Topic : 11/24 Great School Debate

Can someone explain this for me?  As  a Christian, I feel a lot of things are "wrong" or not Bilically based so I'm curious as to what someone else's view points are.  Also, another point I have-why can't you teach at home and use public school?  I never understood this.  True, at school my son is exposed to things he has questions about- things we do differently in our house.  However, our core value system is not disrupted or questioned no matter what he sees or hears at school.  I have never made a huge deal of anything but simply and calmly noted his observations and explained things.  Truthfully, there hasn't been much to explain really.  Truth be told, divorce is the hardest thing to explain to him - and that is everywhere not just school. 

 We must have a "'good" school with "good" kids- these labels bother me.  Almost as much as my son's preschool.  He has his end of year party yesterday and they were all asked what do we do before we eat and they said "Pray" and we couldn't...that kills me.  However, for those who think that's great I have news- instead of making religion obsolete it only makes it stronger.  All those people who really didn't make a big deal before will push harder now.  It's sad when something like 87% of the population believes in some type of "God" but we can't pray in school. 

Can someone explain this for me?  As  a Christian, I feel a lot of things are "wrong" or not Bilically based so I'm curious as to what someone else's view points are.  Also, another point I have-why can't you teach at home and use public school?  I never understood this.  True, at school my son is exposed to things he has questions about- things we do differently in our house.  However, our core value system is not disrupted or questioned no matter what he sees or hears at school.  I have never made a huge deal of anything but simply and calmly noted his observations and explained things.  Truthfully, there hasn't been much to explain really.  Truth be told, divorce is the hardest thing to explain to him - and that is everywhere not just school. 

 We must have a "'good" school with "good" kids- these labels bother me.  Almost as much as my son's preschool.  He has his end of year party yesterday and they were all asked what do we do before we eat and they said "Pray" and we couldn't...that kills me.  However, for those who think that's great I have news- instead of making religion obsolete it only makes it stronger.  All those people who really didn't make a big deal before will push harder now.  It's sad when something like 87% of the population believes in some type of "God" but we can't pray in school. 

I know your kids are still pretty young, but hopefully during the course of their public school education they will learn about the Constitution. They will understand where the phrase "separation of Church and State" comes from and why the Founding Fathers set up our government in such a way that a bully majority was limited in their ability to impose non-secular beliefs on the masses.

I know your kids are still pretty young, but hopefully during the course of their public school education they will learn about the Constitution. They will understand where the phrase "separation of Church and State" comes from and why the Founding Fathers set up our government in such a way that a bully majority was limited in their ability to impose non-secular beliefs on the masses.

I believe teacher led prayer should never happen in public school. It is public and must maintain religious neutrality.  But, children should be allowed to say a prayer  before their meal. (Or any other ritual they may prefer.)

I thought they had this right. Aren't the individual children allowed to say a prayer before their lunch?

I believe teacher led prayer should never happen in public school. It is public and must maintain religious neutrality.  But, children should be allowed to say a prayer  before their meal. (Or any other ritual they may prefer.)

I thought they had this right. Aren't the individual children allowed to say a prayer before their lunch?

Laws may differ from state to state, but from what I understand, the problem arises when there is the perception that prayer is organized, endorsed, or facilitated by school personnel. Nobody is going to stop a child, or a group of children from saying a prayer....it happens all the time. However, teachers (or anybody else, for that matter) cannot ask the other students to participate, listen, or even remain quiet for the sake of a prayer. If a small group of children are required to remain seated together at lunch, then a vocal prayer has the potential to hold those children captive to religious indoctrination.

The line is easily blurred. I taught at a school with a good number of religious students and teachers. The "pray around the flag pole" thing is supposed to allowed if it is student led and organized during non-school hours. It was a joke. There were a few teachers who not only were the organizers, they got on the intercom every day for a week reminding everyone to pray. The flag pole was located in the center of the parking lot. When I arrived at school for work and declined to join the prayer group, I was stared down by many. I was also questioned by several parents and students as to WHY I would not join them. It wasn't pretty. If I, as an adult, was borderline bullied for non-participation, imagine how children feel in this situation.