What do you think about religious education at public school?

Question

Not to start a war here, just hear me out. Christmas and Easter holidays are called Winter and Spring celebrations and have been for several years. There is nothing about Jesus or anything religious about a 'holiday' celebration at public elementary school. I am totally cool with that because I don't think the school has any business educating my children on any religion. As a parent, that is my job 100%. The issue I have is that they DO try and educate in a matter of a week, my child on the "main" religious activities of the holiday season. I happen to be christian/baptist btw. My kids always come home singing Kwanzaa, Hanukah songs etc. Especially my son in 1st grade-I feel like HOW DARE YOU teach my kid these things? He is way to young to get persepctive of other religions right now. Perfect example is that he told me he wants to be jewish and celebrate hanukah because they get to open presents every day instead of waiting for Christmas morning. It makes me so mad. (cont)

when my kids come home from AMERICAN PUBLIC SCHOOL talking about which religion they want to be now because it sounds cooler. What business do they have teaching my kids anything about it? They are in school for math, science, reading, etc. Leave the moral issues with the parents, people!!!! What do you guys think?

No, they should not be able to explain to my 6yr old anything about religion. Our kids get out 4 times a year for 2 weeks at a time. Christmas break is the winter break just like all the other season breaks.

It would certainly be nice if it was another child talking about their religion, but unfortunately it was the teacher. She explained to me that it was a class discussion where one thing led to another and ended up being directed by the kids, hence going straight to the presents.

Answer 1

This is exactly why, as a Wiccan, I get so irritated when some people want to put school-led prayer back into school. I don't have any problem with students praying quietly to themselves in a few minutes of "quiet time" allotted by the school, but for people to say that schools should be leading prayer is ridiculous. I don't have children yet, but when I do, I don't want them coming home worried that I'm going to hell because they've been taught in public school that Wiccans believe in the devil. Religious teaching is the job of the parents, and it's nice to see someone who realizes that. Too many parents out there are lazy and want to be their children's friends and not their parents.

)O(

Answer 2

I understand your frustration, but I also don't think a 1st grader is too young to learn that there are other cultures, religions, beliefs, celebrations out there. While it may be hard for you to find a time to bring these things up, you were given the perfect opportunity. Children won't stop talking to each other at school, so I like to use these opportunities to teach my children more about it. You could simply explain that although many Jewish people celebrate Hanukah and open a gift every day, it is similar to Christmas, in that the gifts are really supposed to be small tokens to remember the miracle of the oil. There are some good books about every holiday and they are geared toward a child's interest level.
Also, use these moments to reinforce the love that you have for Christ and Christmas day to celebrate his birth and life.
When my son was in 4th grade, his class had a "multi-cultural" celebration. I don't think that anyone had a problem with it. They were able to learn about Kwanza, Hanakah, and Christmas, both secular and religious (student-led...the students decided what they wanted to share with the class). I think learning about these diverse cultures at a young age allows our children to be more accepting of other kids' backgrounds, while still being proud of their own.

Answer 3

I think you raise a valid point, especially if Kwanzaa and/or Hanukkah is being promoted over Christian observance. However, a couple observations:

1) Should school be boring? How can the schools not be boring during the holidays if no reference to the season is allowed?

2) Let us pretend that what is really happening in the school is a balanced presentation of the various religious traditions: Does you child not have at least some right to his judgment as to the relative "coolness" of competing religious observances?

In other countries (India comes to mind), they are objecting to Christian proselytizing causing an "unfair" advantage.

There is a competition among ideas; and one playground is the United States.

Answer 4

Dear Brother,

You should be glad that your kids are exposed to various other cultures around the world and how does it matter even if they pick up some songs about "Kwanzaa, Hanukah " etc. ?

In fact that's the right opportunity to tell your kids about your own religious faith and all that, as after all I am sure small kids will listen and follow you and motivated by you very easily. For small kids parents are their role model.

I should say be a follower of your own religion and expose the kids accordingly. They will be just fine as mostly kids follow the footsteps of their parents till they grow up and become independent and at that point of time they might differ your
opinion.

I hope that helps,

Hari Bol.

Answer 5

In a way, I find this conversion to seasonal holidays instead of Christmas, Easter, et al amusing because it's very pagan, and I'll bet the folks who insist on using seasonal terms don't even know that.

The other part of me is annoyed at the sanitization of calling it Winter Break instead of Christmas Break.

As for teaching religion in public schools--I don't mind that at all, if it's an elective. and I don't mind having my children exposed to other religious beliefs--because those beliefs are out there. I'd rather that my children be accepting of, say, Jewish people's customs rather than hostile toward them.

When my nephews were in elementary school, they were introduced to the concept of Kwanzaa. They went home and asked my sister-in-law why their family didn't celebrate Kwanzaa. She told them, "Because we are Christians, and we celebrate Christmas."

Answer 6

The goal of teaching about religions in school is not to educate children on "moral issues"

It is to make sure that they grow up respecting other cultures, knowing a little about the world around them...

"HOW DARE YOU teach my kid these things"?

Why? To try and ensure that Americans don't grow up as ignorant, hateful people... Religion is a major driving force in the world. Oh and if your son wants to convert to Judaism just because he gets more presents, you shouldn't be worried...

Answer 7

Now you know how atheists feel about it. How dare anyone force belief on our children at such an impressionable age. Doesn't that say something to you? Why would you feel the need to teach your child your belief while they are impressionable and unable to think critically for themselves?

Has it occurred to you that maybe it wasn't the school that taught them about Hanukkah? It could have been one of their friends. Besides, ask any Jew, Christmas is way better than Hanukkah because the gifts they get are very practical and not much fun.

Answer 8

I think classes should be offered in high schools (if they aren't already) to teach people of the history and basis of some of the world's religions in order to better understand each other.
As far as an elementary school giving a quick crash course, I think that could do more harm than good.

And I can't believe someone actually just posted a Dr. Dino link. Incredible!

Answer 9

I think it is imperative for schools to educate children on the different world religions. Our own government (assuming you're American) started a war in a theocratic country whose religion they knew nothing about, and look where that landed us. Public schools most certainly should not be endorsing any religion, rather saying "this is what these folks believe, and these is what these other folks believe." However, I bet the fundies will throw a fit. "HOW DARE YOU LET MY CHILD KNOW THERE ARE OTHER BELIEFS OUT THERE!"

Answer 10

Well in general I agree that schools should stay out of the religious business.

But it sounds like all they got was a little sociology there that just told them the basics of other cultures. That is a lot different from pushing the religion on them. The fact that the face of it appealed to your son is only a little funny. I mean he is in first grade, the presents sounded cool. Big deal. You aren't going to be able to keep him totally ignorant of the fact that there are other cultures out there forever.