I am an atheist. I have two children at school. Now I believe that my children have the right to grow up and decide for themselves what they believe. If they follow a religious path, so be it.
But I am against my childrens school forcing my children to pray every morning assembly. This is not a strictly religious school. This is just a state school. The nearest one we have.
I asked the head mistress to excuse my girls from praying each morning in assembly. I was refused. Why? My children are five years old! Too young to decide which side of the fence they are on. I don't preach my atheism to my kids. So I don't appreciate the school preaching their faith to them. I want them to choose their own path.
I suppose my question is, was it wrong of me to ask them to excuse my children, or was it wrong of them to refuse my request?
2007-10-24 23:51:14 · 29 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Where in the world are you ??
I think you need to look at the laws relevant to where you live.
Many places its illegal But in some you have little choice
2007-10-24 23:58:14 · answer #1 · answered by silkin_storm 5 · 6⤊ 0⤋
In the United States it is strictly prohibited for a public school (a state-run school) to have religious services, rituals, prayers, or support any particular religion in any way.
It is the very first clause of the first paragraph in the first ten amendments to the Constitution ... the document, called the Bill of Rights, that defines what kinds of laws can and cannot be made. (I am rather apalled at the fact that there are some fellow Americans on here who advocate prayer in school ... demonstrating that they either have very little understanding or very little regard for our Constitution.)
However, it sounds like you are in the UK. (From your use of the phrase "state school" instead of what we call "public school" ... and "head mistress" instead of what we would call a "principal"). So you don't have a Constitution on your side.
So while in the US this is a clear cut case, and you are *Constitutionally* protected, this is a bit more murky in the UK. To a certain extent, the state has the right to control the curriculum of all students ... and if you are using the benefits of state-run schools, then you and your kids are subject to that curriculum.
Now if you are specifically *trying* to raise your kids as atheists, then you would probably have a stronger case to have the same rights to have them excused from prayers that contradict the spiritual beliefs of your family. But if you just letting them make up their minds ... then part of that process is actually being exposed to the things they are making their minds up about.
2007-10-25 10:01:24 · answer #2 · answered by secretsauce 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It was wrong of them to refuse your request, religion should not be forced on anyone. However it would help if I knew more where this was because I do not know where five year olds are allowed in public schools or where public schools have a headmistresses. This almost sounds like a private school and they have their own rules. I was in public school all the way from kindergarten through college and this matches with none of my experiences so I am curious.
2007-10-25 07:28:27 · answer #3 · answered by mrglass08 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
You are not in the wrong, the school is.
When I was at secondary school, I was given the cane because I refused to pray but several children from faiths other than Christianity were excused.
My children's school still thinks that religious exclusion means from other religions and not Christianity...they refer to it as the 'real' religion!
Stand by your ideas!!
Atheist.
2007-10-25 06:59:11 · answer #4 · answered by cananddo 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Take them to court!
We did over a christmas play that was VERY religious in nature and we won.
So will you.
Honestly the nerve of some people. Can't they see that this is brainwashing? And, in reality, no better than child abuse?
I wish you luck and hope that you sue the pants off the school board. Trust me, several hundred thousand dollars out of their coffers will teach them never to do that again!
2007-10-25 07:44:11 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Im an atheist, and I with "Super Atheist" on this one. Your postion, relative to the school is correct, but with respect to your children, is somewhat selfish.
Dont get me wrong, I realize Its hard to accept this crazy religious world we live in and the stupidity its pushes upon us, but at least your children have you! Most children go home to wacky religious parents who see no problem with "making them" part of some religious stripe.
Obviously, your setting them up for serious and potentially traumatic teasing and ostristation. Its a catch-22 ... I know...but err on the side of pragmatic conformity...for the time being.
2007-10-25 07:34:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
I have to ask what kind of school this is that you send them to. If you're paying tuition, you may have to put up with it. If not, and it's just a regular public school, call the ACLU. It is against the law. So no, you're not the wrong one here - you're the one wronged, in my opinion. Tell the head mistress (which is why I asked if you pay to send them there - that term is usually used for private schools) you'll sue her. Then see what happens.
2007-10-25 07:14:12 · answer #7 · answered by ReeRee 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
There were in the wrong. They are YOUR children, and since prayer/religious education is not part of the school curriculum (unless it magically changed overnight), then you have all the right to pull your children out of it.
It's a state school, after all, and thus it should have no religious affiliation (though, some state schools do, interestingly enough). And thus, they have no right to force your children into any religious practices.
2007-10-25 06:55:52 · answer #8 · answered by SSejychan 4 · 8⤊ 1⤋
It was wrong of them to force any child to pray, it is wrong even of a parent to force a child to pray.
In some places the school may be breaking the law by having school prayer.
2007-10-25 07:05:24 · answer #9 · answered by bestonnet_00 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
That school should not be having faculty lead prayer. The entire assembly should be shut down. If they want to hold that after or before school starts, fine, but the state should not be paying for religious ceremonies.
2007-10-25 06:57:43 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 0⤋
This is tricky situation. Technically it's illegal for them to hold prayer sessions during assembly so you could take that up with the school board.
Asking them to exclude your kids from something everyone else is doing is more likely to cause your kids to want to do it than anything.
2007-10-25 08:50:01 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋