Religion classes in school - Megathread

rowdypanther12 said:That’s just what I wrote, responding to wanderinghawk30’s advice about handling a child.
It works fine, provided the parents aren't at extreme opposite ends of the spectrum.
She mentioned that if I'm not mistaken, the dad is strictly against it, while she really wants to go through with it.
I mean, if one parent thinks their kid is headed for hell without being baptized or confirmed, and the other thinks religious education will mess with the child's psyche and potentially ruin their mental health, then there's just no middle ground.
I honestly don't get how two people with such polar opposite views ended up together in the first place.

Yeah, that’s the million-dollar question, but that’s a whole different conversation. Honestly, I don't quite wrap my head around it either. From what I see and hear lately, people are pairing off without any actual compatibility regarding their top priorities—and if they were rushing through downtown to make it happen, you'd know it was something vital to them. How? Why? For what purpose? Who knows. But there are plenty of people doing it, which is why marriages are popping like popcorn.
I hope this woman, dealing with her ex-husband and looking out for her kid, finds some decent solution despite all the friction.

Tyler Ruiz502 said:Nothing in front of the school. Just settle it beforehand, for God's sake.
He’s flat-out against it, yet you’re saying you’d "love for it to happen." Maybe I'm misreading this—and I could be wrong, mind you—but the way you've phrased it makes me think you just don't want the absence to be highlighted, so you'd rather they just go along with it to avoid the fuss. It’s not even about the religious education for you, it's more about the optics...

Am I right?

Besides, why wouldn't you compromise? I mean, since the kid lives with you, you basically get a vote on almost everything—what they eat, what they wear, bedtimes, who their friends are. Why draw a line here?

And honestly, why not sit down with your ex one more time? Try to talk him into letting them attend just for this one year, and then re-evaluate next year if they actually want to go. To me, that sounds like a perfectly reasonable deal.

As for us—we aren't religious, but we actually enrolled our child in religious ed classes at the local elementary school just so they can hear about it and see what it's all about. You know, so they can learn terms like Jesus, Mary, God, the Holy Spirit, saints, apostles, Advent, Christmas carols, the crucifixion, sin... just so they have a foundation to start asking questions from.

I believe you have missed the mark here.
The child isn't merely hearing vocabulary; they are being presented with "truths," which means you are essentially picking a fight against institutional "truths" alongside a seven-year-old.

Believers belong to an entirely different category altogether. Their children are served "truths" that align perfectly with those taught by the parents. It is much like teaching the Pythagorean theorem; there is no internal conflict.

Good grief, why would you engage in such debates with an ex, especially when dealing with someone who functions like a high-strung CSS developer over such trivial matters? Simply withdraw the child from the class, and if they express interest in religious studies again later in life, you won't be standing in their way. I know a girl who joined the religious education program in her first year of culinary school simply because she was genuinely curious about it.

Tyler Ruiz502 said:Nothing in front of the school. Just settle it beforehand, for God's sake.
He’s flat-out against it, yet you’re saying you’d "love for it to happen." Maybe I'm misreading this—and I could be wrong, mind you—but the way you've phrased it makes me think you just don't want the absence to be highlighted, so you'd rather they just go along with it to avoid the fuss. It’s not even about the religious education for you, it's more about the optics...

Am I right?

Besides, why wouldn't you compromise? I mean, since the kid lives with you, you basically get a vote on almost everything—what they eat, what they wear, bedtimes, who their friends are. Why draw a line here?

And honestly, why not sit down with your ex one more time? Try to talk him into letting them attend just for this one year, and then re-evaluate next year if they actually want to go. To me, that sounds like a perfectly reasonable deal.

As for us—we aren't religious, but we actually enrolled our child in religious ed classes at the local elementary school just so they can hear about it and see what it's all about. You know, so they can learn terms like Jesus, Mary, God, the Holy Spirit, saints, apostles, Advent, Christmas carols, the crucifixion, sin... just so they have a foundation to start asking questions from.

Basically, you're right. I don't want her to stand out, and I don't want to cause a scene during enrollment. Not to mention the logistical headache of dropping her off when religion class is first thing in the morning, since there’s no organized childcare at that hour.
I’m not a devout practitioner, but faith is part of my life. My daughter knows the basic prayers, she’s been baptized, and I’d like her to receive the other sacraments. We’ve been to church a few times, but she’s too young to sit through a full Mass, so we don't go often. She’s heard of the concepts mentioned; we read Bible picture books together. She won't be deprived of the basics, but I truly would prefer she attends.
Her father is dead set against signing the consent form because, in his view, agreeing means he’s endorsing having religious instruction in public schools, which he thinks doesn't belong there. I get where he's coming from, though I don't think it's right to let his political stance dictate our child's experience. He isn't fundamentally against religious upbringing, but he opposes the way the Church interacts with the state and religious classes in schools. For him, putting his name on that form would be inconsistent with his principles. He insists that the school I chose requires both parents to sign if they are divorced, and he’s sticking to his guns.

I haven't asked the child anything yet. I thought it was smarter for us to reach a consensus first. Sometimes I think about just giving in to his stubbornness, but then there are still permissions needed for things like holiday programs or community events, and he won't sign those either because he refuses to support the chaplaincy. That's a bigger headache, because that's exactly when you end up standing out if the kid isn't participating.
I want to avoid going through family mediation.

Thanks for the input.

Peter Harris80 said:Basically, you're right. I don't want her to stand out, and I don't want to cause a scene during enrollment. Not to mention the logistical headache of dropping her off when religion class is first thing in the morning, since there’s no organized childcare at that hour.
I’m not a devout practitioner, but faith is part of my life. My daughter knows the basic prayers, she’s been baptized, and I’d like her to receive the other sacraments. We’ve been to church a few times, but she’s too young to sit through a full Mass, so we don't go often. She’s heard of the concepts mentioned; we read Bible picture books together. She won't be deprived of the basics, but I truly would prefer she attends.
Her father is dead set against signing the consent form because, in his view, agreeing means he’s endorsing having religious instruction in public schools, which he thinks doesn't belong there. I get where he's coming from, though I don't think it's right to let his political stance dictate our child's experience. He isn't fundamentally against religious upbringing, but he opposes the way the Church interacts with the state and religious classes in schools. For him, putting his name on that form would be inconsistent with his principles. He insists that the school I chose requires both parents to sign if they are divorced, and he’s sticking to his guns.

I haven't asked the child anything yet. I thought it was smarter for us to reach a consensus first. Sometimes I think about just giving in to his stubbornness, but then there are still permissions needed for things like holiday programs or community events, and he won't sign those either because he refuses to support the chaplaincy. That's a bigger headache, because that's exactly when you end up standing out if the kid isn't participating.
I want to avoid going through family mediation.

Thanks for the input.

I don't follow. Is the school actually demanding signatures from both parents for the religious studies consent? If they are, then sit down with your husband. Explain why it matters to you and point out the practical side—how it creates a scheduling issue if she doesn't participate. (Though, honestly, the school should probably provide supervision for kids who aren't in that specific class but are already on campus for after-school programs, but you'd have to check their specific policy.)

Look, if you're divorced, I get that opinions clash. But if you can't even sit down and talk through the options, I just don't understand.
As for the Christmas pageant or day bread celebrations—at least at my local school—they don't demand signed permission for every single thing. No kid is forced to participate in religious activities just because they are enrolled in the class. They can just hang out in the library. And the Christmas show is usually an evening thing anyway; it's not like attendance is mandatory.

Peter Harris80 said:Basically, you're right. I don't want her to stand out, and I don't want to cause a scene during enrollment. Not to mention the logistical headache of dropping her off when religion class is first thing in the morning, since there’s no organized childcare at that hour.
I’m not a devout practitioner, but faith is part of my life. My daughter knows the basic prayers, she’s been baptized, and I’d like her to receive the other sacraments. We’ve been to church a few times, but she’s too young to sit through a full Mass, so we don't go often. She’s heard of the concepts mentioned; we read Bible picture books together. She won't be deprived of the basics, but I truly would prefer she attends.
Her father is dead set against signing the consent form because, in his view, agreeing means he’s endorsing having religious instruction in public schools, which he thinks doesn't belong there. I get where he's coming from, though I don't think it's right to let his political stance dictate our child's experience. He isn't fundamentally against religious upbringing, but he opposes the way the Church interacts with the state and religious classes in schools. For him, putting his name on that form would be inconsistent with his principles. He insists that the school I chose requires both parents to sign if they are divorced, and he’s sticking to his guns.

I haven't asked the child anything yet. I thought it was smarter for us to reach a consensus first. Sometimes I think about just giving in to his stubbornness, but then there are still permissions needed for things like holiday programs or community events, and he won't sign those either because he refuses to support the chaplaincy. That's a bigger headache, because that's exactly when you end up standing out if the kid isn't participating.
I want to avoid going through family mediation.

Thanks for the input.

We actually sat down and had a serious talk before our kid even started kindergarten (we were married then) regarding the whole religious education aspect. To be honest, neither my husband nor I particularly cared whether the child attended or not; we aren't the type to practice religion strictly. However, we looked at it practically. Our child was always shy, very withdrawn. We didn't want them being pulled out of the classroom twice a week while all the other kids stayed put. It seemed like a recipe for social isolation.
Well, we're heading into the fourth year now, and I'm starting to think we need to pull the plug. Some of the stuff they're teaching is hitting way too hard, and it's weighing heavily on a kid who is already struggling to find their footing.

frozenrider15 said:I don't follow. Is the school actually demanding signatures from both parents for the religious studies consent? If they are, then sit down with your husband. Explain why it matters to you and point out the practical side—how it creates a scheduling issue if she doesn't participate. (Though, honestly, the school should probably provide supervision for kids who aren't in that specific class but are already on campus for after-school programs, but you'd have to check their specific policy.)

Look, if you're divorced, I get that opinions clash. But if you can't even sit down and talk through the options, I just don't understand.
As for the Christmas pageant or day bread celebrations—at least at my local school—they don't demand signed permission for every single thing. No kid is forced to participate in religious activities just because they are enrolled in the class. They can just hang out in the library. And the Christmas show is usually an evening thing anyway; it's not like attendance is mandatory.

My ex insists that this particular school requires signatures from both parents for elective subjects. I have no idea where he's getting that from. It would be pointless to poll the parents at preschool, especially since everyone there is married and likely wouldn't have this issue anyway.

They say all classes are handled by one teacher, except for the first period, which is when the main teacher is free to skip. Apparently, for first graders, they don't schedule religion or foreign language during the first hour so everyone starts the day with the primary teacher. I don't know if that's a standing school rule or just a yearly thing. If it is a rule, we won't have a scheduling conflict in first grade, but we definitely will in the later years.
Kids can't perform in shows without consent, and I have zero interest in having my child sidelined from the group. I can't wrap my head around the idea of a kid sitting alone in the library while the rest of the class is performing. I don't see how anyone finds that acceptable.

We are discussing the possibilities, but we can't reach an agreement.

frozenrider15 said:I don't follow. Is the school actually demanding signatures from both parents for the religious studies consent? If they are, then sit down with your husband. Explain why it matters to you and point out the practical side—how it creates a scheduling issue if she doesn't participate. (Though, honestly, the school should probably provide supervision for kids who aren't in that specific class but are already on campus for after-school programs, but you'd have to check their specific policy.)

Look, if you're divorced, I get that opinions clash. But if you can't even sit down and talk through the options, I just don't understand.
As for the Christmas pageant or day bread celebrations—at least at my local school—they don't demand signed permission for every single thing. No kid is forced to participate in religious activities just because they are enrolled in the class. They can just hang out in the library. And the Christmas show is usually an evening thing anyway; it's not like attendance is mandatory.

Well, back at my kid's school, during Thanksgiving, they didn't ask for permission or even give parents a heads-up; they just marched every single student out to the foyer to pray and sing hymns and all that junk.
My kid isn't even religious, and when I asked her what she was doing while everyone else was praying, she just said, "I was just standing there."
Yeah, sure, nobody was pointing a gun at her head to make her join in, but let's be real—she didn't have any other choice.
The whole "performance" wasn't even held during a religion class; they did it right in the middle of the school day, forcing EVERY student to sit there and watch those religious types put on their little display.

Peter Harris80 said:My ex insists that this particular school requires signatures from both parents for elective subjects. I have no idea where he's getting that from. It would be pointless to poll the parents at preschool, especially since everyone there is married and likely wouldn't have this issue anyway.

They say all classes are handled by one teacher, except for the first period, which is when the main teacher is free to skip. Apparently, for first graders, they don't schedule religion or foreign language during the first hour so everyone starts the day with the primary teacher. I don't know if that's a standing school rule or just a yearly thing. If it is a rule, we won't have a scheduling conflict in first grade, but we definitely will in the later years.
Kids can't perform in shows without consent, and I have zero interest in having my child sidelined from the group. I can't wrap my head around the idea of a kid sitting alone in the library while the rest of the class is performing. I don't see how anyone finds that acceptable.

We are discussing the possibilities, but we can't reach an agreement.

Regarding the bolded part: If I were you, I would ask the school directly during enrollment. In fact, I might even call them before the official registration period just to get the facts straight instead of relying on hearsay. This is something that could cause you massive organizational headaches, so it's worth investigating.

The school is legally obligated to supervise a child enrolled in the after-school program from 7 AM to 5 PM. Is the kid going to the after-school program? If the teacher doesn't show up until later because there's no first period, it doesn't matter as long as the child is being supervised elsewhere. That's something I'd bring up with the administration.
Personally, I also wouldn't be okay with my child being separated from the class, but if I had to insist they skip religion class, I'd settle for any option where the child is under supervision (and not wandering the halls aimlessly).

Peter Harris80 said:Basically, you're right. I don't want her to stand out, and I don't want to cause a scene during enrollment. Not to mention the logistical headache of dropping her off when religion class is first thing in the morning, since there’s no organized childcare at that hour.
I’m not a devout practitioner, but faith is part of my life. My daughter knows the basic prayers, she’s been baptized, and I’d like her to receive the other sacraments. We’ve been to church a few times, but she’s too young to sit through a full Mass, so we don't go often. She’s heard of the concepts mentioned; we read Bible picture books together. She won't be deprived of the basics, but I truly would prefer she attends.
Her father is dead set against signing the consent form because, in his view, agreeing means he’s endorsing having religious instruction in public schools, which he thinks doesn't belong there. I get where he's coming from, though I don't think it's right to let his political stance dictate our child's experience. He isn't fundamentally against religious upbringing, but he opposes the way the Church interacts with the state and religious classes in schools. For him, putting his name on that form would be inconsistent with his principles. He insists that the school I chose requires both parents to sign if they are divorced, and he’s sticking to his guns.

I haven't asked the child anything yet. I thought it was smarter for us to reach a consensus first. Sometimes I think about just giving in to his stubbornness, but then there are still permissions needed for things like holiday programs or community events, and he won't sign those either because he refuses to support the chaplaincy. That's a bigger headache, because that's exactly when you end up standing out if the kid isn't participating.
I want to avoid going through family mediation.

Thanks for the input.

So, did you guys have your weddings in a church?

redridge13 said:Well, back at my kid's school, during Thanksgiving, they didn't ask for permission or even give parents a heads-up; they just marched every single student out to the foyer to pray and sing hymns and all that junk.
My kid isn't even religious, and when I asked her what she was doing while everyone else was praying, she just said, "I was just standing there."
Yeah, sure, nobody was pointing a gun at her head to make her join in, but let's be real—she didn't have any other choice.
The whole "performance" wasn't even held during a religion class; they did it right in the middle of the school day, forcing EVERY student to sit there and watch those religious types put on their little display.

It varies wildly from one school to the next. In my district, they actually respect boundaries. If a kid isn't enrolled in religion classes, they ask the parents—or the older students—if they want to attend the assembly in the auditorium. If not, they can hang out in the library with the librarian or a teacher. But you don't get hit with a blanket consent form for Thanksgiving festivities or Christmas plays without a choice.

Peter Harris80 said:Do both parents need to sign the consent form? Does any regulation actually state that both parents must agree on an elective? Or is one signature enough if it's based on the child's best interests?

The father claims that for religious education, both parents must agree. Especially if they are divorced.
He is strictly against it, while I would prefer the child to attend. What am I supposed to do in front of the school? I'd rather not involve the local police unless absolutely necessary. And I definitely don't want the school forcing my hand.

Saying "I'd like it to go through" isn't exactly a heavy-hitting argument, especially since the guarantor likely has several points that carry more weight than yours.

Do you attend church regularly? Is prayer a part of your life? How much does any of this actually matter to you personally? You don't need to answer here—just ask yourself. If you’re only participating in religious sacraments because everyone else is, and you want your kid to follow suit just to stay in line, then in my opinion, you're making the wrong call. 😬

Peter Harris80 said:My ex insists that this particular school requires signatures from both parents for elective subjects. I have no idea where he's getting that from. It would be pointless to poll the parents at preschool, especially since everyone there is married and likely wouldn't have this issue anyway.

They say all classes are handled by one teacher, except for the first period, which is when the main teacher is free to skip. Apparently, for first graders, they don't schedule religion or foreign language during the first hour so everyone starts the day with the primary teacher. I don't know if that's a standing school rule or just a yearly thing. If it is a rule, we won't have a scheduling conflict in first grade, but we definitely will in the later years.
Kids can't perform in shows without consent, and I have zero interest in having my child sidelined from the group. I can't wrap my head around the idea of a kid sitting alone in the library while the rest of the class is performing. I don't see how anyone finds that acceptable.

We are discussing the possibilities, but we can't reach an agreement.

You don't even need to interrogate other parents. The school has a phone number; just call them anonymously and ask. It’s a one-minute task.

Peter Harris80 said:My ex insists that this particular school requires signatures from both parents for elective subjects. I have no idea where he's getting that from. It would be pointless to poll the parents at preschool, especially since everyone there is married and likely wouldn't have this issue anyway.

They say all classes are handled by one teacher, except for the first period, which is when the main teacher is free to skip. Apparently, for first graders, they don't schedule religion or foreign language during the first hour so everyone starts the day with the primary teacher. I don't know if that's a standing school rule or just a yearly thing. If it is a rule, we won't have a scheduling conflict in first grade, but we definitely will in the later years.
Kids can't perform in shows without consent, and I have zero interest in having my child sidelined from the group. I can't wrap my head around the idea of a kid sitting alone in the library while the rest of the class is performing. I don't see how anyone finds that acceptable.

We are discussing the possibilities, but we can't reach an agreement.

That really depends on the specific school district.

Peter Harris80 said:My ex insists that this particular school requires signatures from both parents for elective subjects. I have no idea where he's getting that from. It would be pointless to poll the parents at preschool, especially since everyone there is married and likely wouldn't have this issue anyway.

They say all classes are handled by one teacher, except for the first period, which is when the main teacher is free to skip. Apparently, for first graders, they don't schedule religion or foreign language during the first hour so everyone starts the day with the primary teacher. I don't know if that's a standing school rule or just a yearly thing. If it is a rule, we won't have a scheduling conflict in first grade, but we definitely will in the later years.
Kids can't perform in shows without consent, and I have zero interest in having my child sidelined from the group. I can't wrap my head around the idea of a kid sitting alone in the library while the rest of the class is performing. I don't see how anyone finds that acceptable.

We are discussing the possibilities, but we can't reach an agreement.

Usually, everyone is together during those school events. Mostly.

redridge13 said:Well, back at my kid's school, during Thanksgiving, they didn't ask for permission or even give parents a heads-up; they just marched every single student out to the foyer to pray and sing hymns and all that junk.
My kid isn't even religious, and when I asked her what she was doing while everyone else was praying, she just said, "I was just standing there."
Yeah, sure, nobody was pointing a gun at her head to make her join in, but let's be real—she didn't have any other choice.
The whole "performance" wasn't even held during a religion class; they did it right in the middle of the school day, forcing EVERY student to sit there and watch those religious types put on their little display.

Most of them just stand there. Believe me, they aren't the only ones. Half of them don't even bother to show respect; they’re either texting under the desk or staring at a spider crawling across the hallway during the service.

Peter Harris80 said:Basically, you're right. I don't want her to stand out, and I don't want to cause a scene during enrollment. Not to mention the logistical headache of dropping her off when religion class is first thing in the morning, since there’s no organized childcare at that hour.
I’m not a devout practitioner, but faith is part of my life. My daughter knows the basic prayers, she’s been baptized, and I’d like her to receive the other sacraments. We’ve been to church a few times, but she’s too young to sit through a full Mass, so we don't go often. She’s heard of the concepts mentioned; we read Bible picture books together. She won't be deprived of the basics, but I truly would prefer she attends.
Her father is dead set against signing the consent form because, in his view, agreeing means he’s endorsing having religious instruction in public schools, which he thinks doesn't belong there. I get where he's coming from, though I don't think it's right to let his political stance dictate our child's experience. He isn't fundamentally against religious upbringing, but he opposes the way the Church interacts with the state and religious classes in schools. For him, putting his name on that form would be inconsistent with his principles. He insists that the school I chose requires both parents to sign if they are divorced, and he’s sticking to his guns.

I haven't asked the child anything yet. I thought it was smarter for us to reach a consensus first. Sometimes I think about just giving in to his stubbornness, but then there are still permissions needed for things like holiday programs or community events, and he won't sign those either because he refuses to support the chaplaincy. That's a bigger headache, because that's exactly when you end up standing out if the kid isn't participating.
I want to avoid going through family mediation.

Thanks for the input.

So, you're planning on enrolling her in Religion class? 😬

She’ll stand out anyway the moment she mentions a song is boring or casually remarks that multiplication tables are easy. Signing a kid up for Religion class just so they can blend into the crowd is a mistake.

Peter Harris80 said:Basically, you're right. I don't want her to stand out, and I don't want to cause a scene during enrollment. Not to mention the logistical headache of dropping her off when religion class is first thing in the morning, since there’s no organized childcare at that hour.
I’m not a devout practitioner, but faith is part of my life. My daughter knows the basic prayers, she’s been baptized, and I’d like her to receive the other sacraments. We’ve been to church a few times, but she’s too young to sit through a full Mass, so we don't go often. She’s heard of the concepts mentioned; we read Bible picture books together. She won't be deprived of the basics, but I truly would prefer she attends.
Her father is dead set against signing the consent form because, in his view, agreeing means he’s endorsing having religious instruction in public schools, which he thinks doesn't belong there. I get where he's coming from, though I don't think it's right to let his political stance dictate our child's experience. He isn't fundamentally against religious upbringing, but he opposes the way the Church interacts with the state and religious classes in schools. For him, putting his name on that form would be inconsistent with his principles. He insists that the school I chose requires both parents to sign if they are divorced, and he’s sticking to his guns.

I haven't asked the child anything yet. I thought it was smarter for us to reach a consensus first. Sometimes I think about just giving in to his stubbornness, but then there are still permissions needed for things like holiday programs or community events, and he won't sign those either because he refuses to support the chaplaincy. That's a bigger headache, because that's exactly when you end up standing out if the kid isn't participating.
I want to avoid going through family mediation.

Thanks for the input.

What about the library? Or after-school programs?

Peter Harris80 said:My ex insists that this particular school requires signatures from both parents for elective subjects. I have no idea where he's getting that from. It would be pointless to poll the parents at preschool, especially since everyone there is married and likely wouldn't have this issue anyway.

They say all classes are handled by one teacher, except for the first period, which is when the main teacher is free to skip. Apparently, for first graders, they don't schedule religion or foreign language during the first hour so everyone starts the day with the primary teacher. I don't know if that's a standing school rule or just a yearly thing. If it is a rule, we won't have a scheduling conflict in first grade, but we definitely will in the later years.
Kids can't perform in shows without consent, and I have zero interest in having my child sidelined from the group. I can't wrap my head around the idea of a kid sitting alone in the library while the rest of the class is performing. I don't see how anyone finds that acceptable.

We are discussing the possibilities, but we can't reach an agreement.

Does the school lack after-school care? If they have it, children are looked after starting at 7:00 AM (at least in our local elementary school), and when religion is scheduled during the first period, most kids just head to the second-grade classrooms or the library. Honestly, mine doesn't attend religion class and there hasn't been any issue whatsoever—not with other kids, and certainly not with the school's organization. I never bothered looking into how many kids opt out of religion before, and frankly, I believe this shouldn't depend on anyone's personal decision.
That definitely should not be one of the deciding factors for whether or not a child attends religion class.

And if you aren't certain, then the decision should simply be: don't attend religion class.

If a kid is in after-school care, does that mean they stay until 7? I'm a little confused about how things work for students in religious studies—if the teacher doesn't show up until 9 because there isn't a first period, what happens to them between 7 and 9?
I won't say anything about enrolling kids in religious education since I feel like I'm living in a different dimension and we clearly aren't on the same page.

In a fourth-grade class, there are four kids who don't attend religion class—though, based on my chats with at least five or six other parents, they’re basically just tagging along so they don't make a scene.
I haven't spoken to the rest of the group yet, but I'd bet my bottom dollar there are plenty more parents playing it safe just to avoid any drama.
There are 20 students in the class total.
Now they’re all just waiting to finish up their First Communion, and once that's over, I'm sure nobody will bother making an issue of it anymore. 😬

My child is a first grader, and she’s one of only four kids in her class who isn't signed up for religion class. Of course, as a parent, the thought crossed my mind—could this be used as an opportunity to tease her about it? But honestly, I don't believe that "not being different" should be anyone's North Star when making life decisions. Isn't it far more vital to teach our children how to stand their ground and not just blindly follow the crowd?

In the end, opting out of religion class turned out to be a total win. The kids stuck in those lessons actually end up envying the ones who get that hour free to hang out in the library, read, draw, or just play with friends. As for me, I’m perfectly content knowing my daughter isn't sitting there being lectured about sin, corruption, guilt, and a whole laundry list of other nonsense that is frankly toxic for a kid during such formative years.

If more students actually stuck with religion class instead of ditching it:

a) they wouldn't be graded on it

or

b) it wouldn't be used just to boost GPAs

At the high school where I teach, kids are dropping religion class in droves after freshman year. The max grade you can get is a C, and since you actually have to study for religion—unlike ethics class, which, let me tell you, is 100 times easier

Larry Walker24 said:So, did you guys have your weddings in a church?

Honestly, does it even matter where they got married when it's obvious they're splitting up anyway?😕

Susan James said:Honestly, does it even matter where they got married when it's obvious they're splitting up anyway?😕

Look, if the guy is that much of an atheist, it’s pretty obvious they didn't have a church wedding, so I'm just wondering how much he actually gives a damn about his own principles.

Because if he did go through with a religious ceremony, then this whole thing about teaching religion is basically a slap in the face to his ex-wife.

I honestly don't get why anyone would still be giving a kid a hard time about skipping religion class these days, I mean, seriously, I went through several different schools growing up and I don't think I ever once saw or even heard of anyone being pressured about it...

It’s not like they actually make much of a difference in the grand scheme of things either... I guess it's just like taking a foreign language elective or something, you know? Like, some kids sign up for it and some just don't, and that's pretty much it...

Larry Walker24 said:If more students actually stuck with religion class instead of ditching it:

a) they wouldn't be graded on it

or

b) it wouldn't be used just to boost GPAs

At the high school where I teach, kids are dropping religion class in droves after freshman year. The max grade you can get is a C, and since you actually have to study for religion—unlike ethics class, which, let me tell you, is 100 times easier

That religion teacher is seriously sabotaging themselves🙂 (and their own job security)