Easter celebrations cancelled at Primary school

There is a real paucity of information.
We don't have the information to know why she made this specific move after discussing it.
We dont know for example what and how other religious festivals or teaching in religion will be carried out or not as the letter said.

Where is the evidence that she has "alienated a large percentage of the parents?"

We are exploring alternative ways to celebrate the season in future years, that will be inclusive of all children and reflect the rich cultural diversity of our community which sounds like a "work in progress"

Until we know a lot more the reactions have been really OTT.

One Christian group (Christian group Disciples of Christ) saying they will hold a demonstration outside the school which is most inappropriate imo.

Richard Tice going on about cancel culture when we haven't been told what will happen to Christmas, Diwali, all other major celebrations.

People are assuming all kinds of things when you read around, like some that its christian events only cancelled, some that all religious events will be therefore cancelled.

I think a wiser head should have included information about how they will celebrate religious customs, and of course how they will teach about different religions.

Talking dramatically about "British culture being under attack" when a lot of schools have never had Easter Bonnet celebrations is ludicrous.

I agree we don't know exactly why the Head decided this, but it is still interesting to "Chat" around the subject.
Either way, what I do know is that private schools can teach whatever form of religion they like, (or teach none at all). Much simpler, but that's another story!

Whether you believe in anything or not, learning about different faiths is IMO part of general knowledge - religion is so bound up with history in general, not to mention global current affairs.

The Gdcs’ primary is C of E and very multicultural, so the children are taught about different faiths. But they’ll be holding a fundraising Easter raffle, and an Easter Sale of seasonal things, which is why I’m making a lot of little knitted Creme Egg bunnies. 🐰🐰

The primary school where I was once a governor got round the issue of Easter bonnets by having an Easter basket event. It looked as if there was around 100% participation as it took a very long time for each child to display their baskets!

escaped

Cossy

ViceVersa

Personally, I think religion should be no part of a state education.

I think the learning about all religions is a good thing, but not the religious services we all endured during daily assemblies, unless, of course, it’s a faith school!

I agree.
How else do we gain an understanding of the importance religion holds in many people’s lives? Any religion.

Agreed.

It is all about learning respect for others, their customs and beliefs by gaining an understanding.

There may be some 10 and 11 year olds in the school who are considered old enough to observe Ramadan.
Is Miss Mander banning that too?

A TV report featured a gathering during Ramadan where the cooking and sharing of food was welcome to anyone, of all or no faiths. This showed us that we understand more by learning than by banning.

Outrages; what about the children celebrating Easter as we have always done in this Christian country! Will read the posts tomorrow, but something should be done. The Easter bonnet parade is part of our English tradition, a very pleasant happy thing to do. Is the head teacher English/British/Christian, I wonder?

Allira

There may be some 10 and 11 year olds in the school who are considered old enough to observe Ramadan.
Is Miss Mander banning that too?

A TV report featured a gathering during Ramadan where the cooking and sharing of food was welcome to anyone, of all or no faiths. This showed us that we understand more by learning than by banning.

We don't know - assumptions are being made on the basis of the Easter bonnet decision

We always had morning assemble with Christian believes, bible stories and Hymes and taught to be good human beings and to think of others. If that is all gone, no wonder we have these terrible things happening in and out of schools now! The children need guidance, to be led down the good & kind path, as we had when we were children.

Yoginimeisje

Outrages; what about the children celebrating Easter as we have always done in this Christian country! Will read the posts tomorrow, but something should be done. The Easter bonnet parade is part of our English tradition, a very pleasant happy thing to do. Is the head teacher English/British/Christian, I wonder?

Easter bonnet parades were never part of my culture growing up as a Christian in England. We would be encouraged to give up some thing for Lent and the money we didn't spend was for charity. We would take it to the Cathedral and the Bishop would bless us as we lined up to put our offering in the collection. We would do our Easter duties, Confession and Holy Communion and we'd stay up till way after midnight at the Easter Vigil. Not a bonnet in sight.

A wiser Headteacher would not have banned Easter celebrations. She is extremely inexperience, not one term into the job and is doing the wrong thing for what she firmly believes are the right reasons.
She is thinking she is showing respect to people of other faiths who do not wish to celebrate other faiths, but she is simply reinforcing the prejudices of certain other faiths who are not prepared to tolerate any display of a faith other than their own, in case it influences their children.
It did not used to be like this; ethnic minorities participated happily in religious plays, their parents saying, we deal with their religious teaching at home, they are happy to understand other religions.

Wyllow3 Tue 25-Mar-25 10:04:49
There is a real paucity of information.
We don't have the information to know why she made this specific move after discussing it.
We dont know for example what and how other religious festivals or teaching in religion will be carried out or not as the letter said.

Well said.
People are getting on their high horses about this without anywhere enough information.

If it's a multi cultural school then I think they should either celebrate all religions or none at all and my preference would be to celebrate all to encourage children to have a better understanding of the world around them.
As for the Easter bonnet parade, surely that's just a bit of fun for all to take part in, as far as I'm aware there's no religious background to this

I agree with this ! Best reply on this thread !!

Easter is the most important date in the Christian calendar. All children in this country, being educated in our schools, irrespective of whether its a church school, should be educated as to what it is about. I am sure Ramadan, Eidd, Passover, Hannakah, Diwalli etc are all taught. Will they be off school on Good Friday and Easter holidays? Why? Surely this woke nonsense has gone too far. Our culture and foundations are being lost. I hope the feast is celebrated and taught and the head and governors reflect. Christianity is the most inclusive of all religions demonstrating love, forgiveness and compassion. The head is being exclusive anti-Christian IMO

Sheian57

Easter is the most important date in the Christian calendar. All children in this country, being educated in our schools, irrespective of whether its a church school, should be educated as to what it is about. I am sure Ramadan, Eidd, Passover, Hannakah, Diwalli etc are all taught. Will they be off school on Good Friday and Easter holidays? Why? Surely this woke nonsense has gone too far. Our culture and foundations are being lost. I hope the feast is celebrated and taught and the head and governors reflect. Christianity is the most inclusive of all religions demonstrating love, forgiveness and compassion. The head is being exclusive anti-Christian IMO

What, because an Easter bonnet event is cancelled? As said repeatedly, we have not got the information as to the path the school will take to respecting and information on religions.

My daughter in law is a primary school teacher. There are no white children in this school at all. So no Christians I'm guessing.

She loves teaching these children. But they celebrate Christmas, Easter, Ramadan, yom kippur and probably more.

No parents have complained about celebrating Christmas and Easter and learning about other faiths. Hopefully all schools will evolve like this.

I've read that this head had to leave her school with the aid of the police yesterday lunchtime. No idea if that's true or not but they've been inundated with phone calls/emails/ texts etc etc.

In today's world we need to think. With social media the way it is there is a massive pile on and it becomes an horrendous ordeal for the people concerned.

Maybe it was inadvisable to send this letter out. Sure, cancel the wretched bonnet competition.

But let's try and evolve into educating without upsetting too many people. This has grown legs now. I wouldn't be surprised if she resigns, which would be a shame

Thank you rulaIt's educative to see which MSM papers are carrying this news with a "shock horror headline".

Only a segment, the others have refrained as its at best half a story and taking it further involves unsubstantiated allegations.

Now followed up by the usual suspects crying "woke!" " our society destroyed". They are responsible for making this into a pile on, as you say having to involved the police and so on. No doubt threats.

Oh dear!! I thought her national religion of our country was Christian. For the last 78 years I have been under a false impression apparently. I think all religions are welcome in our country but on the understanding that this is our national religion and as such should be respected. I would take my kids out of that school. Does she believe in the ten commandments or is it okay to kill and steal etc.......What a creep.

This school is local to us.
Posted on local FB by a parent and supported by many others

Good one, jaxjacky. I hope it will feature now in MSM.

There are no white children in this school at all. So no Christians I'm guessing.

That's rather an assumption.

A colleague many years ago was Indian and a practising Roman Catholic.
Some of my family are from the Caribbean and are Roman Catholic, another is Anglican.

Jaxjacky

This school is local to us.
Posted on local FB by a parent and supported by many others

👏 👏

Wong

Oh dear!! I thought her national religion of our country was Christian. For the last 78 years I have been under a false impression apparently. I think all religions are welcome in our country but on the understanding that this is our national religion and as such should be respected. I would take my kids out of that school. Does she believe in the ten commandments or is it okay to kill and steal etc.......What a creep.

? 😕

Allira

^There are no white children in this school at all. So no Christians I'm guessing.^

That's rather an assumption.

A colleague many years ago was Indian and a practising Roman Catholic.
Some of my family are from the Caribbean and are Roman Catholic, another is Anglican.

Well it wasn't really an assumption. Just going on what my daughter in law has said.

But it matters not. Most of these children would not celebrate Christmas or Easter, they would celebrate Ramadan etc

But this school has managed to teach their pupils about all religions and their celebrations which is surely a good thing