Religion at my school...

[sinacsupul]

State: Mississippi
I live in a small town in southern Mississippi. The town itself is very religious and I have had to deal with many peoples prejudice. Every pep rally and football game has prayer and in elementary school children pray before lunch. Led by a teacher. Also on the walls sit the ten commandments and in god we trust. A teacher has even given me books and I have had teachers tell me they were sorry. Is it a violation of my rights? I have tried to find a lawyer in this area but none have accepted.

I would just like to know my rights, and if it is possible for me to make this change I have contacted the principal but am without a reply.

 

[Crazed98]

What's exactly offends you?

If it is saying prayers then don't say them.

 

[BelizeBreeze]

are you a student?

 

[HomeGuru]

State: Mississippi
I live in a small town in southern Mississippi. The town itself is very religious and I have had to deal with many peoples prejudice. Every pep rally and football game has prayer and in elementary school children pray before lunch. Led by a teacher. Also on the walls sit the ten commandments and in god we trust. A teacher has even given me books and I have had teachers tell me they were sorry. Is it a violation of my rights?

**A: no, you have a right to learn about religion.
*******
I have tried to find a lawyer in this area but none have accepted.

**A: have you ever wondered why?
*******

I would just like to know my rights, and if it is possible for me to make this change I have contacted the principal but am without a reply.

**A: what change? Don't you believe in God?

 

[sinacsupul]

My two step children may be attending school in this area soon. I do not believe in God. I do not see how this is relevant to my question though. I believe that my children and I have a right to learn or not to learn about religion that is why there is separation of church and sate. I may take my children to Sunday school if I wish them to learn about God. I take them to public school to learn about history, language arts, mathematics, and science. I am offended by the prayer it is over a loudspeaker which most obviously is unavoidable. In elementary school it is teacher led and encouraged which is also unavoidable. I am only asking my rights as a parent and if the rights of these students are being violated. I seek to preserve the constitution the ideals of the United States. Greater men wrote the constitution as a map as guidelines so that all men whether religious or atheist, criminal or law abiding citizen, man or woman would live a life where they were equal to every other.

I only wish to know my rights and if the school district is violating the rights of students. I am not looking to debate.

 

[notsmartmark]

If the ACLU won't take the case, I would guess that you do not have a case. Please remember you can win what you see as a war and still lose. Even though it would be totally inappropriate if you stop the behavior you identified as offending, it is probable that your children will be known and targeted. It might be a better lesson to teach tolerance. I’ll put you and your children in my prayers for guidance.

 

[JolieCPA]

Separation of Church and State

Your rights and your children's rights are being violated. People often forget that this is America, and that this country was founded with the concept that everyone is entitled to their own beliefs - and those beliefs do not belong in public schools. Your children have the right to not be embrassed because their belief system isn't the same as their classmates. People who believe Christian traditions should be an integral part of the school day are welcome to send their children to private Christian schools. The Freedom From Religion Foundation is very good at providing information on this topic, and sometimes will institute legal proceedings - their web site is FFRF.org.

Some states are a little backwards still - but here are lots of lawyers who will tackle this, you just may have to look outside of your area. What you have described is definitely disciminatory to those who aren't of the Christian persuasion.

 

[BelizeBreeze]

Your rights and your children's rights are being violated. People often forget that this is America, and that this country was founded with the concept that everyone is entitled to their own beliefs - and those beliefs do not belong in public schools. Your children have the right to not be embrassed because their belief system isn't the same as their classmates. People who believe Christian traditions should be an integral part of the school day are welcome to send their children to private Christian schools. The Freedom From Religion Foundation is very good at providing information on this topic, and sometimes will institute legal proceedings - their web site is FFRF.org.

Some states are a little backwards still - but here are lots of lawyers who will tackle this, you just may have to look outside of your area. What you have described is definitely disciminatory to those who aren't of the Christian persuasion.

Oh BROTHER!!!!!!!

 

[JolieCPA]

Oh BROTHER!!!!!!!

Yep - you got it. I can't believe there are still areas out there that let this practice continue. If your children went to public school and were asked to bow towards Mecca several times a day or participate in a Wiccan seasonal ritual you might even be bothered by religion in school, as I'm guessing you aren't a participant of either of the religions that would appreciate these acts. Religion belongs in the churches and temples and at home, not in public schools. Public schools are for everyone, and children especially shouldn't have to be put in the position of being potentially ostracized for being different - that's only common sense.

 

[stealth2]

My two step children may be attending school in this area soon. I do not believe in God. I do not see how this is relevant to my question though. I believe that my children and I have a right to learn or not to learn about religion that is why there is separation of church and sate. I may take my children to Sunday school if I wish them to learn about God. I take them to public school to learn about history, language arts, mathematics, and science. I am offended by the prayer it is over a loudspeaker which most obviously is unavoidable. In elementary school it is teacher led and encouraged which is also unavoidable. I am only asking my rights as a parent and if the rights of these students are being violated. I seek to preserve the constitution the ideals of the United States. Greater men wrote the constitution as a map as guidelines so that all men whether religious or atheist, criminal or law abiding citizen, man or woman would live a life where they were equal to every other.

I only wish to know my rights and if the school district is violating the rights of students. I am not looking to debate.

WRT to these kids, you have NO rights. They're not your kids. You are not their parent. Their father/mother are the ones who have the right to be offended, or not. You just get to sit on the sidelines and fume.

 

[Crazed98]

I wonder if any of you people complaining about religion realize that this country was founded by religion and religious people.

Where do you think all the laws evolved from?

I don't see why a school should change because you feel that people having different beliefs from you will harm your children.

Your children should not be forced to pray and participate in their religious practices. But it would be good for them to see that there are different beliefs out their so they don't grow up to be ignorant like you.

 

[JolieCPA]

[QUOTE=Crazed98]I wonder if any of you people complaining about religion realize that this country was founded by religion and religious people.

Where do you think all the laws evolved from?

And those people very carefully set up a system in which religion was not to play any part in the government, as they were aware of what it was like to feel persecuted because of their religous beliefs and they understood that the government should not be involved in religion.

I don't see why a school should change because you feel that people having different beliefs from you will harm your children.

Schools need to be neutral as to a child's religious practices. Conducting religious activities in a public school is not appropriate and certainly not neutral. The peer pressure alone is enough reason to abate this practice, but it also violates the separation of church and state mandate, which was so carefully placed into the Constitution by the founders of America.

Your children should not be forced to pray and participate in their religious practices. But it would be good for them to see that there are different beliefs out their so they don't grow up to be ignorant like you.[/QUOTE]

Someone questioning whether this violates the separation of church and state doctrine is hardly ignorant. They are right on target and the children of non-believers are probably more likely to be educated as to what belief systems are out there than the children who grow up being taught not to question.

There are many court decisions that back this up - it's amazing that there are regions where these decisions are ignored and people who try to stand up for themselves and their children are slammed as being un-American and ignorant, when this is exactly why America was formed.

 

[Crazed98]

First of all, Jolie religion plays a huge role in goverment. I doubt you will ever see a Jewish president because of his religious prefference.

Our laws are based on religious laws such as thou shall not kill, steal, comit adultery, lie, ect.

The reason for a separation between church and state is so the church doesn't run the goverment but religion is still there in the goverment.

Why do you thing abortion, stem cell research, and gay marriages are such big issues. Because it would be against many of the politicians religious beliefs to let it be completly legal.


Second, If she took the school to court and won I am sure the teachers and children there will gladly let their beliefs be silenced because it would offend two children with no religious preference.

 

[sinacsupul]

Thank you for your advice and concern JolieCPA. I will be contacting the organization as soon as possible.