Atheist Mom Bans Her Kids From Visiting Churches And Mosques On School Trips

When it comes to educating kids religiously, laws in Britain differ greatly from those in America as there is no official split in the United Kingdom between church and state.

That being the case, most British children who attend Church of England or Anglican schools receive a good amount of religious-based instruction, and that includes field trips to places of worship like churches, mosques, and synagogues.

However, one British mom, self-confessed atheist Claire Baker from Middleton in the UK put a stop to her kids being indoctrinated religiously and had banned them from attending school field trips to places of worship.

Thirty-two-year-old Baker said she doesn’t want religion forced on either her son or daughter during their school day and would prefer that 12-year-old Kate and 8-year-old Benn learn about first aid instead of going on religiously-based field trips.

Due to her views, Baker is now considering taking her kids out of religious education lessons at their schools, namely the Elmwood Primary School in Middleton and Middleton Technology College.

Baker spoke to reporters about her views, telling them, “From a young age I’ve always been an atheist. I chose non-religious schools for my children on purpose so they can make their own minds up when they’re older if they want to practice a religion. I don’t think RE should be on the curriculum – it should be replaced with First Aid, which is more useful in life.”

The Atheist mom added, “I was shocked to receive a letter for a school trip to a mosque, church and synagogue. I absented my child and have been debating for the best part of a year whether to take my children out of RE lessons. I respect that people choose to christen their children but I would also like them to respect that I have no interest in religion.”

However, despite her opinions, law in the UK means that all students need to stick to a curriculum which “promotes spiritual, moral, and cultural development.”

As such, parents are entitled to remove their children from religious education lessons, as per government guidelines, “The use of the right to withdraw should be at the instigation of parents (or pupils themselves if they are aged 18 or over), and it should be made clear whether it is from the whole of the subject or specific parts of it. No reasons need be given.”

[Image credit: mirror.co.uk]