Does banning religion from schools teach our kids to be intolerant ?
By happymomndad
@happymomndad (1035)
United States
January 27, 2007 9:42am CST
What do you think ? I belive it does. There are so many people from so many ethnic and religios backgrounds out there and if we dont allow them to express their belifes not only are they subject to opression but our children dont learn to be accepting of others and thier personal belief. Everyone everywhere should be alloud to stand for what they belive. I come from a Christian background and I apreiciate that others have not, maybe you pray to a statue or kneel in church or maybe you dont belive in any God at all. That is your right as an american. Is that not why the pilgrams came to this great land in the first place ? So they were free to express their religios belife ? If we are not teaching our kids to accept others the way they are we are teaching them to hateful and racist. If a group of youngsters wants to put up a christmas tree as a fund raiser by golly we should let them. If anouther wants to a prayer group before class, let them. I will teach my children that it is okay to stand up for what you belive and it is okay for others to do so even if it is different.
1 person likes this
2 responses
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
27 Jan 07
I believe that parents have more influence in a childs tolerance of others than a school does. It is not the schools responsibility to teach our children everything. If you are active in your childs life, you are tolerant, and teach him to be tolerant of others, it does not really matter if thereis religion in the schools.
Here is an example of the difference between a parents influnce and a school influnce. This isn't religious, it just shows who the kids really listens to. In New Orleans school district there is a very strict policy regarding weapons of any kind and most schools have metal detectors (even at an elementary level). The kids know it is wrong to even bring a nail file to school and they know they can get kicked out for it. Last week a mother told a 12 year old to bring a knife to school and he did it know about all the school rules and what could happen. He did it based on his Mom saying to do it and she over rides anything the school tells him. Kids listen to their parents more than we think they do.
@happymomndad (1035)
• United States
27 Jan 07
I do agree with you on some levels but there are some parents that dont teach that or that teach intolerane. The more exposure to tolerence the better !
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
28 Jan 07
Even so, tolerance is an across the board thing. If you are tolerant you are tolerant towards everything. Most school teach kids to get along regardless of how they look, how they act, or how smart they are. This is important. Kids aren't going to know what religion they are unless they tell each other (which I really doubt they talk abotu at a younger age when you should be laying down the basics for this). Religion is not th eonly place to learn tolerance. If you want your kid to have religion in their schooling, teach it to them or send them to a school that include religion.
@Lavera1 (896)
• United States
15 Feb 07
THE SCHOOL board doesn't have the right to not let our children express their faiths in school or read their Bibles in school. I have raised my children in the admonision of the Lord. For the Bible says to train up a child in the way that he should go and when he's old he will not depart from it.
Now my daughter teaches her children that they shouldn't fear no one but God.
One day I heard my 10 year old grandson tell his 6 year old brother the same thing.
