GOD in Schools?

Question

Would you be upset if a teacher told your child they couldn't sing their song in the school talent show because is was a gospel song. If so why?

Thanks for all the comments even the semi-ignorant ones.But I was asking this question for a school assignment. Plus I was just angry to see that a 2nd grade child that was obviosly faith based, was denied a constitutional right. He wanted to sing the gospel song for a talent show.(which is not mandatory for others to attend and he wasn't told to sing it by anyone.)Its just the song he had on his heart and wanted sing but couldn't. I don't care what religion you are you should have the freedom to express yourself wherever. As long as it doesn't hurt anyone.

Also I wouldn't cosider that bringing reliong into a school unless the school board made it law or something. Is just crazy to me

Answer 1

Yes I would be upset if my child were required to sing songs of praise to Jesus. Songs about God would not be offensive.

After all the misery Christians have caused for Jews over the centuries, why do you continue to impose your religion on our children?
.

Answer 2

Even though I'm an atheist, yes, I'd be upset if I was in this situation.

School talent shows are for display of INDIVIDUAL talent. So long as the song didn't have a title like "Hey Jews and Gays, You're Gonna Burn!" or something else that directly insults people, or has props that cause dangerous pyrotechnics or a huge mess, then I don't see what the problem would be.

On the other hand, if the school was getting the whole class to do a play on the birth of Jesus, and additionally using school time to practice it, then I'd have a problem. Again, it's the idea of an individual practice of religion versus a class-wide sponsorship of a specific religious practice. I don't care that my tax dollars go towards the schooling of students who are coincidentally Christian or any other faith, so long as any religion practiced in the school is done so on an INDIVIDUAL basis. A performance at a talent show, even if it's with a group of 3 or 4 kids, is still a performance on an individual level to me.

Answer 3

Do schools really do that? I don't know how I would feel. I'm agnostic-atheist so I guess I wouldn't be mad that they couldn't sing their gospel song, but at the same time it does seem kind of unfair. Would Christians be mad though if a little atheist kid at the school talent show sang a song about atheism, or the devil, or wiccan? It cuts both ways and I think it's best to leave any sort of religious stuff at home because it's such a highly debated topic

Answer 4

I am an atheist, but I would not object to anyone singing a gospel or religious song, because gospel and religious songs have a place in history and are musically important. Think of all the beautiful music we would be missing out on if we refused to listen to religious music? "Amazing Grace", "Mozart's Requiem", etc. (The list goes on forever.) As long as it wasn't preceded or followed by a sermon of any sort, I wouldn't ban it. The school should just make sure to allow music from all cultures and religions, too. If they are teaching the music, they should include music from as many cultures and religions as possible into the curriculum, not just Christian music.

Answer 5

I would be. So what if it's a gospel song. Gospel songs are beautiful.

I was in the concert choir at my high school and we always sang gospels and our teacher just told the kids who did not want to sing it because it was religious to just la-la the passages that they were uncomfortable with.

I don't really think singing gospel has anything to do with God in schools. If you're singing it at a talent show, you're singing it for its musical value and not its religious value. Most importantly, even if it was sung for its religious value, singing gospel wouldn't mean an attempt to turn everyone Christian.

Answer 6

If I had a child they wouldn't be singing a gospel song in a talent show in the first place.

Keep god and religious trappings (prayer, hymns, symbols) out of schools.

Would you want a Muslim child to be singing a song praising Allah in a school talent show? No? Why not, what is the difference.

Answer 7

If the talent show policy was to allow the children to pick their own things to do then I say its unfair. I'm an atheist. I am against school sponsored pray but for individuals being allowed to pray in school of their own desire. I think the schools are not allowed to promote or advocate for any particular religious view point in order to keep an unbiased learning environment but that individual students have the rights of free speech.

I saw this documentary on the ACLU ( I know everyone thinks they are anti-religion) and how they took a school district to court on behalf of a girl who was told she couldn't put a bible quote in her yearbook. They won the case, the court ruled the girl had the right to her individual expression, the law just requires that the school be neutral, neither promoting nor being hostile to any particular belief of lack of belief. I think that is as it should be. So long as you would be okay as well with a Pagan child singing about Paganism or someone else child expressing their lack of belief in God in a poem.

Answer 8

Yes I would be upset because it is illegal not to allow her to sing a gospel song in a school talent show. All songs can be sung in a school talent show.

Answer 9

My children wouldn't choose to sing a gospel song. I'm an atheist.

If a teacher told YOUR child they couldn't, I would be disapointed. While schools can't/shouldn't lead school based religous songs, prayers, teachings, it is YOUR right to sing a religous song in a talent show.

Answer 10

Sometimes I feel like God should be in schools, but it doesn't matter where you are. If you believe, then GOD is there. I personally would not be offended if they said no or yes, because everyone is intitled to their own beliefs. Although I do feel that it's rediculous that people are not allowed to say what's on thier mind any longer.
What happened to freedom of speech? Personally I feel that if they want to sing a song of gospel song that they should be able to, because those are their rights to do and express themselves so long as they are not hurting anyone.
My personal opinion goes towards any subject though, even racism and Narcicism.. People should be able to express themselves. If you don't like something than don't listen, thats another right you have.
I think I'll send my future children to private school, personal choice again....

Answer 11

If a child is allowed to sing a gospel song I am sure other children could sing songs of their religions (or lack of) as well. Muslim songs, "There is no god" songs, Wiccan songs, Satanist songs are all ok, right?