My eldest son just turned three and the time came to find a nursery. The closest one that is not attached to a church or a church school is a 40 minute walk away, but at least I found one I’m really happy with. It’s all learning through fun, with lots of outdoor play and no letter from your local priest required to gain entry. So why is it that in the standard paperwork they ask what religion my child is?
And if there are any other religions festivals he celebrates? And any religious dietry requirements? And anything else I’d like to mention about his religious needs? Half a page of A4 for me to ensure that the staff are fully equipped to deal with my tot’s complex, spiritual and individual needs
The EYFS (compulsory guidelines for all UK early years care providers) requires that all nurseries must respect the Equality Act 2010.
All sounds great? Equality for the kids too yeah?
All workers in this sector have to show that they respect every child’s religion. It’s not enough just to be a decent, tolerant person and not discriminate against preschoolers. You have to show now that you are allowing the child to express their religious identity and encourage their cultural practices.
- What about my child’s right to go through life without being judged on his parent’s beliefs?
- What about his right to go to go to any local preschool without needing to take part in worship or proving his parent’s commitment to a religion to gain a place?
- Why is time being taken away from the many other learning objectives these staff members have to worry about when this stuff could be taken care of by the parents at home?
- What about his right, and the right of all his future peers, to not give a hoot about what their parents believe about an afterlife and just get on with being kids?
I want my son to be educated, always at an age appropriate level, about the fact that people hold many different beliefs and they have the right to do so.
I want him eventually to understand the historical and cultural impact religion has had in shaping the society we live in.
I’m cool with him being in a nativity if emphasis is placed on the fact that this is a traditional story that some people believe and not taught as fact.
However, I’m not cool with being given the power by my government to decide what religion my child is. I can decide to label him as having some pretty hardcore beliefs, about whatever the hell I like, and in case they offend me the government will make sure these beliefs are incorporated into his education. (But they clarify that humanism is a philosophy rather than a religion, meaning that discriminating against the right to be taught their is no invisible spiritual leader is completely fine and dandy.)
Some of this I wanted to write on the form, or tell the manager in a mini rant as I handed back the papers. But I know it’s not her fault. It’s not the nursery – it is the higher powers in the education sector and the government forcing them to cover all bases. (Plus I don’t want my kid to be known as the one with a “difficult mother”).
I filled out the form as follows:
What religion is your child? As far as we know he is undecided.
I know in reality he’s most likely going to have a great time in this nursery and he’d probably have just as good a time in a Catholic nursery. It doesn’t really matter, but at the same time it does. This is step one where we put our kids into these categories. Step two is where we separate them out and keep them with their own kind and tell them what to believe.
Just let the kids play in the dirt together and enjoy learning about the world around them people. Toddlers don’t care about this stuff!