate about the lack of a worship/service, can I expect them to be turning up to *all schools who don't have a service/worship? Will they be outside?

I dont think so.

I went to a state grammar school. What ever religion or denomination you were you had to go to assembly every day and CofE church service at the end of term and to RE lessons from 11 to 16 unless you were Catholic and weren't allowed to attend. It was so odd as Muslim, Sikh, Jewish girls would go to this Christian worship/lessons but Catholics excluded. I never figured that one out.

WelshPoppy

My granddaughter's school celebrates Easter, Christmas, Diwali, Holi, Eid and probably more. All the children enjoy learning about other celebrations and they're inclusive.

This sounds wonderful Welshpoppy.
Children are normally much more open to accepting other cultures & religions than the adults. Yet there must be a balance too
🤔

Witzend

*theworriedwell*, my Gdcs’ primary school is C of E, but it’s a very cosmopolitan area so there are quite a few children of other faiths (or none!). At each Nativity play we’ve attended, there have been quite a few evidently Muslim parents in the invariably packed audience.

Well Muslims believe in the Virgin Maryam giving birth to the baby Isa, to Christians Mary and Jesus, so there really doesn't need to be a problem about the Nativity play. What the Head at my children's school was that there would be nothing to offend the Bible or Koranic version although I believe there are a few differences like Joseph and Bethlehem not being mentioned in the Koran but I don't think that offended anyone.

eazybee

All state schools are also required to make provision for a daily act of collective worship.

Yes, they are although there are calls for this to end.

Holding an occasional act of worship, such as at Easter, Christmas and the Harvest Festival would seem to be a sensible compromise as children enjoy the activities associated with these festivals. Other festivals could be included from other religions too so that everyone feels included.

She has now said it will be marked within the school. Perfect solution, Wyllow3.
I don't think she needs to resign. It was a silly letter to send out, she was wrong in her thinking. If ever there were a time to be very careful about celebrating various events, its now. Perhaps she will invite the vicar ftom the local church to come into school for the occasion, that would suffice.

All state schools are also required to make provision for a daily act of collective worship.

What I hadn't realised was that what the had cancelled (part from the bonnets) was that the school actually walked to the local church for a service. She has now said it will be marked within the school. her first decision - and presumably this one too - had been made ion consultation with parents.

I'm happy with her compromise: no way should she resign, its a tough issue and different schools all over the country will be doing different things,

as I've said already, my Grandchildren's school has no service, which is not unusual, and its not a multi cultural one.

And as some parents have said, the controversy was a "storm win a teacup"

Its covered news wise in an undramatic, non shock horror way here

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0mwd083l4lo

The people who intended to demonstrate about the lack of a worship/service, can I expect them to be turning up to *all schools who don't have a service/worship? Will they be outside?

I dont think so.

eazybee

The Head needs to reinstate the Easter Bonnet competition and the Easter service and apologise to the parents, which will hopefully defuse an unpleasant situation and a poor start to her Headship.
And practise diversity and inclusion without lecturing the parents about it as a reason for doing something unpopular.

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I think Jesus would say
Open up your heart, your home and your table ie food, to these poor souls who are fleeing their own country.
Do you have a spare room?

I'm hoping she resigns. That would probably appease people's anger and hopefully calm the community. I feel her original letter and its repercussions may affect a lot of people from other ethnic origin or non Christian religions, not just the staff, parents and children at the school.

People claiming to want Christian festivals celebrated while taking offence because the school is to celebrate refugee week - linking it to small boats 🙏🏽🙈. What would Jesus say ?