Public school and religion?

So my DD1 who is 7 goes to a local public school, this school doesnt have a school chaplin or anything of the sort.

My issue is the fact is she had a relief teacher last week come in and this teacher decided to read them a story on Jesus and tell them that God is real and he created us (exact words for my DD and I KNOW she wouldn't have gotten this from anywhere else)

I personally do not believe in GOD and am not pleased that this teacher took it upon herself to say this.

I do believe that each to their own and that everyone should have a right of choice so my DD can chose to believe in GOD if she wishes but I don't like that she was told that he exists not that its a belief of people he may exist IYKWIM.

I chose to send DD to a public school because of the non religious aspect to it and I think that the teacher crossed the line.

I intend on speaking to the principle about my feelings in this matter but kind of want to know if you think Im over reacting?

No personal experience but I don't think you're overreacting. Unfortunately, various state governments have caved on the religious instruction in public schools by allowing undertrained volunteers in to preach to kids as part of RE. However, it should ONLY be in RE, which I think is half an hour a week. There were a few posts about this topic recently inlcuding the fact one organisation has pretty much been given a monopoly on this.

Definately complain to the principal. Religious instruction belongs in churches/temples etc or at home, not in secular schools.

I know where I live, unless the school is of another faith, children should be given Christian (Anglican) teaching at least once a week, usually in the form of prayers in school assembly. It's one of the most flouted laws, admittedly, but it is the law. The last school I worked at had full Anglican services, including communion, weekly. The school before that had a voluntarily (and poorly) attended annual Christmas service in the local Church.

I'd certainly wish to speak with the principal about the teaching: if it is not your belief and the school is not specifically a faith school and this has never happened before, it needs addressing. TBH, even as a Christian I'd wonder what was going on in the school and who was teaching my child what exactly. I have issue with a few interpretations of the Bible that go on. I don't think you're overreacting at all: you put your child into a situation with a trust your religious views would be respected and another view not being presented as truth.

Maybe it should be, maybe it shouldn't - check out what is the law for your state before seeing the principal.

Religion is not on our school sylibus at all, it was one of the reasons I chose the school.

Its a state school. Only private schools have RE classes and from everything I have read I thought that with a state school if religion was to be taught a opt out would be given and parents would be informed of it.

DD is in year 1 so has been t the school for over two years and religion has never been mentioned before.

Def. complain then. So long as the school has no legal obligation to teach Anglicanism, as our state schools do, then there's no reason for this to happen and every reason for it to not.

I'd be talking to the principle, but if the relief teacher has left there may be little s/he can do about it. I have rather strong opinions on RE in the public sector, private school yep sure go ahead, but it should not go into public schools as parents may not be of a particular faith or have opposing views to those being taught.

could write more about people "teaching" these things in in Public Schools that have no RE at all but won't other than to say I would be really really annoyed too

I would speak to the principal about this.. I would be asking if the class teacher has left this book to be read to their class in the teachers absence. I would be asking the principal if this is a new casual teacher and if they are aware of the schools syllabus in regards to RE.

Definitely agree with voicing your concerns.

Here in Vic there are major issues with the current legislation and specific religious instruction in schools. We are having a few issues at our own school.

I'd speak to someone about it!

I spoke to the principal this morning and voiced my concerns.
She said that my feelings were very valid as religion is def not a part of the schools teaching and she will be having a word with the relief teacher.



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Good, I'm pleased it has worked out well for you.

Glad it's worked out.

In Victoria, RE is an opt-out class rather than opt-in. I only found this out when a Jewish friend of mine said that her daughter attended the RE classes (Christian teachings) until they worked out that it was opt-out!

I personally don't mind, but I'm sure a lot of people would.

We have to sign a form at the beginning of each year to say whether or not we want our kids to do RE.

definately a conflict of interest

relief teacher might be religious themselves, but that doesn't give them the right to inflict their own views, on the students at a public school. That relief teacher might be better ONLY teaching in faith based, private schools, if they are incapable of following public school syllabus and protocol.

good on you for speaking to the principal Beatrix.

has your DD brought it up again? or forgotten about it?

My DD started school this yr and attends a catholic school.... Obviously religion is a big part of her schooling with many prayers throughout the day and she has a whole school book that is for religion education. How much of religion they learn each day/ week I have no idea but I wouldn't expect anything less. For the public schools around here I know there is an opt out option.... But they still make you sit in the class, just don't make you do the work sheets etc. Sorta defeats the purpose of opting out.

You are not overreacting. I would be ropeable if somebody dared teach my child something like that, without my permission or prior knowledge.

I'm glad it was sorted out :)

Glad you spoke up. Same thing happened to me as a kid, my science teacher tried to teach us creationism in our biology class.. err..

My mum bounced the principal for it (she is a teacher herself) and the teacher was slammed big time for it as she was full time staff. She stopped teaching not long after that.

I'm all for to each their own, but I really don't think its right to force your views whatever they are on other peoples children.