Religion classes in school - Megathread

Look, man, please stop spamming at least two posts in a row. Look at this. 🙂

Jessica Kelly4 said:Because the majority's will is expressed either through the actions of an elected political party or via a referendum if a specific interest group thinks that's their best shot at getting what they want.

I know this belongs in a different thread, but to wrap this up: even if we held a referendum right now to pull religious studies out of our public schools, I bet the government would just point to some international treaty and claim it’s a non-starter. Honestly, politicians get way too much out of playing nice with the church hierarchy. I think you know that too.
Democracy isn't just about whatever the majority wants in the moment. It’s a whole lot deeper than that.

Jessica Kelly4 said:It comes down to two things: first, both parents and the child need to actually understand what the sacrament represents—since the Church views these as unchanging milestones—and second, they have to actually live out the faith. Living the faith means being part of the community. Since school religion classes were introduced, parish-based instruction has shifted its focus entirely. They complement each other, sure, but they aren't the same thing.

School religious ed isn't a prerequisite for the sacrament of marriage. My kid is going to take communion without attending those classes, and honestly, anyone trying to block someone from receiving a sacrament while living in sin is, according to our faith's own rules, headed straight for hell.

It’s not like I even believe in hell.

As for why someone would want to receive a sacrament without attending the formal school sessions—especially if they don't attend Mass or participate in the community—only someone with a truly pure heart can judge that. And the people judging us? They aren't even close to being pure.

Back in the South, none of my grandmother's ten children ever took formal religious classes, but faith was lived at home and the sacraments meant something real. It means the same thing to me, and no modern American inventions are going to change that. There's going to be an uproar heard all the way in Vatican City.

MajaMama, did you pull some strings with the church, or is this just your utopian belief that things will actually turn out the way they should 😬?

I’m all for getting rid of religious education in public schools, mostly because I’m tired of watching my three kids sit through those classes while they’re essentially wasting precious school hours... meanwhile, for their actual electives—things like a second foreign language, math, or computer science—they have to deal with double periods, staying way past dismissal, or even showing up on a Saturday just to catch up.

If anyone actually believes that religious studies should take precedence over core subjects like foreign languages, mathematics, or tech... well, cheers to you, I guess.
We made our own choices, and now we have to live with the consequences. Much like carrying a heavy cross...

And honestly, I’m genuinely curious.
Can someone please be blunt with me: would you rather your child walk away with an A in religion but only a C in math or English... or would you prefer the exact opposite?

One more thing. Unfortunately for my generation, things like Marxism or radical political theory were mandatory parts of the curriculum. If those had been optional electives, do you really think more than 10% of students would have opted in? Come on, parents, let's be real here. Let your child be different once in a while, let them stand out, and stop forcing them to just follow the herd...

Don't just give him permission; teach him to keep his head up, even when everything else falls apart. If he keeps looking at the ground, all he’ll ever see is dust.

brightheron64 said:I’m all for getting rid of religious education in public schools, mostly because I’m tired of watching my three kids sit through those classes while they’re essentially wasting precious school hours... meanwhile, for their actual electives—things like a second foreign language, math, or computer science—they have to deal with double periods, staying way past dismissal, or even showing up on a Saturday just to catch up.

If anyone actually believes that religious studies should take precedence over core subjects like foreign languages, mathematics, or tech... well, cheers to you, I guess.
We made our own choices, and now we have to live with the consequences. Much like carrying a heavy cross...

And honestly, I’m genuinely curious.
Can someone please be blunt with me: would you rather your child walk away with an A in religion but only a C in math or English... or would you prefer the exact opposite?

One more thing. Unfortunately for my generation, things like Marxism or radical political theory were mandatory parts of the curriculum. If those had been optional electives, do you really think more than 10% of students would have opted in? Come on, parents, let's be real here. Let your child be different once in a while, let them stand out, and stop forcing them to just follow the herd...

Well said.
But I’m not exactly planning on applying that logic to an eight-year-old who ends up sticking out because they aren't being supervised. When they're older and actually *want* to wander away from the pack, then they'll have my full support. But at seven or eight? I don't want her sitting there... somewhere... wondering why things are weird. She’s still a kid. That kind of stuff shouldn't be weighing on her mind yet.

brightheron64 said:I’m all for getting rid of religious education in public schools, mostly because I’m tired of watching my three kids sit through those classes while they’re essentially wasting precious school hours... meanwhile, for their actual electives—things like a second foreign language, math, or computer science—they have to deal with double periods, staying way past dismissal, or even showing up on a Saturday just to catch up.

If anyone actually believes that religious studies should take precedence over core subjects like foreign languages, mathematics, or tech... well, cheers to you, I guess.
We made our own choices, and now we have to live with the consequences. Much like carrying a heavy cross...

And honestly, I’m genuinely curious.
Can someone please be blunt with me: would you rather your child walk away with an A in religion but only a C in math or English... or would you prefer the exact opposite?

One more thing. Unfortunately for my generation, things like Marxism or radical political theory were mandatory parts of the curriculum. If those had been optional electives, do you really think more than 10% of students would have opted in? Come on, parents, let's be real here. Let your child be different once in a while, let them stand out, and stop forcing them to just follow the herd...

Look, let me give you a peek into my world so you can judge the mindset of your average parent. Back in first grade, the school actually offered computer lab classes—pretty rare for a small town like ours. By second grade? Poof, gone. Parents were all over choosing choir instead (mostly singing songs for those church-themed school plays), or they felt computers messed up the schedule for music lessons. (We live in a tiny suburb where hitting up the local conservatory is basically a requirement if you want to look like you have your life together. ) So yeah, priorities. It’s more vital that a kid masters music theory than knowing how to use a PC. Who knows, maybe my hometown will eventually produce the next big Sevka.

Jason Ortiz5 said:Look, let me give you a peek into my world so you can judge the mindset of your average parent. Back in first grade, the school actually offered computer lab classes—pretty rare for a small town like ours. By second grade? Poof, gone. Parents were all over choosing choir instead (mostly singing songs for those church-themed school plays), or they felt computers messed up the schedule for music lessons. (We live in a tiny suburb where hitting up the local conservatory is basically a requirement if you want to look like you have your life together. ) So yeah, priorities. It’s more vital that a kid masters music theory than knowing how to use a PC. Who knows, maybe my hometown will eventually produce the next big Sevka.

And that is exactly why religious studies are still part of the curriculum, isn't it...? 😵

Jason Ortiz5 said:Look, let me give you a peek into my world so you can judge the mindset of your average parent. Back in first grade, the school actually offered computer lab classes—pretty rare for a small town like ours. By second grade? Poof, gone. Parents were all over choosing choir instead (mostly singing songs for those church-themed school plays), or they felt computers messed up the schedule for music lessons. (We live in a tiny suburb where hitting up the local conservatory is basically a requirement if you want to look like you have your life together. ) So yeah, priorities. It’s more vital that a kid masters music theory than knowing how to use a PC. Who knows, maybe my hometown will eventually produce the next big Sevka.

Now, I have to admit, this part is still feeling a bit fuzzy to me... Is it better to go with a public school or stick with a private academy?
My kids are enrolled in music school as well, but honestly, there isn't even a conversation about "status" or connections there. You just take the entrance exam, and if you pass, you're in... simple as that. We actually saw a bit of an uproar once when both parents were professional musicians, yet their child didn't quite make the cut during the audition, so they were denied enrollment entirely...

And honestly, it’s such a gift for a child to master music theory and sight-reading. Maybe it’s just because I’m a complete novice when it comes to anything musical, but there is something truly captivating about watching a kid look at a sheet of music and actually grasp the meaning behind it... much like they would if they were simply reading a great novel...

And just to wrap things up, speaking as someone who actually works in tech, I have to admit that I’d much rather see my kid find success in music than in computer science... It's true that the tech industry offers a certain level of stability and a future, but let's be honest—it's a brutal, absolutely soul-crushing grind...

brightheron64 said:And that is exactly why religious studies are still part of the curriculum, isn't it...? 😵

Now, I have to admit, this part is still feeling a bit fuzzy to me... Is it better to go with a public school or stick with a private academy?
My kids are enrolled in music school as well, but honestly, there isn't even a conversation about "status" or connections there. You just take the entrance exam, and if you pass, you're in... simple as that. We actually saw a bit of an uproar once when both parents were professional musicians, yet their child didn't quite make the cut during the audition, so they were denied enrollment entirely...

And honestly, it’s such a gift for a child to master music theory and sight-reading. Maybe it’s just because I’m a complete novice when it comes to anything musical, but there is something truly captivating about watching a kid look at a sheet of music and actually grasp the meaning behind it... much like they would if they were simply reading a great novel...

And just to wrap things up, speaking as someone who actually works in tech, I have to admit that I’d much rather see my kid find success in music than in computer science... It's true that the tech industry offers a certain level of stability and a future, but let's be honest—it's a brutal, absolutely soul-crushing grind...

We definitely still have religious ed. Plus we've got the choir singing hymns and the drama club doing plays based on religious texts, and so on.
Off-topic, but I don't mind music school at all, as long as they aren't messing with the core curriculum just to accommodate extracurriculars. Good for them if they want to focus on that, but I send my kid to school to prepare them for the workforce (and for general knowledge, obviously).

Jason Ortiz5 said:Look, let me give you a peek into my world so you can judge the mindset of your average parent. Back in first grade, the school actually offered computer lab classes—pretty rare for a small town like ours. By second grade? Poof, gone. Parents were all over choosing choir instead (mostly singing songs for those church-themed school plays), or they felt computers messed up the schedule for music lessons. (We live in a tiny suburb where hitting up the local conservatory is basically a requirement if you want to look like you have your life together. ) So yeah, priorities. It’s more vital that a kid masters music theory than knowing how to use a PC. Who knows, maybe my hometown will eventually produce the next big Sevka.

If a child shows genuine interest and talent, music school can only be a positive thing. I totally get why parents might pull their kids out of computer lab if it clashes with their music schedule.

I've already mentioned my thoughts on computer science; I know people who won't even sign their kids up for electives in fifth grade because they feel like it's just extra busywork or stuff the kids could easily learn on their own at home anyway.
On top of that, if the class is held during an after-school block, it’s almost impossible for the kid to make it. It usually overlaps with music, dance, sports, or language classes. No sane parent is going to pick a subject that messes up their kid's GPA and takes away time from other things they could be learning.
I think it would be a different story if it were part of the core curriculum.
The exact same thing would happen with religious studies if it were held in an afternoon session instead of during regular school hours.

The real issue is that the school system prioritizes elective religious education within the standard school day 👎, unlike foreign languages or computer science, but we've already chewed this cud several times (you're just using an example to back up the point).

Susan James said:If a child shows genuine interest and talent, music school can only be a positive thing. I totally get why parents might pull their kids out of computer lab if it clashes with their music schedule.

I've already mentioned my thoughts on computer science; I know people who won't even sign their kids up for electives in fifth grade because they feel like it's just extra busywork or stuff the kids could easily learn on their own at home anyway.
On top of that, if the class is held during an after-school block, it’s almost impossible for the kid to make it. It usually overlaps with music, dance, sports, or language classes. No sane parent is going to pick a subject that messes up their kid's GPA and takes away time from other things they could be learning.
I think it would be a different story if it were part of the core curriculum.
The exact same thing would happen with religious studies if it were held in an afternoon session instead of during regular school hours.

The real issue is that the school system prioritizes elective religious education within the standard school day 👎, unlike foreign languages or computer science, but we've already chewed this cud several times (you're just using an example to back up the point).

It’s not even the schools themselves—it’s actually written into the contracts that religious studies can't be scheduled at the same time as other core classes.

And honestly, whether or not they should be giving actual grades for religion? That's a whole different debate.

Hey there.
My kid is just about preschool age now, so I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately—trying to figure out our next move. To be honest, I'm an atheist. My husband... well, he isn't exactly devout, if you want to call it that—he doesn't really care for the whole religious thing—but he's not quite on my level either. We aren't exactly "practicing" anything; we might put up a little decoration during the holidays, but we aren't exactly showing up at the local chapel every Sunday. Anyway, the little one hasn't been baptized or anything like that. So, I'm sitting here wondering: should we enroll them in a religious school, or skip it? What do you guys think?
I’m trying to explain the fundamentals—you know, what God actually is, who Jesus was, the whole deal with the church, Christmas carols, nuns, priests, the Crucifixion, funerals... all of it. I'm basically trying to lay out the core tenets for someone who actually believes, just so we're on the same page. I started with something like, "Legend has it that Jesus was born in a stable, and many people believe he possessed miraculous powers..." and honestly? It was a lost cause. In her head, she thinks Jesus is some kind of magical fairy from a cartoon. 🙂
People keep asking me if it’s actually true—as if there's some definitive proof just sitting around waiting to be found. But honestly? We can't verify it. There is no way to check the facts on this one, period. At the end of the day, we’re left with a simple choice: do we want to believe it, or don't we? I've mentioned before how much comfort people find in having something to cling to—it's that sense of belief that keeps so many folks calm and steady when things get chaotic. It’s just... well, you know how it is.
I find myself wondering... is it actually okay for a kid like that to show up to religion class, sit there and listen, but still maintain a healthy sense of critical thinking? I mean—is there really anything wrong with them questioning things as they go along?
I find myself wondering—is there actually any point in being baptized or showing up at church? I mean, does the local school district even bother preparing kids for First Communion anymore? And here is the real kicker—if you aren't some die-hard, weekly attendee, is your kid going to end up stuck in a lower grade level or somehow disadvantaged compared to the religious kids? It feels like one of those things that could go sideways. Are these religious education classes actually meant to broaden a child's horizons and introduce them to different perspectives... or is it just a way to drill specific doctrines into their heads without letting them question a single thing? Because, let’s be honest—if a kid actually starts asking real questions or dares to voice what Mom and Dad taught them at home, they aren't exactly going to have a grand old time in those sessions.
What’s the deal with the religious education curriculum these days? I mean, honestly—what are they actually teaching in those classes?

Over the last ten pages or so that I’ve been digging through—though honestly, it really just depends on which instructor you happen to be listening to—it all comes down to the teacher.

I don't know what to make of this whole Tanita situation—it’s one of those things that just sits in the back of your mind, nagging at you, isn't it? It feels like we're constantly circling the same drain, waiting for some kind of definitive answer or a moment of clarity that never actually arrives. I was thinking about it earlier while staring at a lukewarm cup of coffee, and honestly, the more you dig, the more it feels like we're just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. There's a certain futility to it all—an exhausting sort of loop where everyone thinks they have the missing piece of the puzzle, yet here we are, still staring at the same empty box. It’s frustrating, really. A bit maddening, if I'm being honest. We demand certainty in a world that seems hell-bent on being unpredictable, and then we act surprised when the floor drops out from under us. It's a cycle—a repetitive, somewhat ridiculous cycle—that we seem doomed to repeat. kaže:
Look, regarding the withdrawal process—the rules are pretty much identical for everyone across the board. You can't just pull a kid out mid-year, even if you try to use extracurriculars or some other nonsense as an excuse... it's just not how it works.

Is this actually legit? I mean, if it turns out this is having a negative impact, I’d pull my kid out of that school in a heartbeat. A colleague of mine has a little one who has started begging to pray every single night—he’s developed this whole "paranoia" that if he doesn't say his prayers, he’s headed straight to hell. It’s wild. Apparently, the religious instructor keeps bribing them with toys every chance they get to keep them engaged. Honestly, people have lost their minds. They’ve decided to withdraw him, though I’m not sure if they're doing it immediately or just waiting until the end of the school year.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy via Reddit

It’s a little depressing reading what you wrote, especially seeing how much doubt you're carrying given everything else people have already posted on this thread.

Robert Rodriguez9 said:It’s a little depressing reading what you wrote, especially seeing how much doubt you're carrying given everything else people have already posted on this thread.

I’m actually not quite following—what is she feeling so uncertain about?
Is it just having some downtime during the day? Or is she worried if all the kids from preschool are going to show up?

The question itself is confusing:

Tyler Ruiz502 said:Hey there.
My kid is just about preschool age now, so I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately—trying to figure out our next move. To be honest, I'm an atheist. My husband... well, he isn't exactly devout, if you want to call it that—he doesn't really care for the whole religious thing—but he's not quite on my level either. We aren't exactly "practicing" anything; we might put up a little decoration during the holidays, but we aren't exactly showing up at the local chapel every Sunday. Anyway, the little one hasn't been baptized or anything like that. So, I'm sitting here wondering: should we enroll them in a religious school, or skip it? What do you guys think?
I’m trying to explain the fundamentals—you know, what God actually is, who Jesus was, the whole deal with the church, Christmas carols, nuns, priests, the Crucifixion, funerals... all of it. I'm basically trying to lay out the core tenets for someone who actually believes, just so we're on the same page. I started with something like, "Legend has it that Jesus was born in a stable, and many people believe he possessed miraculous powers..." and honestly? It was a lost cause. In her head, she thinks Jesus is some kind of magical fairy from a cartoon. 🙂
People keep asking me if it’s actually true—as if there's some definitive proof just sitting around waiting to be found. But honestly? We can't verify it. There is no way to check the facts on this one, period. At the end of the day, we’re left with a simple choice: do we want to believe it, or don't we? I've mentioned before how much comfort people find in having something to cling to—it's that sense of belief that keeps so many folks calm and steady when things get chaotic. It’s just... well, you know how it is.
I find myself wondering... is it actually okay for a kid like that to show up to religion class, sit there and listen, but still maintain a healthy sense of critical thinking? I mean—is there really anything wrong with them questioning things as they go along?
I find myself wondering—is there actually any point in being baptized or showing up at church? I mean, does the local school district even bother preparing kids for First Communion anymore? And here is the real kicker—if you aren't some die-hard, weekly attendee, is your kid going to end up stuck in a lower grade level or somehow disadvantaged compared to the religious kids? It feels like one of those things that could go sideways. Are these religious education classes actually meant to broaden a child's horizons and introduce them to different perspectives... or is it just a way to drill specific doctrines into their heads without letting them question a single thing? Because, let’s be honest—if a kid actually starts asking real questions or dares to voice what Mom and Dad taught them at home, they aren't exactly going to have a grand old time in those sessions.
What’s the deal with the religious education curriculum these days? I mean, honestly—what are they actually teaching in those classes?

Over the last ten pages or so that I’ve been digging through—though honestly, it really just depends on which instructor you happen to be listening to—it all comes down to the teacher.

I don't know what to make of this whole Tanita situation—it’s one of those things that just sits in the back of your mind, nagging at you, isn't it? It feels like we're constantly circling the same drain, waiting for some kind of definitive answer or a moment of clarity that never actually arrives. I was thinking about it earlier while staring at a lukewarm cup of coffee, and honestly, the more you dig, the more it feels like we're just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. There's a certain futility to it all—an exhausting sort of loop where everyone thinks they have the missing piece of the puzzle, yet here we are, still staring at the same empty box. It’s frustrating, really. A bit maddening, if I'm being honest. We demand certainty in a world that seems hell-bent on being unpredictable, and then we act surprised when the floor drops out from under us. It's a cycle—a repetitive, somewhat ridiculous cycle—that we seem doomed to repeat. kaže:
Look, regarding the withdrawal process—the rules are pretty much identical for everyone across the board. You can't just pull a kid out mid-year, even if you try to use extracurriculars or some other nonsense as an excuse... it's just not how it works.

Is this actually legit? I mean, if it turns out this is having a negative impact, I’d pull my kid out of that school in a heartbeat. A colleague of mine has a little one who has started begging to pray every single night—he’s developed this whole "paranoia" that if he doesn't say his prayers, he’s headed straight to hell. It’s wild. Apparently, the religious instructor keeps bribing them with toys every chance they get to keep them engaged. Honestly, people have lost their minds. They’ve decided to withdraw him, though I’m not sure if they're doing it immediately or just waiting until the end of the school year.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy via Reddit

It’s weird to me that she’s even still here given everything else she’s written. 🤷

Robert Rodriguez9 said:The question itself is confusing:

It’s weird to me that she’s even still here given everything else she’s written. 🤷

Exactly. She went ahead and listed every single reason why she *wouldn't* enroll, but she completely skipped over why she actually would.

I get it, you want the specifics. 😁

My bad. I probably could have been more concise. Honestly, whether or not we actually send her depends entirely on how we answer a few things first.

Tyler Ruiz502 said:Hey there.
My kid is just about preschool age now, so I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately—trying to figure out our next move. To be honest, I'm an atheist. My husband... well, he isn't exactly devout, if you want to call it that—he doesn't really care for the whole religious thing—but he's not quite on my level either. We aren't exactly "practicing" anything; we might put up a little decoration during the holidays, but we aren't exactly showing up at the local chapel every Sunday. Anyway, the little one hasn't been baptized or anything like that. So, I'm sitting here wondering: should we enroll them in a religious school, or skip it? What do you guys think?
I’m trying to explain the fundamentals—you know, what God actually is, who Jesus was, the whole deal with the church, Christmas carols, nuns, priests, the Crucifixion, funerals... all of it. I'm basically trying to lay out the core tenets for someone who actually believes, just so we're on the same page. I started with something like, "Legend has it that Jesus was born in a stable, and many people believe he possessed miraculous powers..." and honestly? It was a lost cause. In her head, she thinks Jesus is some kind of magical fairy from a cartoon. 🙂
People keep asking me if it’s actually true—as if there's some definitive proof just sitting around waiting to be found. But honestly? We can't verify it. There is no way to check the facts on this one, period. At the end of the day, we’re left with a simple choice: do we want to believe it, or don't we? I've mentioned before how much comfort people find in having something to cling to—it's that sense of belief that keeps so many folks calm and steady when things get chaotic. It’s just... well, you know how it is.
I find myself wondering... is it actually okay for a kid like that to show up to religion class, sit there and listen, but still maintain a healthy sense of critical thinking? I mean—is there really anything wrong with them questioning things as they go along?
I find myself wondering—is there actually any point in being baptized or showing up at church? I mean, does the local school district even bother preparing kids for First Communion anymore? And here is the real kicker—if you aren't some die-hard, weekly attendee, is your kid going to end up stuck in a lower grade level or somehow disadvantaged compared to the religious kids? It feels like one of those things that could go sideways. Are these religious education classes actually meant to broaden a child's horizons and introduce them to different perspectives... or is it just a way to drill specific doctrines into their heads without letting them question a single thing? Because, let’s be honest—if a kid actually starts asking real questions or dares to voice what Mom and Dad taught them at home, they aren't exactly going to have a grand old time in those sessions.
What’s the deal with the religious education curriculum these days? I mean, honestly—what are they actually teaching in those classes?

Over the last ten pages or so that I’ve been digging through—though honestly, it really just depends on which instructor you happen to be listening to—it all comes down to the teacher.

I don't know what to make of this whole Tanita situation—it’s one of those things that just sits in the back of your mind, nagging at you, isn't it? It feels like we're constantly circling the same drain, waiting for some kind of definitive answer or a moment of clarity that never actually arrives. I was thinking about it earlier while staring at a lukewarm cup of coffee, and honestly, the more you dig, the more it feels like we're just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. There's a certain futility to it all—an exhausting sort of loop where everyone thinks they have the missing piece of the puzzle, yet here we are, still staring at the same empty box. It’s frustrating, really. A bit maddening, if I'm being honest. We demand certainty in a world that seems hell-bent on being unpredictable, and then we act surprised when the floor drops out from under us. It's a cycle—a repetitive, somewhat ridiculous cycle—that we seem doomed to repeat. kaže:
Look, regarding the withdrawal process—the rules are pretty much identical for everyone across the board. You can't just pull a kid out mid-year, even if you try to use extracurriculars or some other nonsense as an excuse... it's just not how it works.

Is this actually legit? I mean, if it turns out this is having a negative impact, I’d pull my kid out of that school in a heartbeat. A colleague of mine has a little one who has started begging to pray every single night—he’s developed this whole "paranoia" that if he doesn't say his prayers, he’s headed straight to hell. It’s wild. Apparently, the religious instructor keeps bribing them with toys every chance they get to keep them engaged. Honestly, people have lost their minds. They’ve decided to withdraw him, though I’m not sure if they're doing it immediately or just waiting until the end of the school year.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy via Reddit

Why are we even stuck in this dilemma? Let her go, see for herself, hear the lessons, and then decide if she wants to believe in any of it or not. Plus—and this is a big "plus"—it keeps her from buzzing around the hallway complaining about it (though that really depends on how many other kids are uninterested in religion class and what kind of alternative they offer). It’s not like she’s going to sit there listening to Buddhism or something.
If being enrolled means she has to commit to a bunch of parish activities—you know, Mass, prayers, joining the choir... that's a hard pass for me. I honestly have no idea how much the classroom religious education actually ties into real-world practice.
But, if it’s all just coloring books and Bible stories during school hours? Then I’m totally fine with it.
The main thing is, if I notice my kid starting to act differently or if she starts obsessing over some weird religious fears, I want to have the option to pull the plug immediately.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy A31 on Reddit

Katjes
From what I can gather, you don't just get to opt out of religious ed halfway through the school year just because you aren't feeling the teacher's vibe or how they're running things, I guess.
I'm not entirely sure if you actually want your kid to go through with the sacraments or not? Usually, there's this unspoken rule—or maybe an explicit one—that you have to show up for Mass if you're serious about getting those sacraments, right?