Easter celebrations cancelled at Primary school

Presumably the significance of Easter bonnets, is that women used to like to have a new bonnet, or to trim an old one, for Easter, which was such a major festival when most people still went to church.

As for other faiths taking offence, we lived for 13 years in Middle Eastern, Muslim countries, where I was never at all aware of any offence. On the contrary, other faiths were respected, and the former Sultan Qaboos of Oman donated land for the construction of 3 churches - Catholic, Protestant, and Greek Orthodox.

I was teaching English to young (mostly male) adults at the time, and more than once one of them asked me whether I went to church. I would invariably fib and say that I did, otherwise they’d worry that I’d be destined for hell!

She’s probably already handed in her resignation, having decided the jobs not worth the hassle.
Leaving yet another school without a Head.

( You just can’t get anyone to apply nowadays- I wonder why)

Well, so far she has been a disaster; clearly unsuitable for the job.

I think that the issue is very fluid in schools and this current example is just that - an example. We don't know the specific discussions that led to this decision or the pressures at work locally.

Its tempting with these conflicts to go with "Schools should be totally secular" unless you choose to go to a religious school,

but I agree with GN's who say its good to have an idea of the different religions our society is made up of as well as the concept of there being a god(s) which isn't forced on anyone but is part of our lives be it worship or be it cultural.

It seems to me that the trouble lies with the difference between celebrating the different events in the religions and holding actual worship from a religion in a school.

We dont actually know how many primary schools still hold actual christian worship ceremonies.

I can say with certainly that my grandchildren primary school does not hold actual worship ceremonies and I doubt it's the only one.

Instead, they celebrate the festivals from different religions and obviously some idea of what they are for as suitable for primary schools.

At Eastleigh all we actually know was that the bonnets and an actual Easter service was cancelled but the head said in the letter that children would continue to be in a situation where diversity was celebrated.

In fact, she is adopting the situation that many schools like my GC are in have, which is not to have actual worship. As soon as you have worship situations you have those who would not attend whereas a celebration is for all.

So all the shock/horror/racist comments on this one decision really reflect on a situation at large

- ie some schools still presumably holding Christian worship ceremonies alongside celebrations from other cultures but not their religious ceremonies.

This is what could maybe be discussed in society at large than a pile in on Eastleigh school?

Witzend

Presumably the significance of Easter bonnets, is that women used to like to have a new bonnet, or to trim an old one, for Easter, which was such a major festival when most people still went to church.

As for other faiths taking offence, we lived for 13 years in Middle Eastern, Muslim countries, where I was never at all aware of any offence. On the contrary, other faiths were respected, and the former Sultan Qaboos of Oman donated land for the construction of 3 churches - Catholic, Protestant, and Greek Orthodox.

I was teaching English to young (mostly male) adults at the time, and more than once one of them asked me whether I went to church. I would invariably fib and say that I did, otherwise they’d worry that I’d be destined for hell!

My family are Irish, half Presbyterian from the North, half Catholic from the South. I was brought up Catholic. My Presbyterian granny thought if you hadn't got "Sunday best" you shouldn't go to church. My Catholic granny thought not having "Sunday best" was no excuse for missing Mass. I think she'd have said you might want an Easter bonnet but it is nothing to do with actually practicing your religion.

I wonder how many of the people who have abused the Head actually are practising Christians.

Do we actually know if this has anything to do with people taking offence? My children didn't have Easter bonnet parade at school but I do remember the Muslim children joining in with the Nativity play at Christmas with no one having an issue with it. I can't remember if we had any other religions in the school but if we did it didn't seem to be an issue for them either.

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.

I’m in total agreement with you, unless it’s a religious school and then that faith should be celebrated however they feel fit. Most Catholic schools get very good ofsted reports. I am not religious by the way.

I believe that unless it’s a religious school such as a Catholic school that no religion should be adhered to, religion causes more problems than it’s worth.

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.

There will be an Easter assembly, as there are others celebrating various events, the local church previously used cannot now accommodate the number of attendees expected.
There will be crafts associated with Easter, the heading of this thread is wrong, Easter has not been cancelled.
The media has a lot to answer for, a group called Disciples of Christ are planning a protest, the police are involved.
I feel sorry for the staff and the young children

group called Disciples of Christ

Jesus chose his disciples, they can't just appoint themselves.
I doubt he'd be keen on appointing any of them if they intimidate young children.
It's one of those extremist USA churches, isn't it?

The head has put out another letter to explain things which I think is backtracking.
The Easter service will still be held in school due to not being able to get enough staff to walk 400 children to the church
Children will still take part in making craft items celebrating Easter. Not word for word but just a summary of what I've read.
Comments online are still angry saying every other year they had no problems walking the children to the church.
Also the original letter said they would be looking at ways to celebrate Easter for next year .....
Terrible situation there with the head, staff and parents being abused and getting death threats, children afraid to go to school.
This head made a huge mistake doing this as many people support Christian beliefs or at least pretend to.
And due to the refugee boats controversy celebrating a refugee week in the same letter has added fuel to the flames.
This has stirred up racial tension to a new level imo

The head has put out another letter to explain things which I think is backtracking.

It sounds as if the school governors have had a chat with her. The fact remains it was a rather foolish thing to do. Instead of sending a letter saying what they were not doing it would have been better to send a letter to say what they were doing.

Let's hope it all settles down now,.

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 ?

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.

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?

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.

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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
🤔

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.

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.

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.