I'm wrong??

Question

I have a son of six, and yesterday he came home with homework of a religious background.

Now I'm too not bothered about my child being told about these storys in his education, but today i wen't into school to discuss this with them and what i find out was disgusting, they get the children to sing songs of a religious nature, whole wide world in my hands etc, they are also taught that these storys are true and real life events, I'm not a religious person and i do not want my child to be exposed to fairy tales storys and lead to believe that they did happen, was i wrong to go in to the school and express to them that i do not want my child educated in this manner and that it was for the church do to not a school, and if it continue's that i will be taking my child out of main stream education, this teacher told me i was wrong and would be depriving my child of the truth and education.

I'm wrong?

Answer 1

is your child enrolled in a childrens enrichment center? just wonderin cause i cant imagine a public school doin this....

but, im a christian, so i would have no problem with this... thats actually why i pay to send my child to a school that teaches truth... but my question to you is, why do you have a problem with this? what is it hurting your children by them learning that there is a greater love out there... and even if you dont believe its true, what possible negative could come from them thinking a greater being loves them? i mena, you dont believe in santa, do you?? how bout the easter bunny or tooth fairy?? but, im usre you have told them of at least one of those characters... and even tho they are known not to be real, what negative came from them believing in those characters?

and how is that any different than the school sytem trying to teach my child that evolution is fact, when i have taught them completely different?? evolution cant be proven, either.... but, in your eyes, i would guess that would be ok, right?

Answer 2

Public schools are forbidden to teach children religion of any type. They can teach history of certain peoples, how those people believe, but they cannot teach a child that certian things are truth or not. It is up to you as a parent to choose what faith your child should learn, not up to the school to impose upon your child their own beliefs.
If this is a private school then I would simply change his schools to one more appropriate to your thinking. Most private schools require some sort of religious education along with the basices that the educational system requires.
If it was a public school then you can report them to the Department of Education as violating the seperation of church and school laws.
A child should have something to believe in but I think it is the parents responsiblity to allow their child knowledge, not just of what the parents believe but of what others believe. This way the child can make the choice when they are grown as to what faith they will have if they have any.
You have every right to be upset if your child is being taught religiously in the school system, especially if this is against what you believe and you feel that it is being forced upon the child. Noone should teach the stories as hard truth, because in fact it is not. They are stories told by people over and over again through history and most of them are not supported by hard evidence as being total truth.
Even the Christian Bible is a suggestion as to how we should live, it cannot be taken literally and was not meant to be. Those that do take it literally are only confusing themselves and not seeing the big picture. Speak to the BOE, find out what they can do about it and get them to take care of it in a manner fitting the situation.

Answer 3

I'm not exactly sure what you are talking about. This (other than the song you mention) could come from a Christian who thinks evolution to be a religion.

You probably need to be a bit more clear as to what was being taught. If your child was being taught of Christ in a Public school, then you are certainly correct. If your problem was about evolution, then that is considered SCIENCE, and it is proper to do so in a school setting.

So, with vague details such as you gave, I cannot answer your question. Is this a religious school? Is it a secular one?

It is never wrong to be involved in your child's education; just remember not to substitute belief for fact and things will go well.

Answer 4

No, you are not wrong. School, unless it is a religious school, should NOT be teaching religion. At least not in this country (I'm presuming you're in the USA), where the state and the church are supposed to be separate. Your child's teacher is more or less violating your right to freedom of religion by trying to impose her beliefs on children in a non-religious school. If this truly bothers you, you have a right to go over her and demand that these teachings be removed from your child's classroom. You also have the right to transfer your child to another class/school.

Good luck.

Answer 5

If this is a public school then they should not be teaching that religious stories are true events. You'd be wrong to simply take your child out of the school. What you should do is fight the school so they stop teaching religion as fact.

Answer 6

The answer is simple.

You can't rely on school to be the sole source of your son's education.

I read to my son every single night; and often as not, he chooses one of his "Book of Knowledge" books for the evening's entertainment. He's only five years old; but he can tell you the basics of what evolution is, and how our solar system formed out of the exploding remains of an old star, and how gods and magic (even when re-branded as "miracles") are all just pretend.

Religion is a significant part of the general culture; and he's going to need to understand it eventually, if only for its historical importance. But you can teach your child about the legends and religions of many different cultures, so that he understands that none of them has a lock on what the "truth" is, and that it's more about the universality of man wanting to understand and control his world.

Answer 7

You have a right to educate your child in whatever way you choose but you can't get your child away from being educated about God no matter how hard you try. Just hand him a dollar bill and tell him to read it. I'm really sorry that you feel so strongly against his being educated about his creator. As a Christian, I'm obligated to tell you that you will be held accountable on judgment day for your decision of whether or not to teach your children of Him.

Answer 8

No, if your child is in a public school, you're not wrong. I would look for another school, though, rather than taking him out of main stream education. Most public school administration is smart enough not to allow that kind of thing to happen.

Answer 9

I think it's all part of education . Religion has no place in the schoolhouse , but it does sneak in . Explain to him what some people believe , and what others believe, explain the different religious beliefs . It's all part of education . But also explain the foolish superstitious , impossible aspects of religion .
The teacher was partly right and partly wrong . The education part is right , the "truth " part is right only to the holies .

Answer 10

Well then..Am I wrong ?

I don't want my child being exposed to secular humanistic Darwinist thinking, but the State forces my Child to go to school with truency laws and I cannot afford to send them to private Christian Schools nor can I afford the time to home school them.
I do not want my child to be exposed to fairy tales storys and psuedo secular fabricated science that will lead them to believe that they evolved from primordial ooze.
I do not want my child educated in this manner.
But I am told by people like you that I am wrong and would be depriving my child of the truth and education.

So..am I wrong