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Sentinel readers have had a mixed reaction after it emerged some parents are refusing to allow their children to visit mosques on school trips.

Although families have the right to withdraw pupils from visits of places of worship, schools in Staffordshire have been issued with guidance about religious education trips.

Some parents who are refusing to allow their children to visit mosques have cited costs as being the reason while others say they are concerned about safety or a ‘political agenda.’

Now Sentinel readers have taken to Facebook to voice their opinions.

Carol Slight said: “RE in schools now focuses on all religions. Giving children experiences of other religions can only lead to better understanding of each other. That has to be a good thing.”

Dean Thomas shares the same views: “There is so many people totally missing the point,” he wrote. “School visits to churches, mosques, synagogues etc are not about forcing religion on people, it’s about learning about other religions.

“I went on school trips like this when I was a kid, and I often visit churches and stuff when I’m on holiday, yet I am an atheist. I just find it interesting.”

Following parents’ refusal to allow their children to visit the mosques, Staffordshire’s Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE) produced a document to help schools tackle the sensitive topic. It includes a template letter to parents, outlining the value of helping pupils understand different cultures and faiths.

The document states: “While objections are raised about visits to a number of places of worship, they are most frequently about visits to mosques, which raises the bigger issue of Islamaphobia and how this can be addressed.”

poll loading Would you stop your child from visiting a mosque on a school trip? 1000+ VOTES SO FAR Yes, definitely No, not at all

It adds: "Visits to sacred spaces bring the agreed syllabus to life and underpin the role of RE in helping to prepare and equip pupils for life and citizenship in today's diverse and plural Britain."

However, not everyone agrees with the document and have shown their backing to those parents not allowing their children on the visits.

Writing on Facebook, Lynne Smith says she doesn’t think religion has a place within the school curriculum.

She said: “As long as there are also trips to places of worship of other religions too, but usually it’s just the mosque and children are expected to pray or even dress as if they were Muslim for this purpose. Would Muslims go to pray in the churches of other religions?

“Personally I think religion has no place within the school curriculum.”

Sarah Morrell said: “I am sure if the situation was the other was around there may be a few who would say that they don't want those children going into a church.

“They are too young to make decisions like whether to go to a mosque a church or anything so I don't think it should be put before them.

“It's bound to cause some upset and wonder who makes these trips available. Whatever happened to a good old fashioned trip to the zoo or park that can't be looked at as controversial.



“Sometimes I wonder if these things are deliberately set up to cause a reaction. I respect other people's religions and going into a mosque is a sacred thing to millions of people just the same as Christianity is to millions of people but I don't think it should be done at school.

“This is not freedom of choice.”