Religion classes in school - Megathread

I signed her up myself... not because she asked, but because she insisted on seeing what all the fuss was about. She’s just a freshman, so
there's zero chance she'll be doing this again next year. I'm just hoping she gets over this phase eventually.
I was flipping through the textbook yesterday and it's full of nonsense. Apparently, kids are supposed to give up sweets during Lent now? What kind of logic is that? :-) haha
It's ridiculous. I doubt it'll cause any permanent damage, but then again, that's what happens when you let a freshman make the decisions.

A tentative new schedule just popped up here at the office, featuring those block periods we've been hearing about for tomorrow morning. It looks like 🙂 👍

Mine has the same schedule with religion class being first thing in the morning. It’s actually great since my spouse is home in the mornings and can let them sleep in a bit longer.
I'm really hoping it stays this way, especially because they have karate the day before and end up staying up late. This timing works out perfectly. 😁

steelskipper52 said:I signed her up myself... not because she asked, but because she insisted on seeing what all the fuss was about. She’s just a freshman, so
there's zero chance she'll be doing this again next year. I'm just hoping she gets over this phase eventually.
I was flipping through the textbook yesterday and it's full of nonsense. Apparently, kids are supposed to give up sweets during Lent now? What kind of logic is that? :-) haha
It's ridiculous. I doubt it'll cause any permanent damage, but then again, that's what happens when you let a freshman make the decisions.

Despite all the ridiculous stuff they include in those textbooks, this part isn't actually stupid.

Lent is something special for believers. Yeah, we give up the little luxuries we usually take for granted. And since sweets are one of the main things kids enjoy, it makes sense to guide a young believer toward some kind of self-discipline.

If someone is a believer, it’s not an issue for them—just like it’s not an issue for them to wake up at 5:00 AM to be at Mass by 6:00.

Anyone who signs their kid up for religious education (confessional style) should already know this, and they should understand the whole concept of sacrifice. My child isn't attending, even though I'm a believer, so there's no obligation to the faith or the church other than respecting everyone else's choice. Besides, my spouse is an atheist.

For those whose kids go, if the parents didn't explain what kind of religious education this is and how deeply it's embedded in the institution of the Church itself, then they should deal with the consequences of their own decisions—and their decisions for others. That's a life lesson in itself.

Consequences? What consequences are we even talking about here? What's he actually going to conclude—that it’s all just a waste of time and decide to walk away?

silentraven6 said:Despite all the ridiculous stuff they include in those textbooks, this part isn't actually stupid.

Lent is something special for believers. Yeah, we give up the little luxuries we usually take for granted. And since sweets are one of the main things kids enjoy, it makes sense to guide a young believer toward some kind of self-discipline.

If someone is a believer, it’s not an issue for them—just like it’s not an issue for them to wake up at 5:00 AM to be at Mass by 6:00.

Anyone who signs their kid up for religious education (confessional style) should already know this, and they should understand the whole concept of sacrifice. My child isn't attending, even though I'm a believer, so there's no obligation to the faith or the church other than respecting everyone else's choice. Besides, my spouse is an atheist.

For those whose kids go, if the parents didn't explain what kind of religious education this is and how deeply it's embedded in the institution of the Church itself, then they should deal with the consequences of their own decisions—and their decisions for others. That's a life lesson in itself.

There is truth in what you're saying, BUT—children need to be educated in a way that adapts to them; one needs to know how to make the subject actually engaging.
Religious education in the lower grades should be instructional yet captivating—filled with stories and actual adventure.
The biggest issue today is that these classes are scheduled right in the middle of the school day, effectively forcing children into the choice because they'd otherwise have a free period—though most certainly wouldn't choose the class if given the option.
Some of this falls on the teachers, but from what I hear from parents in other districts, many instructors act as if religious ed is the most vital subject on earth, overwhelming students with useless information that they are then forced to memorize verbatim.

I remember my own religious education as something wonderful; we had an incredible teacher at CHS whom we absolutely adored because of her approach. She kept us so engaged that even after school, we would head down to the local monastery—where we'd sing and learn prayers while crafting various decorations and cards for children in Africa, sent via a mission organized by a nun from that very monastery. And I don't even need to mention how proud we felt being part of that aid, or how much happier and prouder we were when we received their thank-you cards and bracelets in return... now *that* is what I call the right approach. 🙏

Tyler Ruiz502 said:Consequences? What consequences are we even talking about here? What's he actually going to conclude—that it’s all just a waste of time and decide to walk away?

The consequence is the numbing of one's own perception. This post right below is a perfect example of exactly that.

I mean, everything is out there regarding how religious education is taught. The textbook was all over the news, and even international media recently picked up on some of those controversial sections. This forum is practically overflowing with examples of poor instruction, yet somehow, the child wasn't steered toward this by their parents.

Sam Kim12, I don't think you meant any harm to your kid, but I honestly feel like you knew all of this already—you're actually pointing out the discrepancies yourself.

Now that you're in the thick of the school year, you chose this path yourselves; it wasn't forced on you.

And why the shock over the Lenten renunciation? If we are believers, the reason is obvious. There isn't a gray area here. We do it because we are anticipating the Resurrection. We immerse ourselves in these forty days that Christ spent during His hardest moments, celebrating His sacrifice and goodness. We pray just as He did in the Garden of Gethsemane, we fast on the commanded days, and we participate in redeeming the world through good deeds.

Why would that be difficult for a believer?

And as for the textbook... maybe the teacher is just presenting it differently.

Sam Kim12 said:There is truth in what you're saying, BUT—children need to be educated in a way that adapts to them; one needs to know how to make the subject actually engaging.
Religious education in the lower grades should be instructional yet captivating—filled with stories and actual adventure.
The biggest issue today is that these classes are scheduled right in the middle of the school day, effectively forcing children into the choice because they'd otherwise have a free period—though most certainly wouldn't choose the class if given the option.
Some of this falls on the teachers, but from what I hear from parents in other districts, many instructors act as if religious ed is the most vital subject on earth, overwhelming students with useless information that they are then forced to memorize verbatim.

I remember my own religious education as something wonderful; we had an incredible teacher at CHS whom we absolutely adored because of her approach. She kept us so engaged that even after school, we would head down to the local monastery—where we'd sing and learn prayers while crafting various decorations and cards for children in Africa, sent via a mission organized by a nun from that very monastery. And I don't even need to mention how proud we felt being part of that aid, or how much happier and prouder we were when we received their thank-you cards and bracelets in return... now *that* is what I call the right approach. 🙏

I don't want to burst your bubble, but that trip to Africa for an honorable cause costs as much as a month's worth of meals for those kids.

silentraven6 said:The consequence is the numbing of one's own perception. This post right below is a perfect example of exactly that.

I mean, everything is out there regarding how religious education is taught. The textbook was all over the news, and even international media recently picked up on some of those controversial sections. This forum is practically overflowing with examples of poor instruction, yet somehow, the child wasn't steered toward this by their parents.

Sam Kim12, I don't think you meant any harm to your kid, but I honestly feel like you knew all of this already—you're actually pointing out the discrepancies yourself.

Now that you're in the thick of the school year, you chose this path yourselves; it wasn't forced on you.

And why the shock over the Lenten renunciation? If we are believers, the reason is obvious. There isn't a gray area here. We do it because we are anticipating the Resurrection. We immerse ourselves in these forty days that Christ spent during His hardest moments, celebrating His sacrifice and goodness. We pray just as He did in the Garden of Gethsemane, we fast on the commanded days, and we participate in redeeming the world through good deeds.

Why would that be difficult for a believer?

And as for the textbook... maybe the teacher is just presenting it differently.

I don't want to burst your bubble, but that trip to Africa for an honorable cause costs as much as a month's worth of meals for those kids.

Where exactly am I supposed to be shocked by the Lenten renunciation?😉
I’m neither surprised nor am I forcing children to give up everything—I don't subscribe to the idea of Godly punishments, because if that were true, then God would be the most unjust being in existence. Faith is a paradigm; you can choose to believe, or you can choose not to—just as you can practice it or simply exist alongside it. 😬

The cost of a trip to Africa isn't an illusion, but by your logic, everyone participating in missions and offering their sacrifices through service must be living in a fantasy world 🙂. — But honestly, it's better not to touch this topic, because if we follow that line of thinking, the price of a single bagel in the States is identical to what a small child in Africa eats in a week—so what now? Should we all just renounce every opportunity we have?

Sam Kim12 said:Where exactly am I supposed to be shocked by the Lenten renunciation?😉
I’m neither surprised nor am I forcing children to give up everything—I don't subscribe to the idea of Godly punishments, because if that were true, then God would be the most unjust being in existence. Faith is a paradigm; you can choose to believe, or you can choose not to—just as you can practice it or simply exist alongside it. 😬

The cost of a trip to Africa isn't an illusion, but by your logic, everyone participating in missions and offering their sacrifices through service must be living in a fantasy world 🙂. — But honestly, it's better not to touch this topic, because if we follow that line of thinking, the price of a single bagel in the States is identical to what a small child in Africa eats in a week—so what now? Should we all just renounce every opportunity we have?

No, it's not that. My eating a bagel can't be compared to sending a donation to a mission in Africa, because my eating a bagel doesn't come with the assumption that I'm performing some great act of righteousness.

Well, we finally received our new schedule, and it looks like religion class is set for third period both ways... 👎 Since they’ve reorganized everything into five-person groups and every single subject now requires its own dedicated classroom, whenever the library is closed, the hallway becomes our only option...

I keep trying to convince him to just head home during that hour, but he’s being quite stubborn about it, mostly because he doesn't want to deal with the hassle of lugging his heavy backpack around all day...

Susan James said:To be honest, what really bugs me is the schedule itself—how they only give one hour to art and music, but two full hours to religious studies.

The second I saw the first-grade schedule, it hit me... and honestly, I was disgusted. It’s unbelievable how our American school system undervalues the arts compared to religious studies...🙄

And then you look at the schedule, and suddenly science and geography only get an hour and a half of class time per week... honestly, it’s a joke. Religious studies is clearly being prioritized over actual academic foundations here. They might as well just scrap those two subjects entirely and let religious studies take up five hours instead. I mean, why bother? After all, the Earth is nothing more than a flat disc and evolution is just some fairy tale they made up... 😁

Drew Johnson2... I’ve been sitting here thinking about how first-year PID students get the exact same hourly rate as the seniors... It just doesn't pass the smell test. In my view, that subject covers such a massive spectrum of information...

Drew Johnson2 said:And then you look at the schedule, and suddenly science and geography only get an hour and a half of class time per week... honestly, it’s a joke. Religious studies is clearly being prioritized over actual academic foundations here. They might as well just scrap those two subjects entirely and let religious studies take up five hours instead. I mean, why bother? After all, the Earth is nothing more than a flat disc and evolution is just some fairy tale they made up... 😁

You think I'm joking, but we're heading straight there.
Because that’s exactly what they're aiming for.
Give it ten years and they'll be trying to cure us with leeches, and if a woman shows up with curly hair, she'll be wearing a headscarf or else she'll be accused of practicing witchcraft.
No joke.

I mean, there’s a lot of overlap between the Democratic Party platform and religious studies classes. Plus, since kids spend so much time singing and drawing during those sessions, what more could they really get out of an extra hour of social studies or history?
It's a good thing the Democratic Party hasn't cut that hour from the schedule yet. 😂

Once the reforms finally take hold, we’ll be looking at five hours of religious studies per week and zero hours of the Democratic Party or other such devilish influences... It is best to strike while the iron is hot.

brightheron64 said:Well, it looks like things are finally starting to shift...

So, the school year just kicked off, and in my daughter's third-grade class, we have a whole new group of non-believers emerging—there are seven of them now out of nineteen students total. And honestly, they seemed to be having quite the blast out on the playground during second period today...

I can't help but wonder, though, if we'll see that number climb to twelve or so in a few years; maybe then religious studies might actually become the first or last period on the schedule
...🎉

Our teacher is an atheist and refuses to allow religious studies during the main instruction block...😍

There are two students in our class who don't attend religious studies, and considering we live in Oakland, I don't foresee much changing in the foreseeable future...🕺

Lisa Rivera said:Once the reforms finally take hold, we’ll be looking at five hours of religious studies per week and zero hours of the Democratic Party or other such devilish influences... It is best to strike while the iron is hot.

Our teacher is an atheist and refuses to allow religious studies during the main instruction block...😍

There are two students in our class who don't attend religious studies, and considering we live in Oakland, I don't foresee much changing in the foreseeable future...🕺

It’s pathetic when certain teachers—rare as they may be—let their own personal beliefs dictate what should be standard procedure.

I'm a believer, but I'm also objective about religious education. Frankly, it hasn't clicked for me since first grade. Not because of the content, but because of how it's forced on kids—making them wander the halls or sit in the library just to avoid being in the classroom. Plus, they give it way more time than Art, which is incredibly vital at that age. And why give it the same amount of time as Social Studies? It covers such a massive range of info. One thing I'll never get: why grade children on memorizing religious facts? There should be a completely different approach to that...🙄

quietjackal6 said:It’s pathetic when certain teachers—rare as they may be—let their own personal beliefs dictate what should be standard procedure.

I'm a believer, but I'm also objective about religious education. Frankly, it hasn't clicked for me since first grade. Not because of the content, but because of how it's forced on kids—making them wander the halls or sit in the library just to avoid being in the classroom. Plus, they give it way more time than Art, which is incredibly vital at that age. And why give it the same amount of time as Social Studies? It covers such a massive range of info. One thing I'll never get: why grade children on memorizing religious facts? There should be a completely different approach to that...🙄

I’d personally reach out privately to ask which specific school allows a teacher to dictate the religious studies schedule based solely on their "personal convictions," especially when they aren't even looking out for the students' best interests. I haven't heard of such a thing happening in any American school district.

Look, you can hold whatever beliefs you want, but if the registrar won't cooperate and the principal doesn't sign off on it, you’re stuck. You'll get whatever religious ed slot ends up on the schedule. In other words, that's what the kids are getting.

I was thinking the same thing. There isn't much a teacher can do about it, though they could potentially find a better way to organize things for the kids who aren't attending religious studies.

I have absolutely zero interest in spreading misinformation here. So, what you're telling me is that the teachers who happen to have religion classes scheduled as their first or last period managed to fight their way out of it? Give me a break! Please. And then those poor souls who aren't quite as aggressive—those who don't feel the need to lecture kids who aren't religious—just get stuck with religion wedged right in the middle of the school day?? It’s pure stupidity.

You get whatever schedule the administrator hands you. Period. They build it based on the constraints they're juggling—split shifts, total number of classrooms, teachers splitting time between two different districts, and so on. A teacher can flip upside down and scream their convictions at every bell if they want to, but it won't change a thing. All this talk is just a way to suck up to parents.