Feedback
Dear **********,
Many thanks for bringing this to my attention. Although the LEA, in
common with most others, is no longer able to employ subject advisers
(I still exist but in a different role - which raises an issue about
the Northumberland website being out of date!) I still have an advisory
role on the local SACRE. That is the body responsible for establishing
an Agreed Syllabus for RE and supporting schools in its implementation.
They would be the appropriate body to take a view on this matter. I
will forward your email to the Chair with a recommendation that they
look into the issue.
Can I thank you again for bringing this to our attention.
Mel Rockett
Dear
**********
I assume you got my contact details from the website for the
Association of RE Advisers, Inspectors and Consultants? We as an
organisation have no policy on this and it has not been raised as an
issue within the organisation by any of the members. We do not have
any role in issuing advice to schools as an organisation - all our
members work as individuals in different local authorities or dioceses
or as independent consultants.
However I can tell you that in Cambridgeshire, my own LEA, the
issue was raised by some parents, and was discussed at two SACRE
meetings. After lengthy consideration, which included writing to the
organisers of Operation Christmas Child, it was decided that
Cambridgeshire SACRE should write to schools (last term) informing them
that concerns had been expressed and attaching a copy of the
correspondence with OCC. SACRE put together a small pack of
information which washas been offered to schools who wished to consider
the matter further. Twenty-five schools have requested this
information, but I have no idea what impact if any it has had on their
decision to support/withdraw support from the charity this year.
I think you were right to pursue the issue through your local
SACRE. If you've had no response, why not try again - or write to your
director of education? As far as your own children's school is
concerned, have you tried raising the matter through your school's
parent governor? Another forum might be the National Association of
School Governors - I'm not really sure how this works as an
organisation, but it might be worth investigating.
I don't know whether this will be of any help, but you might be glad to know you are not alone in your concerns.
With all good wishes,
Sarah Smalley
Dr. Sarah Smalley
General Adviser, RE and SACRE,
HPDC,
Lawrence Court,
Princes Street,
Huntingdon PE29 3PP.
Replies from the General Public
"My
Mum and some of her work friends (a lot of whom are Muslims) do this
every year and would be horrified to know what is going on. Thank you
for letting us all know."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"My
daughter's school is doing boxes this year for Operation Christmas
Child. At first I thought 'lovely idea' but upon reading the leaflet
carefully I saw that religious messages are part of the package, so I
will not be making any boxes up, but donating money to a secular
charity instead, one that is only interested in simple giving, NOT with
strings attached. Speaking as a thinking atheist, who has never once
suggested to anyone else that they really should be an atheist too
because it is the only 'right ' way to think, I cannot see what
business it is of anyone to push their own belief/superstition onto
another person, ESPECIALLY when that person is young and vulnerable.
Seems like the ultimate arrogance to me."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Mine
was done last week so it is too late to change my mind. It is still
good that children with nothing get gifts but Smaritans Purse have the
right to take things out of the boxes if they wish (to make room for
the bible perhaps??). Next year I will be making a donation to the Red
Cross or Oxfam instead as I know there is no ulterior motive. What
bothered me too was the £96 million profit Samaritans Purse makes!"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Just
been reading the concerns on the latter part of this thread. I would
like to call myself a Christian but am not the sort who goes about
shoving my beliefs into other peoples' faces. I strongly believe that
you can be a witness, or whatever you call it, just by being you &
by what you say, by what you do, your morals etc.
I'm not at all happy with this "Samaritan's Purse" thing - I think
these children need to witness care and love in the world and they
would by just knowing that somebody has given them something very
precious when they have virtually nothing.
I'm going to find out who the school are doing it through this
year. Some of our boxes go to Belarus, to the victims of the Chernobyl
disaster(yes, there's still plenty of victims), through a private
organisation and they just give. The lady who runs it is a treasure and
she makes far more an impression on me than somebody doing over-the-top
evangalising.
That's fine if people want to be there and choose to be there but
not in this situation which is supposed to be about giving to children
who have nothing - showing love and care."
From OXFAM
(who had a poster and leaflets for Operation Christmas Child in a local shop):
I
understand the following reply was sent by Oxfam's Media Unit:
The Samaritan's Purse is a charity that Oxfam has no national links with.
Oxfam shop teams are encouraged to participate in activities relevant to
their own communities, and the Morpeth Oxfam shop's support of the appeal
was a decision taken locally by the shop manager to provide a facility for
the people of Morpeth to drop off their boxes.
This is not a scheme that Oxfam GB has ever been involved in within the
wider context.
Oxfam offers a number of ways for people to help others at Christmas.
These include buying Christmas cards and gifts in Oxfam shops, donating
money and purchasing gifts with a difference through the Oxfam Unwrapped
catalogue.
As I mentioned earlier as to whether or not the Oxfam Morpeth Shop
participates in this scheme next year will be reviewed by the Area Manager
and the Shop Manager at a later date in view of the information that has
come to light.
With best wishes.
Maureen Clark
Shop Support Team
Trading Division
A later email from OXFAM:
Thank you for your email enquiring as to whether the Oxfam shop in
Morpeth will be participating as a collection point for Operation
Christmas Child.
After investigation by Senior Management earlier this year, it was
agreed with the manager of the Oxfam shop in Morpeth that Oxfam should
not act as a collection point for Operation Christmas Child.
Thank you for making contact again bringing this issue to our attention and I am sorry you were not informed of this earlier.
With best wishes
Maureen Clark
Shop Support Team
Trading Division