Question for Pagan parents?

Question

Do your children openly wear pentagrams or other Pagan religious symbols to school? Does your school's dress code ban "occult symbols," and have your children gotten in trouble for wearing them? What did you do about it?

No, actually I am Pagan, and openly so. My betrothed and I are talking about having children, which we want to raise Pagan (they can make up their own minds when they're old enough, but I see nothing wrong with teaching your religion to your child). I just wanted to see if other Pagan parents had any trouble from the school system.

Keltasia, the correct term for the symbol of the five pointed star is in fact Pentagram. A pentacle is a ritual tool that consists of a disk of wood, wax, metal, ceramic, or stone, with a sacred symbol engraved upon it -- often a Pentagram, but not always. The Pentagram represents the five elements of Earth, Air, Water, Fire, and Spirit. The pentacle is a very specific ritual tool -- in most Wiccan rituals it represents the element Earth, although in Ceremonial Magick it can represent particular planetary energies as well. So, if you're wearing it as a necklace, drawing it on paper, etc., it's a pentagram. It's only a pentacle when it's a disk on your altar top.

Answer 1

So far I haven't had much problem with my children wearing pentograms. However, the few symbols that we have are subtle, because I was raised Christian and am new to Paganism. I just haven't had the time to collect symbols of my new belief.
However, it has always been my belief that religious symbols are protected 'speech'. As long as the symbol is not otherwise inappropriate, it's OK. By "otherwise inappropriate", I think it would be inappropriate for a Muslim child to wear a t-shirt proclaiming the Sept 11th attacks as a 'victory for the faith". I don't think it would be OK for a Christian child to wear someting that suggests those of other faiths will "burn in hell". Those things are not symbols of faith, they are inflamatory speech.
My kids' school dress code does indeed ban "inappropriate symbols, such as the swastika". Makes me wonder. I guess we'll see when the time comes, 'cause I have no problem causing a ruckus over my rights, and those of my child. I hope I'll never have to.

Answer 2

I am rasing my children in the Heathen tradition. Obviously they will go where they are called but I see no reason they wouldn't be called to either the Heathen or Celtic gods as that's our heritage. BUT I digress lol
She doesn't wear symbols. Not to school. Honestly even if she did, no one would know. Most pagans don't know what the hell Mjolnir looks like, I doubt a southern Christian does. The pent isn't used in my path so no big deal.
Now take into mind my oldest is five years old. She doesn't have a firm grasp on the abstract, her mind just isn't grown up enough yet. Why send her into a den of wolves with no armor?? There is no reason for her to be confirming her faith with symbols or the like until she does understand it. When that times comes, we'll talk about jewlery. It will be up to her whether she wants to wear it or not. She's the one that has to face those people every day, not me. If she chooses that battle then I support her. If not, I understand.
I worry about her honestly. She's surrounded by pagans and atheist. Not a single Christian in the group. Not my sister or her husband (Also Asatru) or my mother who's theistic buddhist. She gets a little confused at the Texas Pledge and the Girl Scout promise. She always asks me "But WHICH god mommy?" I admit that I'm somewhat at a loss on what to tell her. LOL. She's five for Frigga's sake.
I suppose what I'm telling you is raising kids on a pagan path is hard. If only because others don't understand. But our kids are growing up in a more tolerant world as well. It comes down to what you personally want to do.
In Frith!
Daughter

Answer 3

Blessings,

My significant other and I have 4 children ages 8, 9, 15, 17 - I was raised pagan and he chose his path in 1990. All of our children are pagan as well. They wear whatever they want, they do each own pentacle pendants and wear them by choice wherever we go. I have ran into only 2 issues in 12 years of child rearing - once when my 17 yr old was in 4th grade she was called into the counselors office and questioned about being a witch and what sort of stuff did we do at home in ritual etc. (she opted to carry a book on goddess's for free reading that day) which lead to the conference - I was livid - and the school knew as soon as I found out, and let them know that they were in violation of my religious rights as well as my childs and placed a business card on the counselors desk and let her know that any further contact with any member in my home regarding religion would be done through a lawyer... needless to say she backed off. the following year my children were home schoolers for various reasons - when my eldest was to enter 9th grade i placed her back in the public school system - with no problems regarding religion. My son I placed into 7th grd public school system - ( as we moved to a small country farm town) and I felt the schools were much warmer and accomading in class size etc. - My son war a Godsmack Tshirt that had a cauldron with a pentagram on it and 3 voodoo dolls across the top - on several occasions ~ on one account a teacher asked him to turn his shirt inside out that it was offensive to him. My son did so ... after coming home and telling me - I didnt feel like I needed to educate this paticular teacher/incident. I feel that our children no matter the religion should be taught to have pride and faith in whats right and good, in time they will learn through example when to let things go and when to fight for them. In case yo are wondering about the youngest 2 - they attend virtual academy @ home which is public school (www.k12.com or www.txva.org)- @ some point they will enter the classic brick and mortar schools if they so choose so - did I mention the fact that we also own an occult shoppe? Pretty much none of them experience any issues and the eldest 2 now know how to address it - if need be.

Answer 4

It's tricky to find books to explain paganism, due to the diversity of beliefs. I have found some books at the Theosophical society. If you have one of those in your town, you may have some luck. Amazon has quite a stock too. So far, the only book I've been happy with was a library book called "What do Pagans believe?" It's part of a series of most religions. It is probably a little old for your kids, but they should be ok if you read it to them.

Answer 5

I have a Forn Sidr (heathen) friend who lives in a predominately Sikh neighborhood (in Canada). Most of the Sikh children carry a kirpan knife in school. Some of them have threatened my friend's daughters with the kirpans.

She went to the school and said that if the Sikh children can carry the kirpan, her children will carry 14-inch scramasax knives as a religious expression. She quoted Hovamal 38:

Away from his arms in the open field
A man should fare not a foot;
For never he knows when the need for a spear
Shall arise on the distant road.

It's a little weird at that school with all the kids wearing knives, but nobody starts anything. Maybe the old saying is right:

An armed society is a polite society.

Answer 6

My thought and my feeling on your children wearing the symbol to school is to say no.

I revere the symbol. I am answering from my personal experiences with “the public”. I walk a spiritual path, and I have been challenged by many people, even members of my own family, as to whom I am, as to what I am, and what I “believe”. My answers to these questions are complicated, yet they would also depend upon the questioner. In most instances I choose not to answer at all. Personally my fervent thought and deep feeling is that if I am not abusing anyone, and I am hurting no one; then, why is it anyone’s business.“Do what thou will, yet (but) do no harm.”

It is different for children and with children, the play groups of children, school groups, and the social worlds of a child. Children wish to fit in, and be accepted in a peer group. I taught my children to keep our practices confidential, and as private and as an only at home thing. I taught them how the world at large misunderstands our way, and the intense emotions that surround our ways. I taught them these things without shame, guilt, and hate; just as I taught them about “good” touch, and “bad” touch. My youngest is eighteen years old now. They know our ways and have embraced and rejected what they each will for themselves, as we all do, without having the burden and problem of a public face for our ways when they were children.

Again without any shame, guilt, and or hate there was no outward show of our teachings and training for the children, when they were children.

I wear a 3 inch solid silver anhk (spelling ?) on a silver chain around my neck, and have done so for the past thirty plus years. The public takes violent exception to my wearing this necklace. People seem to think that I may unknowingly be endangering my soul. It does not happen as much in New Jersey where I am originally from, as it does in the 15 years I have spent here in the Bible Belt of Georgia. Yet it happens. People walk up to me, and ask me do I know what the symbol means, and why I wear it. It is not all negative, but even those that “know” make the demand. I cannot imagine what I would do about this, and how I would respond to it if I were a child, and getting this kind of unwelcome attention. My calm very knowing in-depth response to the questions gets two basic reactions the “oh you are one of those” reaction, and the “oh you are one of us” reaction. I do not find either reaction “helpful”. I wear the symbol for my own cause, and I knowingly carry it well.

Answer 7

I know this doesn't answer your question, but I found your question so well put and interesting, I had to say something! Nice to see that you're a fellow Pagan that believes teaching the children your religion is a good thing. Just because your "open-minded" doesn't mean you can't teach your kids what you believe and then let them choose what they want to study/worship when they're older. It was also nice to see you correct someone on a subject you're obviously knowledgeable about calmly yet firmly. Sounds like you'll make good parent material. Good luck!

Answer 8

I raise my children Pagan, but we don't really wear religious symbols. Just because we're not really into jewelry. My daughter has an ankh that she wears, but since we're Hellenic, it's hardly a religious symbol and I have a celtic knot ring that I wear, and likewise. She frequently draws designs on her body including Pagan designs. She's not allowed to get a tattoo till she's 18, so this is what she does. She has gotten in trouble for drawing on herself, but they didn't complain about the content, just what it was. I informed them that I bought her the pens, that they were safe and that I felt that at her age, she should have the right to express herself in these ways, since one day she'd be grown up and have to conform. She does have friends who where pentagrams, etc. (all of whom do not come from Pagan families, interestingly) and they don't get in trouble for it, but I do think they are watched a little more carefully. Of course, the crazy dyed hair and chains might have something to do with that too.

Her middle school banned all kinds of things, including hair styles, (and she once got in trouble for having a hairstyle that hung in her eyes. I asked her principal if she didn't think she was being a little uptight and gave her the leave conforming to the future speach) but there are no such bans at her High school. They just have to have their bellies, butts and shoulders covered and can't wear short skirts or spike heels. I think every school is different in this regard.

Unfortunately, my daughter is currently in a theatre troupe wjpse director is very Christian, he is a somewhat well known Christian musician in our area and he's the mandated adult sponsor of the Christian group at the school. She is very afraid that if he finds out she's Pagan he'll discriminate against her when it comes to handing out roles. He already shows preferential treatment toward his two children who are also in the program. She was considering trying to put together a Pagan group at the school and I had offered to be the adult sponsor, but she's abandoned that in favor of not making waves in theatre. It's kind of sad, really. What he would do if he knew, I don't really know. Alot of times we are as oppressed by our fear of being oppressed as anything else, I think. All that happened when my heavily Catholic work-place found out was that I became the go-to girl about all things lunar and Harry Potter. And I got to take Halloween off.

Answer 9

I'm a Pagan parent, Wiccan specifically. Neither of my children is old enough for public school yet, though they both attend preschool. My husband and I plan on including our children in our religion when they're old enough to be interested in it. Eventually I imagine one or both of them will want to wear a pentagram to school.
The best answer I ever heard for this question was to only allow your child to wear a pentagram when s/he can reasonably explain to another person what it actually means.

Best of luck!

Answer 10

Well.
(by the way, if I could give you points for knowing the genuine difference between a pentacle and a pentagram, I would.)

I don't think kids should be religious billboards. I didn't let my son wear any jewelry before High school.... religious or otherwise.