by: puggy - 12-08-10 17:14
Hi,
I've just completed a level 3 qualification in early years and am about to embark on my career. However, I am a christian and believe my beliefs are very important to me. I have alot to offer, especially to the area of learning relating to differences in religiouse beliefs. Do you think that I could offer something different to the childrens learning and development or will I encounter prejudice as a result?
by: me
only if you insist on sharing your fantasies with the children and parents. What i want staff to offer is good knowledge of child development, and the eyfs, who is able to plan and deliver experiences which support their needs. a clear understanding of personal choice and respect for the parents and their parenting styles. i do not want or need an expert in fantasy. i do believe there are some nurseries which peddle this sort of teaching maybe you could look to them for support in your quest foe employment.
by: raramoo
@me, I think your view on puggy's religion is prejudiced in itself. Why should a christian religion be referred to as some sort of fantasy??
There are indeed some early years settings that follow the beliefs of individual religions and some of these are highly sought settings as parents believe that religion will help to develop the moral education of children.
An employee and colleague has as much freedom to follow a religion as you have freedom not to follow but by no means should you be dismissing it as a fantasy. What kind of example is this setting to children you are caring for if you dismiss personal choice.
by: allie
Absolutley raramoo!!
@ me, As a christian I am deeply offended by you statement. As a professional in early years that is a bad attitude to take!
by: Rose
I agree with 'me'. While any good early years setting is going to be giving the children the opportunity to explore all religions, I would have serious doubts about employing someone who thought they could offer a certain belief over any other but I would employ anyone who could show they had a firm understanding of the EYFS, child development, safeguarding and warm practical nature. To those people who are religious, you are quite welcome to your ideas, but 'me' and I should be equally able to say we think its a fantasy, so long as it doesnt affect what we offer in our settings.
by: allie
Of course, you are entitled to your opinions. And of course the the qualities you mention above are vital for any early years professional working with children. However, to label someones religous belief as a "Fanatsy" is offending at quite a personal level. I would now be interested in hearing how do people support the multi-faith staff with their beliefs or even the children in the setting?
by: Mel
I dont think there would be any prejudice because of any religion. As you will get your job because of your abilities to do it knowledge of EYFS how well you work with children and although your beliefs do affect the person you are it's important to remember in our job we introduce the children to the fact that their are many different beliefs in our society while respecting home religions it's not about forcing your beliefs on to the children.
by: Tiggy
Don't teach children religion. Teach them ABOUT religion.
I'm very anti-religion but have no problems in telling children what some people believe.
by: junks
I agree with the second post. You are someone working with children in the early years. I do not believe there is any place for religion at this stage. If parents want to take their children to church or chapel that's their choice.
Puggy - you need to leave your religious views at home. You are going to work.
I run an agnostic preschool where we don't celebrate or practice any religion but we do teach children about other faiths. As junks has said, it is up to parents to teach their children about their chosen religion, not us. How inclusive a practitioner are you going to be if you want to teach one religion only? Unless you are ina faith school (anyone see the documentary last week??) I think there is little room for such narrow teaching.
by: Karine
Being bought up within a faith school from pre-school till secondary I think their can be room for faith schools. Being within a faith school does not always mean that they are so narrow minded that they will not be inclusive of others. Mine were fantastic, and although bought up a catholic, I have grown into a well rounded individual and have much praise for faith schools. we did not sit their all day droning on about god etc., we had a really good balanced curriculum, as do most faith schools.
Also it has not effected me as an adult, I feel well adjusted and balanced as a person which has enabled me within my current role to work with children and adults. I ensure Inclusive practice is upheld 100% and will offer children and adults a balanced view of all faiths and cultures. Not just my own.
It is those that are afraid of religion and faith, that often condemn the practice and sometimes belittle others beliefs. So should we not practice what we preach and allow inclusivity? If you take it all away, then are we being inclusive and following equality and diversity. People have a choice in this country.
Children can be given information and as adults they can then choose to follow or not. My sister also bought up in a faith school has chosen not to continue with her own children - but again she had the choice to do this. One child now 23 has just started to look into her grandparents beliefs, and is thinking about becoming a catholic. Her brother will not as he does not believe.
The problem is that in this country we allow and celebrate all other cultures and religions, yet we are gradually allowing other cultures and faiths to dominate the christian faith.
In this country we have schools for many to include Christian based faith schools, Schools for the Jewish faith, Muslim faith We have schools that do not celebrate any particular faith - do we really want to take away what this country is always harping on about - freedom of expression and to celebrate our own faiths as an individual or as a group of people wishing to attend a particular school that offers it?
by: Karine
Also forgot to add Puggy - you said that
" I have alot to offer, especially to the area of learning relating to differences in religiouse beliefs"
It is great that you can offer this expertise, but for the pre-school age group ensure it is well balanced and that all faiths and religious beliefs are given equal concern and approached in a fun and informative way for children to learn about how others within our society practice their faith - as well as your own.
Remember that as others have said your practice should be based around the EYFS and the emphasis is really on individual needs. So look at the individual child, what are the parents faith, does the child talk about a particular faith that the family practices, if so then this could lead you into undertaking planning for the child or perhaps a group of children. But religion in any form at this stage should not be dominant over and above the emphasis within the EYFS which is for adults to enable the environment for the children it cares for - this means planning for play based on childrens interests. If a child talks about attending a wedding, this would be an opportunity to look at different kinds of weddings as well as the one attended.
EYFS is great - its inclusive and at some point a child may share the same interest as your religion, it is then that your expertise will come into play to help support the childs needs and individual interest.
by: curly
I'm with Karine. The fact that you are asking whether you will encounter prejudice indicates you are already aware that others do not share your beliefs and may not want to hear them.
Being sensitive and considerate to others who have different views and beliefs was central to the teaching of Jesus (good samaritan for example) however teaching and showing qualities such as kindness, joy and love to children is universally acceptable to all beliefs.
by: whmon
Actually Curly, kindness, joy and love to children is not central to all beliefs. This reminds me of the time an ofsted inspector tried to quizz me on our policies regarding cultural matters. As an Anthropologist who happens to own a nursery, her questions were laughable. This led me to believe that ofsted had very scanty knowledge in cultural issues and so probably has very scanty knowledge in other fields too.
by: curly
I didn't say it was 'central to all beliefs'. I said it was 'acceptable' -I have yet to meet a parent who would object to their child being cared for by someone displaying those qualities.
by: dawn p
To all of you who were rude and dismissive to Puggy; claiming that you would not hire this person in your nursery; I wouldnt hire you in my nursery as I would be very worried about the way you would interact with parents and children when they shared their beliefs and experiences with you.
You all mentioned how important the EYFS was but all seemed to ignore that in positive relationships you should be respectful to others and behave in a way to others which demonstrates to the children how you would like them to behave.
Puggy; Good luck with your job search, I agree with Karine and Curly 100% and i dont think you would want to work for or with 'me' anyway, i know i wouldnt. Not everybody in the industry is so closed minded. And im an atheist by the way.
by: Rose
Sorry dawn p, I cant see the post(s) you are refering to. I certainly didnt say I wouldnt hire someone with a religious belief, merely that I would have doubts about hiring someone who could offer one religion over another. I also fail to see how we were rude. We have opinions. A pre-school is no place to promote a religion, its a place to celebrate all religions and cultures and ways of life and family backgrounds. You give me someone who is caring, fun, forward thinking, creative, hard working, adaptable and enthusiastic and I 'll take them on. If they have a religion, thats fine, just dont promote it to young children (or me for that matter), as Junks said, thats the parents job.
by: curly
'A pre-school is no place to promote a religion'
There are loads of faith pre-schools - Cof E, Baptist, Catholic, Muslim - serving the needs of the families they provide for. So there are lot of people who don't agree with you on that one Rose.
by: Rose
I would hope they are following the EYFS though and allowing the children the opportunity to look a range of religions and festivals. Its the promoting of a particular religion over any other I object to.
RE: RE: will I encounter lots of prejudice? - 20-09-10 14:11by: curly
Hi Rose,
I have never worked in a faith school/nursery so I wouldn't know. (From memory I think) EYFS says you have to do celebrations but it doesn't say which ones. So faith pre-schools can just do their own and still follow EYFS.
As regards promoting one religion over another, the National Curriculum already allows for christainity to take prominance in state schools as it sees Britian as a Christian country so the government doesn't agree with you there either.
I'm not saying it's right or wrong I'm just saying that is how it is.
by: mickey
e mail the pope he is in town amen
by: whmon
Sorry Curly, I didn't mean to comment 'cental to all beliefs' I meant to comment on your 'universaly acceptable to all beliefs' which it isn't of course.
by: curly
Hi Whmon,
So who objects to their children being shown and taught kindness, etc by their nurserynurse/childminder/key worker, etc??
Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, goodness, kindness, mildness, self-control - against such things there is no law.