Separation of church and state??? Yikes!!

Age 15 was when my granddaughter, a new Christian, left public school for a Christian school. She had been in public school all of her life. Some did say she was running away from problems in public schools where she could witness, but the difference for her was tremendous. Teachers in the public school could not relate to the discriminatory harrassment she faced, as well as the unbiblical cirriculum. Two families in our church intend to home school through high school.

You have my prayers, but no solution. It's a very personal decision each family must face.

 

It's one thing to show the religious practices of other cultures, it's quite another to promote participating in them.

Write everyone you can think of, starting with the teacher. One letter copied to teacher, principal, superintendent (don't forget the assistant super in charge of your particular school if there is one) and school board members. Keep your letter strictly professional and keep your emotions out of it! Document your views with your opinion of actual law on religion in the classroom. These can usually be found on the internet. Make sure you include that your child's grades are not to suffer because of her refusal to participate in something that is clearly against her religious views (especially if this is a required class for graduation).

I'd keep my child home on the grounds of religious freedom at least during that class period. Being sent out of the room is to much like punishment and will draw to much (unwanted) attention to your daughter. While we waited for that class to end, we'd spend some time with a milk shake and some prayers for her classmates who's parent obviously don't know what is going on.

Don't be surprised if you are told that "no one has ever complained". They probably haven't. 90% of what is wrong in our schools is parents who don't have a clue as to what is really going on inside the school doors.

 

I agree that with this recommendation. Religious freedom includes not being forced to participate in religious rituals opposed to your religion.

I wholly support learning about religions in comparative religion class and even observing others practice their religion. But participation should be entirely voluntary and a good teacher would find out the religous backgrounds of the kids and inform their parents of potential activities.

It sounds like it was voluntary but being in the room is also participation of some religious acts and that should be voluntary as well. An alternative may be to have students who do not wish to participate or be in the room to perform research on a certain ritual and write about it.

 

Don't forget the resources at ACLJ

 

As long as the state and in particular the Federal gov't are involved in education directly violating the spirit of the establishment clause... it will always be a matter of whose ox gets gored.

I would assert that the disclusion of any religious matter is every bit as bad as what was described above. Ignoring God is no more noble than denying Him or His character. Reading the average history text you'd never know how greatly Christians influenced the shape of our laws and culture.