Do Muslim kids visit churches as part of their education?

[SB_07]

Do you have to be a Moron to work for the Daily Mail?

Wait, don't answer that.

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

What l believe in, is that NO one should be forced to do something, they don't want to do, l have beliefs, but l would not force that one anyone else, I am Cof E and my wife and family are catholic, but if l went to my wifes church, l would not be forced to go into that church, therefore l belive the teacher involved in the problem with this child, should go and have his head tested, for common sense.

This was a visit to a Mosque, not a brain washing exercise, no-one was being 'forced' to believe in anything, just have a look round, the girls were asked to wear a scarf during the visit, it wasn't a big deal.

Education involves safe investigation of where the boundaries are, the teacher was guilty of nothing more than allowing the students to compare religions based on a real experience - the problem was not with the teacher, but with the parents seeking to prejudice that process.

- common sense & bigotry do not exist in the same place, Arthur ...

[rogerdraig]

Originally Posted by gazfan

This was a visit to a Mosque, not a brain washing exercise, no-one was being 'forced' to believe in anything, just have a look round, the girls were asked to wear a scarf during the visit, it wasn't a big deal.

Education involves safe investigation of where the boundaries are, the teacher was guilty of nothing more than allowing the students to compare religions based on a real experience - the problem was not with the teacher, but with the parents seeking to prejudice that process.

- common sense & bigotry do not exist in the same place, Arthur ...

you dont have to be either of those things not to want to do this or have your kids do it nor does that mean they wont know about other religions

my faith means that I or my kids wouldn't do any thing at another faith church that would be considered an act of worship so although i wouldnt consider putting on a scarf to break that rule others may

personally i don't think you can learn much about another religion from a short visit to their placer of worship in any case it is just being done to make it look like they are doing their bit at teaching about other faiths imho

they would gain far more knowledge reading about it and maybe getting a person from that religion to come and answer any questions that they might have about what they read in thier own school where they would feel less presure about breaking some taboo they hadnt learned about and more likely to ask searching questions that may not have been asked while trying not to upset the worshipers at the place of worship

Originally Posted by rogermevans

you dont have to be either of those things not to want to do this or have your kids do it nor does that mean they wont know about other religions

my faith means that I or my kids wouldn't do any thing at another faith church that would be considered an act of worship so although i wouldnt consider putting on a scarf to break that rule others may

personally i don't think you can learn much about another religion from a short visit to their placer of worship in any case it is just being done to make it look like they are doing their bit at teaching about other faiths imho

they would gain far more knowledge reading about it and maybe getting a person from that religion to come and answer any questions that they might have about what they read in thier own school where they would feel less presure about breaking some taboo they hadnt learned about and more likely to ask searching questions that may not have been asked while trying not to upset the worshipers at the place of worship

That argument could be used against any 'school trip' - personally I think being 'in the place' is superior to reading about it - I don't mean to appear to dismiss your opinion, but mine is that a visit constitutes 'reality' - reading about it is dependent on another persons' opinion - forming ones own is always preferable - in my opinion

We will have to agree to disagree, as I think a short visit to another place of worship can be 'educational' - however a 'follow up' with a representative from a particular religion, which you suggested, would be a good idea - but complementary to the initial visit, rather than replacing it

While i think the mother was completely overreacting i also think the school are at fault here as Xaccer's said no teachers at all left at the school so that this girl and any other's that had an objection to going on this trip could be put in one of the empty classrooms with some work. Labelling the girl a truant because they were unwilling to accomadate anything other then what they wanted is clearly not a good thing and makes a bit of a joke on the whole tolerence thing.

Not wishing to go to a mosque\church or any other religious building by the way does not automatically mean bigot it could mean non believer This is one of the reasons why i believe faith is something to be decided when your older rather then younger takes the ammo out of the people who claim the whole brain washing thing.

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by SB_07

Do you have to be a Moron to work for the Daily Mail?

Wait, don't answer that.

why? are you job hunting.

In answer to the thread header question - yes.

My son is in year 13 of High School, and amongst the members of his year are Christians, Sikhs, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, et al - throughout his stay at his high school, as part of Religious Education, there have been visits to RC, CofE, and Methodist churches (compare and contrast), Sikh and Hindu temples, Jewish Synagogues, Islamic Mosques, and even one to a humanist ceremony (baby naming).

However, the visits are not compulsory - parents can opt-out their children if they so wish (but not from the classes).

[Arthurgray50@blu]

Just to answer one question in regards to 'force the girl' comment, the girl was told, IF she didn't wear a scarf, and refused to go into the church, she would be classed as playing truant, and dealt with by the school, this is why l am saying, YOU SHOULD NOT BE FORCED INTO A RELGIOUS BUILDING, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO GO IN. now if that isn't being forced in, l don't know what is.

[Nugget]

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

Just to answer one question in regards to 'force the girl' comment, the girl was told, IF she didn't wear a scarf, and refused to go into the church, she would be classed as playing truant, and dealt with by the school, this is why l am saying, YOU SHOULD NOT BE FORCED INTO A RELGIOUS BUILDING, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO GO IN. now if that isn't being forced in, l don't know what is.

I'd suggest that poking them through the door with a big stick may well constitute 'forcing them in', but I'm fairly sure that that didn't happen...

[Flyboy]

Originally Posted by punky

If it is compulsory, then why the permission slip?

Because it is not compulsory; don't belive everything you read.

---------- Post added at 13:04 ---------- Previous post was at 12:52 ----------

Originally Posted by Maggy J

ALL school trips require parental permission.

Not all individual trips though, Maggy. When my children go to the local church, or to the village for a field trip, the school uses a general permission mandate that we complete at the beginning of each year.

---------- Post added at 13:14 ---------- Previous post was at 13:04 ----------

Originally Posted by rogermevans

mother over reacted school over reacted

But one can understand the school's motivation and reasoning.

---------- Post added at 13:15 ---------- Previous post was at 13:14 ----------

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

What l believe in, is that NO one should be forced to do something, they don't want to do, l have beliefs, but l would not force that one anyone else, I am Cof E and my wife and family are catholic, but if l went to my wifes church, l would not be forced to go into that church, therefore l belive the teacher involved in the problem with this child, should go and have his head tested, for common sense.

No one forced the child to do anything.

---------- Post added at 13:19 ---------- Previous post was at 13:15 ----------

Originally Posted by rogermevans

you dont have to be either of those things not to want to do this or have your kids do it nor does that mean they wont know about other religions

my faith means that I or my kids wouldn't do any thing at another faith church that would be considered an act of worship so although i wouldnt consider putting on a scarf to break that rule others may

personally i don't think you can learn much about another religion from a short visit to their placer of worship in any case it is just being done to make it look like they are doing their bit at teaching about other faiths imho

they would gain far more knowledge reading about it and maybe getting a person from that religion to come and answer any questions that they might have about what they read in thier own school where they would feel less presure about breaking some taboo they hadnt learned about and more likely to ask searching questions that may not have been asked while trying not to upset the worshipers at the place of worship

The point is the mother's reasoning behind her decision was that she didn't want her daughter to, "dress like a Muslim." Not that she was being expected to pray or worship as a Muslim.

imho, it should not have been compulsory.

However, the mother objected, saying

she did not want her daughter to 'dress as a Muslim'

by wearing a headscarf.

It would seem the mum had not been to Kafflik Church for a while, as every icon or statue of Mary, Mother of Jesus, has her wearing some sort of head covering.

[Flyboy]

But I don't think the trip was compulsory.

That is what the Mail reported.

[Flyboy]

Originally Posted by foreverwar

That is what the Mail reported.

Hmm...shouldn't that at least give one an indication of the veracity of the text?

Originally Posted by Flyboy

But I don't think the trip was compulsory.

i would say it was compulsory for that school as it was part of the curriculum