http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/8423265.stm

And we're back to the equality issue again... It seems like overreactions all round in this case

I wouldn't want a religious nutjob feeding my children that sort of [LIFTED] either.

Oh FFS, something over nothing.
Wait until Easter, some Christian will be sued because they bring hot cross buns to a sick neighbours house as a gesture of good will...

I know what you mean, I wouldn't want it for my kid either, but getting the woman sacked over it? That's what I meant by the overreactions bit...

Well that's the school's fault, but TBH I would have made it abundantly clear to both the teacher and the school that I don't want my child exposed to mumbo jumbo.

Does that mean that a christian parent should be able to get a teacher sacked for questioning a child's faith?

FWIW I think that the teacher was bang out of order - she was there as an pedagogue. If the family had wanted prayer they'd call a priest.

That's what I mean, the thorny issue of equality (or lack of it)... I just think more common sense should have been applied all round, and still could be

Amen to that.

Children are highly suggestible, and when it comes to religion and culture it's primarily the responsibility of the parents.

Teachers are often in loco parentis, but that should be limited to physical well being and education according to the prescribed curriculum.

On the other hand, if a nurse offered to pray for a sick old lady I wouldn't have a problem. Old lady probably knows her own mind already, and can tell her to "mind her own" if she so feels.

I'm suprised nobody has brought a case of psychological child abuse against any relgious parents, some of the stories in the "holy" books are too graphical and disgusting to be told to 3 and 4 year olds.

As for this case, I'd want my child as far away from her as possible, as I would want to keep them away from anybody I felt was delusional and was in a position to influence them.

Religion should be kept out of school. If I was a parent, I’d be wanting the atheist school.

ON a side note - when I was not too well about a decade ago, my dad told me that they were saying prayers for me at his school staff meetings. Players are said for those people for whom there is no hope. This spooked me, and actually made me worse not better. It}s a very damaging thing to do. I’d be livid if some teacher/nurse etc. did this for a member of my family.

I'm not religious, and it would not mean much to me to have a prayer offered.

However, from the point of view of the lady, she was making a kind gesture in an attempt to help. Whilst many might not think a prayer would help, her getting in trouble for a caring gesture is absolutely [LIFTED] ridiculous. If someone offered a prayer for my (as yet non-existent) child, I would not be offended. I would see it for what it was, a compassionate caring response.

Perhaps these days her best bet is to blend in with the other teachers and not give a flying [LIFTED] about anyone.

Would you suggest a minimum age for religion like there is for tobacco and alcohol?

about 5 minutes after death, then they will truley know if its for real.
If it is they will know which is the truest faith and if not well then there just spare parts and worm food

I agree

I am an atheist but if someone wants to say a prayer / dance naked around some standing stones in the belief that it will help then let them do it.

Now if the teacher had tried to stop them ( the parents or child) from getting doctors involved that would be something else but in this case it is OTT to sack them

The teacher was after all showing that she cared for the pupils under her care and that is something to be cherished

It depend who she offered it to.

If she spoke to the parents and offered it to them on behalf of their son then fair enough. I don't think it is right to say anything like this to a sick child for the same reasons JJ mentioned.

I wouldn't be offended by it but I'd feel let down that people in the world still believe in utter b*ll*cks like this.

TBH I'd feel sorry for her.