For those who are not Christian, How do you feel about children learning christian songs in public schools?

Question

This past year my kindergarden brother was taught "This little light of mine" and several other christian themed songs. Also a friend of mine was in chior in high school and was forced to sing Christian songs/hymms, or drop the class. Both of them are pagan, The school board did nothing in both cases saying that the teachers reserve the right to teach what they see fit.

I thought Public Schools were unable to teach/force religon.

I believe that If they want to teach christian music they should also teach other religious songs.

Thanks to all those who answered, I was not the one who brought it up to the school board, But I still think that if they teach Christian music they should include other religious music from around the world as well.

Answer 1

As an atheist and a musician, my stance on it is this. Religious music is some of the most important and beautiful music ever written. It is important from a musical and historical standpoint. I have no problem listening to or performing religious music. If we didn't allow school music classes to use any religion-themed music, then there would be an AWFUL lot the kids will be missing out on. Most choir pieces by Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, and the rest of the famous classical composers are religious pieces. Are we not going to teach our kids to sing Mozart? That would be a terrible shame. I have no problem with any school using religious music in a music class setting, as long as there isn't any kind of sermon about religion by the teacher to go along with it. Stick to the music for the sake of the music--don't preach. The school should also absolutely be open to using music from other religions. If they are going to REFUSE to use available and appropriate music from other religions, then they shouldn't be using Christian music, either.

Answer 2

I believe that religion should be left out of school.

But, that said, singing a song in choir is not necessarily forcing religion. It isn't so much a matter of being taught about the religion, so much as the words and the piece of music itself. (Oi, I hate playing Devil's advocate here) However, if they're going to teach Christian songs, you should also teach songs representing other religions.

Answer 3

i sang christian songs in elementary, and i absolutely loved it.
I do not feel that it will change the 8 or 9 year old mind about religion at all, to be honest i didn't even know that i was singing christian songs, i just enjoyed the music. I live in Canada and people who come from other countries who object the christian songs, should honestly suck it up because we live in Canada, where christian holidays are celebrated.
i am not a christian, but i do not think it is fair to Canadians and Citizens to miss out on such music and entertainment.

Answer 4

Religion should be kept out of public schools, and the schools/music teacher were wrong in this case. There are so many wonderful songs that young children can sing, I don't know why anyone would choose these particular songs.

Answer 5

Coming from another pagan, I completely understand your concern. I grew up singing those same songs in school. When I was in Middle and High school, they actually changed the words on a few songs from 'God' to 'He'. In the end, I only think it served to put even MORE emphasis on the 'God' part and made it look like those that were contesting it were some kind of "deranged, 'Devil-worshiping' ex-hippies". (I do think that was what I heard my choir teacher saying to another teacher.)
In the end, I think it is merely easier (and much less likely to cause a young student trauma) to make sure that the student-your brother, kids, ect.-know that it was written for the Christians for their belief, but there is no reason it can't carry the same meaning for ours. All you have to do is reiterate that the 'God' can be 'God' OR 'Goddess', 'He' OR 'She', and make them look at the song from our point of view. Christians "adopted" (stole) and changed most of our icons and holidays in the beginning to fit their own beliefs, 'adopting' and changing their songs won't kill anyone.
If your little ones are well grounded in our faith and ways it isn't going to be such a huge issue either. Yes, you are going to have to answer a lot of questions, but isn't that what here for? To answer their questions and try to help them understand the world as it is so that they can hopefully make a difference in it later?
Teachers and the school system in general can be pretty heavy handed on teen pagans in school. Two were expelled from my alma mater for not backing down when they thought they were being unfairly treated due to their religion. They took they school system to court and WON. But that was a case where there was a LOT more going on than just making them sing Christian themed songs.
Every school has a place to write down your child's religion when they are enrolled. This is where they put 'Christian' or 'Catholic' or 'Muslim' so that certain holidays and functions can be skipped because they are not something that religion celebrates. For example, a kid in my classes was pulled out of class every single year on Halloween because his family didn't think it was appropriate that the schools would let the children dress up in costumes and have mini parties in class. They didn't celebrate Halloween at home, and their son was D*mn sure not celebrating it in school. My point here is that you can put Pagan or Wiccan down in that spot and the school cannot say that they weren't told, or that you are being unneccasarily arbitrary because you come to them with your complaints. In the end it will actually help protect them as they get older growing up in a school where they are not 'officially' allowed to teach religion, but so many of them do.
Maybe, at some time in the future, we can get it changed so that schools actually give a fair number of slots to songs from other religions, not just Christian ones. Until then, carry on and be strong and open minded.

Answer 6

If this is in an American Public School.

Separation of Church and State.

It's what the Republic was founded on and should ALWAYS adhere to. If you want your child to sing hymns then teach them at home or your respective Church. Public school is for teaching children a basic education in the fields of Math, History, Science, Language, and Art plain and simple.

Good luck with that.

Answer 7

Well, actually, they do teach other religious songs, as well as other religious beliefs. But I have to say, I am surprised that they even had the kids singing even one christian song in a public school, with so many people being afraid to upset the few people that profess to be against chrstianity.

Answer 8

Jeez - relax. Our culture is filled with things that have a religious origin, but that aren't so religious anymore. It doesn't sound like the kindergarten was trying to "convert" your brother or anything. Choirs are of course going to sing hymns - that's mostly what choirs are for, and there are tons and tons of great hymns that are part of the popular choir culture. Again, it didn't sound like religion was being "taught". Do you feel like you are teaching religion when you hand some one a dollar bill that says "In God We Trust" on it? Probably not. It's just there, part of the culture, and no one pays much attention to it.

I say you are worried over nothing. You and your pagan buddies will be just fine. Honest.

Answer 9

The constitution enforces seperation of church and state, but that's only in government. However, I think schools should just teach songs not religous songs. If kids wanted to learn religous songs they'd go to a private Catholic school or a private Hebrew school, etc.

Answer 10

If you live in the U.S., you live in a country that is predominantly Christian. No matter how hard you try, you will not be able to shield your children from all Christian influence...it is a part of our culture.
To get this upset over a bit of music is going past honest concen about kids learning religion in school, and getting very close to crossing the line over into obsession.
Give it a rest, already!