My son harrassed in school (middle school) for having a mother who is Wiccan...your thoughts?

Question

My son's faith does not have bearing to this question. Out of respect for his choices...no names or his faith choice will be open for discussion.

Wow, your thoughts are appreciated. One note of confusion...I do not advertise my faith or discuss it in any way to those I do not trust.

I did not name my son something like Moonbeam...there are two other boys who share the first name.

Answer 1

I am so sorry to hear this is happening. I worry about the same thing for when my children get older. All I can tell you is that they simply wanted an excuse to attack him and chose this as their ammunition. I'm sure that no matter your faith they would have found a reason to attack him. The only suggestion I can give you is to sit down with your son and see if he has any suggestions on how he would like to see this resolved. Of course he may at first come up with answers like "change your faith", but let him know this is not an option. Tell him that you are choosing to treat him like an adult and hoping that perhaps the two of you can come to some kind of solution to the problem. This way you get to know how he feels about the situation and give him back some control of a situation that is currently out of his control. Give him time to come up with solutions. His initial reaction will be emotional since he is dealing with some very painful experiences but perhaps in time he will come up with something or you can come up with something together.
I hope this helps, I will keep you in my thoughts and send positive energy your way.
Blessings.

Answer 2

I, as a christian, am sad to see that some of the responses think the children doing the harassing are christian. I have been harrassed for being christian, just as people of other faiths have been harrassed as well. The bottom line is that everyone faces this difficulty eventually in their lives. That is why it is so important that our individual faiths are our own. We have to know what we believe and why we believe that way. I'm sorry that he has to deal with this at such a young age. Kids can't be just kids for very long anymore! This phase of life is tough, but it's also where he starts to learn who he is and what he's made of. Let him know that it's not fair what those people are doing and help him find ways to deal with it and stand up for himself. Talking to him about how he feels and figuring out the right way to respond will help him if he faces this situation again.(which in this world, he will) Let this be an opportunity for him to learn how NOT to treat people. Also, you say that his faith has no bearing on this question, but I think it does. Has his interpretaion of what you believe had an effect on how it is percieved? How do the harrassers know what you believe in the first place?

As for the ones doing the harassing, get a school official involved. Everyone should be able to believe what they want without being harrassed for it. I do not agree with what you believe, but I believe that the ability to choose was God-given and I respect others' right to believe what they want. It's sad that even some adults don't get that mature.

Answer 3

I don't know exactly where you live or what the level of acceptance is for Wiccans, but spiritual freedom is a constituional right, and the Fundie boneheads have to accept that.

On the other hand, kids can be cruel and they tend to ignore constitutional rights. Also, middle school is a delicate age which requires a delicate balance by the parents about how much or now little to intercede in the child's situation at school.

I think that if the harassment is being directed at him from other kids, I would go to the parents of those kids and sit down calmly with them, explaining your beleifs in a peaceful and non-confrontational way. Tell them what is going on and ask them to intercede with their kids. This should probably only be done if your child is OK with it.

If that didnt work, I would ask the school counselor to intercede and talk to the kids, with you and them and everyone preent. Get the information out there and let the dust fly if necessary, but tell them bluntly that this behavior will not be tolerated by you or your child. Threats of law suits usually get results, and you are within your rights to have your child protected. Also, I would consider going to a local news station and seeing if they want to air the storoy, you might be surprised at how many closet Wiccans you will find out there on your side!

I hope it works out without going to law suits and such. My son just got out of middle school, I so so so understand!

Bright Blessings and good luck!
Lady Morgana )0(

Answer 4

If it's an ongoing thing, I'd have a word with your son's teacher. And encourage your son to report them to the teacher if it continues after a warning (any respectable teacher would give at least a verbal warning to the offenders).

It's best to keep the school informed and involved. And stay on them until you see some action to stop the harassment, and the issue is resolved completely.

Answer 5

I think you should contact the teacher---if the teacher doesn't help, go to the principal and the schoolboard. Bullying and harrassment in school has gotten a lot of press in recent years and most schools have a policy against it nowadays. Whether it is for religious beliefs, race, or just being different in some way, your school should put a stop to this. When our children were in school and one of them would be teased or harassed, it really hurt me to watch them go thru that. But we don't have to tolerate this behavior today, we can stop it, and I would! Blessings and strength to you and your son!

Answer 6

I have a friend who is Wiccan. They aren't evil. It's not an evil religion. He talks about some strange things but that's just to me and I have no problem with it because it doesn't affect how I see him as a person.

I wouldn't take much offense to it as long as he isn't getting phsyically bullied or until it becomes emotionally damaging. People, especially children, will treat people different ways if they have something different about them. It's about fear of the unknown.

Answer 7

My sons are grown now and weren't in school when I turned Wiccan but I was Quaker and it was treated much the same by ignorant Christians who didn't even know that Quakers are Christians too. My boys were harassed too. They got tough quick. It wasn't good bu t that is what happens. Other parents would come at them when they visited their friends telling then that we all were going to h** and crap like that. Your child is getting that old fashioned christian love is all. The same old story. I am so glad I got out of that.

Answer 8

Unfortunately things like that do happen, I remember my middle and high school smd I was harrassed at both of them for my beliefs. If he does have friends he should try to associate with those friends. Bullies don't attack groups normally and someone will stick up for him even if he doesn't for himself.

Also, see what the administration can do to stop this, if they won't then especially because of your religion, you can press charges for discrimination.

Answer 9

TAke your concerns first to the bopys teacher. If that gets you nowhere, then to the principle. If THAT gets you nowhere then directly to the Superintendent. Again if that gets you nowhere, take it to the school board BUT have an attorney WITH you when you do. They wil have to see that you mean business. It should end at that point, If not, your attorney wil direct you to the proper sourse of action.

Raji the Green Witch

Answer 10

Teach him how to verbally defend himself and explain why his faith (or yours) is not a bad thing and not something to be made fun of. Also make sure he talks to anyone who is in charge. This kind of harassment isn't allowed in schools.
I'm not Wiccan, but I'm Pagan. I know what it's like to be harassed for not being part of a mainstream religion. Good luck and blessed be!