Parent fury at anti-Christmas talk in school

Dec 15 2008 by Ben Turner, Liverpool Echo
Republished from: www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

A SCHOOL has come under fire for allowing Jehovah’s Witnesses to tell pupils why they choose not to celebrate Christmas. But today leaders at Kirkby’s Westvale primary said the talk was just part of its commitment to promote tolerance among all faiths, which is clearly stated to parents in its official brochure.

The row surrounds a 30-minute religious education lesson at the Melverley Road school.On Wednesday, parents were invited in to discuss why they were Jehovah’s Witnesses and what their faith entails.This included the fact the religion does not celebrate Christmas – believing it and Easter are based on, or largely influenced by, paganism.

The school hoped the visit would mean students would be more understanding as to why the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ children were “being excused from coming in for Christmas nativity”. However, the fact parents at the 250-pupil school were not asked for formal consent prior to the talk has sparked anger.

One man whose eight-year-old daughter attends the school said: “How can it be that pupils who are Jehovah’s Witnesses can be excused from lessons, yet the first thing I knew about this talk is when my daughter came home? “We should have been consulted. I am livid and would not have allowed my child to take part. To say I’m furious with the school is an understatement.”But headteacher Gillian Holland said the talk was the latest in a number by visitors of different faiths as part of a government expectation that schools tackle community cohesion.

The school brochure made it clear RE lessons would explore all faiths and parents could make use of its “open door” policy to raise concerns. “We are a Christian school but have a duty to promote tolerance and understanding of other faiths. “We encourage parents of all faiths to come in all the time. “They are accompanied by teachers and teaching assistants and will just talk about their traditions and what it is based on. “When pupils see their children not coming in for Christmas nativity they have more of an understanding why.”