How do you feel about religion in schools?

Question

I personally think it should be offered to those who want it. I realize that not all people share my beliefs, but I grew up believing, and still do, that I am not to be ashamed of my beliefs and that I should be proud and not hide the fact that I am a Christian. I have raised my children to feel the same way, and have told them not to be embarrassed or scared to show their beliefs at school and if they ever get in trouble at school for it, I will defend them no matter what. I just think that for all those who feel that religion shouldn't be in schools, that there are just as many who feel that it should be. Why do those who are against it, get what they want, and we have to give up what we want? Why can't there be choices for the kids? Those who want a Christmas program that celebrates Jesus, instead of Santa Clause, have their own program at school on a different night from the others. I just think that if we have to give up what we want, the non-believers can give a little too.

Ok people, you aren't getting my point. I didn't say anything about impossing my religion on anyone. I am saying that if my child, or any other child want to pray, do a paper about Jesus, or have a Christmas play about the Nativity, then why shouldn't that be an option to them? Why do us Christians have to cower down to those who don't share our beliefs? You don't want it in the schools, so automatically you don't have to have it there. You got what you wanted, so when do we get what we want? Why cant they have separate things for different religions, that way no one has to feel that their child is having to hide their religion or that their child is having someones religion forced on them?

Answer 1

yea i believe they should put it back in all schools because that is what's wrong with our kids and why they do not listen to the teacher and the state wonder why our kids do not pay the teachers attention anymore because they took prayer out of school so now they are all on their on trying to make the kids do what's right without god you cannot do it all by yourself and that is a true fact that why every morning you should tell your child pray before you get on the bus or when you reach the school doors that is why we have alot going on in the schools mow with our kids.

Answer 2

The reason why I disapprove of religion in schools is simply that you can't represent every religion equally. Although it sounds like it would be plausible there's no way anyone could assure impartial treatment to all religions and their practitioners. The other reason I disapprove is I simply don't feel that it should be federally funded. I don't feel that we've reached a place in our society where the minority would still get the same treatment as the majority in funding or in anything else. You yourself seem to be a reasonable person and quite nice too but not everyone is like you. The other problem that can arise is that making a deal about religious preferences in school can bring up tension between students. Not everyone is as tolerant of others as people would like to think. Religion is not banned from schools also. There are classes on the bible as a literary text, christian literature classes at some schools, and student organized prayer groups. The only problem I have would be with school sanctioned prayers or prayer times. Some of us do not practice a specific religion and the chance for additional ostracism would be high.

PS~ To the woman upset about the gays tainting her children...in some states if a teacher even mentions the word homosexual they are either heavily punished or even fired. Trust me sugar, we're still second class citizens and aren't allowed near your precious babies.

Answer 3

Send your kid to religious school then. They have those ya know. Last I checked the "non-believers" school has not been built yet.

After school, you have the power to do whatever you want with your kids. Take them to church, send them to sunday school and worship your little heart out at home. Public school is not for religion.

Let the kids have a choice? I suppose in that case you would be fine if your kids decided to take a Wicca class? If you want religion in the schools then you have to allow all religions.

Why are you making this all about just YOUR beliefs. NO religion is allowed in school. Does that mean the muslims , the Jews and the buddists are "cowering" too?

You have made it very clear that you want YOUR religion is the schools only. You want what will suit you. Is that what your religion tells you to do?

"Why can't they have things for different religions" you said. Because it's a PUBLIC school.

Answer 4

If its a public school, no religion should not be a part of it. I do however think that whatever the religion may be the child should be able to wear, read what they want about religion in school. As long as the child is not pushing it on others. But no, things that would seperate the kids completely in school, such as different plays and such should not be done. Tensions may rise. Everyone in the school will want a night for their own religious play. That is why their are christian schools that people can send their children to if they specifically want it to be apart of their school life.

Answer 5

Religion has no place in public schools..

What religion would be taught?

There is a time and a place to teach your children about religion that time and place is not in school where your religious beliefs are not those of everyone... Keep religion in your home, your church, and your heart... not in schools...

Your religious belief in Jesus and Christianity is your belief, I will not say it is right or wrong.. I will however say it is not everyones belief... Teaching any religion in school would offend, embarrass and isolate some group..

There is a time and place for your children to participate in a holiday program celebrating your religious choice that time and place is at your church not at a public school...

Seperation of Church and State is in place to protect your religious beliefs as well as the religious beliefs of others... Suppose a choice was made to teach religion in schools and your relegion christianity was not chosen as the one to be taught... Would you agree with the decision?....

Think it through a little you don't want your child taught a different religion in school any more than no christian parents want thier children taught christianity in school...

*******

I see that you have extended your question....

A simple answwer to your extension is logistics... My daughter is in 4th grade and goes to a K-6 school in a very small town under 15,000... Within the community there are the following churches or religious groups represented..

Muslim
Mormon
Catholic
Jewish
Baptist
Jehoviah's Witness
Assembly of God
Southern Baptist
Menonite
Salvation Army
Presbyterian
Indian Gospel
and a few others..

Given your plan each religious group should be given a program through the school in which thier child can celebrate thier religious belief in tha manner they so choose.. That is 11 different school programs or play each with it's own seperate night all having to be overseen by school staff, all requirring school staff to clean up after the preformance, all requiring electricity etc. provided by the school all requiring additional insurance required by law for the evening of the preformance, all requiring teachers participation etc... It's a logistical nightmare, a huge money sink, and completely inappropriate for the school setting...

If you want your children to participate in a religion based Christmas program go to church with them, send them to a perocial school, etc ...

There is no way to please everyone... However the best way to please the most people is to keep religion in church where it belongs instead of in schools where it doesn't belong...

Answer 6

I don't think I would mind. As long as they are being taught about all different types of religions. As a Christian I know what I am teaching my kids at home and even I myself am interested in learning about other peoples beliefs. I don't think it would be pushing anything on anyone. My kids did a Christmas program on different countries celebrations and it was very education for not only them but myself. I have a friend who didn't want her child writing a letter to Santa in class and when she questioned the teacher she said what about the other kids. I don't think you have to ruin it for others but like you said give them an option. The teacher could have said you can either write to Santa or mommy or daddy and no one would have questioned that.

Answer 7

I don't think you realize how many different religions exist. It would be VERY funny to see a school try to accommodate everyone of them. Which is what would have to happen in order to implement what you are suggesting. You children are not forced to hide their religion. One of the reasons for keeping religion out of school is to try and prevent religious "clashes", if you will. I hope that you also realize that Satanism is a religion, would you want your child exposed to that everyday at school? I'm sure you wouldn't. This law is in place for a GOOD reason, it has NOTHING to do with discrimination. At my little sister's school, kids are allowed to wear shirts with crosses, but not black on black (black skirt and black shirt). The reason for that is because the school systems states that black on black is associated with satan. Basically, if my sister goes to school with all black, she is sent home label a devil worshiper. This is a fine example of school systems pushing too far. However, here in KY, we have what is called "Meet me at the Flag Pole". It is a prayer time set aside especially for Christians either before or after school. I think this is wonderful. If you feel so strongly about this, go to your school board and discuss implementing something like this. If not, then at least know that no one can stop your child from praying, ANYTIME they want to.

Answer 8

I'm a Christian and I beleive that if parents want their children to pray then they should find a school in their denomination. Christmas actually has NOTHING to do with Jesus, as it was NOT when Christ was born. History and science has already proven that Christ was born sometime in the late spring because Joseph and Mary (and the rest of their family) had to travel to Bethlehem which was where Joseph was from in order to be counted in the census and to pay taxes. The ONLY reason it is celebrated at the end of December is because the Pagan's celbrated the Winter Solstice and the Yule at that time and the Christians were trying to force Pagans to convert to Christianity. Santa Claus actually has MORE to do with this time of year than Christ so it IS more appropriate that the more Pagan ritual be celebrated rather than the Christian one. If you want religion in your schools then send your children to relgiously based schools.

Answer 9

Why should Christians get all of these special options?

What about the Bhuddists, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, etc? Why don't they get any special options? I'm sure that you wouldn't want your school to stop three times a day so the Muslims could pray.

There are too many religions to make an option for someone, and then there might be only one person of that religion in the school, and they would be doing that activity alone. It simply wouldn't be fair.

If you want your kids to do that stuff, send them to church.

Answer 10

There are all the legal problems with it in the public schools. And that is one of the reasons my kids attend private schools.

I was raised in Catholic Schools, send my kids to them, and now teach in one. To me faith is very important and I wish to expose my children to it. If they chose to reject it as adults there is nothing I can do. But I intend to make sure they get fully exposed to it.

Of course, there are other reasons I send my kids to Catholic schools having nothing to do with religion, but that is a major factor.

I do think there could be more in the schools than they now permit. But, it has gotten to the point where Santa Claus and Christmas Trees (neither of which is religious) are forbidden. I think that is too bad. But there is nothing I can do about it. With my own children there is something I can do.

Answer 11

Perhaps a class taught that explores all religions and stresses that the child has to abide by the religion of their parents until they are old enough to decide on their own. This class would teach acceptance and tolerance of all other religions so that when they grow up they are not so sensitive and scared of everyone else with different religions. Or they grow up not thinking everyone different is going to hell or whatever.