NationStates Jolt Archive

I wear a pentacle to school every day. A few weeks ago I noticed 14 out of the 17 girls in my grade wear symbols of their faiths, and one boy. What do you think of people wearing symbols of their faiths/special clothing, etc in schools? Should kids be allowed to pray in schools? Are teachers/administrators tolerant enough? Should religous music be banned from choruses and bands? Should schools be allowed to decorate for religious holidays? Etc. Debate!

All or nothing.

I wear a pentacle to school every day. A few weeks ago I noticed 14 out of the 17 girls in my grade wear symbols of their faiths, and one boy. What do you think of people wearing symbols of their faiths/special clothing, etc in schools? Should kids be allowed to pray in schools? Are teachers/administrators tolerant enough? Should religous music be banned from choruses and bands? Should schools be allowed to decorate for religious holidays? Etc. Debate!
Allowing people to worship who or whatever they want is fine as long as the school is not the one forcing others to do it.
The music is a harder question … normally I would be against choir or bad playing religious pieces as it forces others not necessarily of the faith to sing it. BUT I also have to realize the wealth of just beautiful music that has been influenced by religion(not saying that religion created it but some very talented people choose to make it their topic of the song)
With that there is a whole section of beautiful music that would be out of touch (honestly don’t know where I stand on the music part)

I'm against the whole decorations and 'religious assembalys' where they sing hymms and hear about god, I'm against schools forceing religion on people.

I don't mind people showing off there religion but not forceing it on others.

I don´t think the wisest choice would be banning; But I do think parents should do that part of child education, to give them spiritual principles, teach them the good things of a religion (or not). I reckon my conservative thinking, and I reckon too the disfuntionality of families nowadays (I grew fatherless), but one thing I know is that the few things one truly learns in life (love for arts, religious principles) comes from the family circle and nowhere else.

What do you think of people wearing symbols of their faiths/special clothing, etc in schools?

- They should be allowed to wear them if they want.

Should kids be allowed to pray in schools?

- Yes.

Are teachers/administrators tolerant enough?

- I expect it varies from teacher to teacher

Should religous music be banned from choruses and bands?

- Not sure what you mean. The school shouldn't show favour to any religion, in musical form or otherwise.

Should schools be allowed to decorate for religious holidays?

- I think that would be showing favour to a religion.

I'm anti religion is schools and I believe all faiths should be equally encouraged. That means encouraged, not opressed and put down. People need to believe in something. Yes, they sure as h*ll should wear there crosses and pentacles and whatever else in school because it's freedom of religion, not denial of it. I hate religion but i have noticed the serious deteriation of relgion due to this "ani-religious" attitude that schools should ban religon. When we were a kid, we said the pledge of aligence. If a child had problems saying "under God" they just sat out from the pledge. Nothing wrong with that. They have a choice. But now, it's strictly forbidden to say God in schools, but okay to say the f-word. When kids spend most of there day at school, where else are they going to learn their morals and values. I think religions, all religions, should be taught in a scholarly manner. "This is what these people believe and this is what these people believe and you can believe anything you want." because they have a huge effect on history and the world and how people act.

As for music, it should not be banned. very good music was written as church music. What would christmas be without The Messiah, or Beethoven, or even joy to the world? We can not deny history because it has religion in it. We can't put it in a little black box. Teach without saying which ones right but don't hide religion because it does exist and children have a right to know that.

:sniper:

What do you think of people wearing symbols of their faiths/special clothing, etc in schools?

- They should be allowed to wear them if they want.

Should kids be allowed to pray in schools?

- Yes.

Are teachers/administrators tolerant enough?

- I expect it varies from teacher to teacher

Should religous music be banned from choruses and bands?

- Not sure what you mean. The school shouldn't show favour to any religion, in musical form or otherwise.

Should schools be allowed to decorate for religious holidays?

- I think that would be showing favour to a religion.

While I agree a LOT of music was religious inspired (I hate saying this ) but I think they should be allowed to enrich their students musical horizons by allowing it. Band is not such a big deal as it is just the notes … choir is a little more tricky with the presence of lyrics

*Shrugs* there is a christian club at school.

I felt like creating a Jewish club just for kicks .. considering i'm the only jewish kid in the grade heh.

Ah, it doesn't bother me, not very popular anyway :p

I see no problem with wearing religious symbols or praying (as long as it doesn't disrupt the class).

Most teachers are tolerant enough, but sometimes one goes over the deep end and either tries to discourage religion or tries to enforce his beleifs. Teachers should stick to teaching the curriculum.

I think it's pretty clear that the schools shouldn't be able to put on concerts of religious music or decorate for the holidays of any one specific religion. If all religion's holidays are honored, then I wouldn't mind.

Music is precious. if we burn and bann all music that is religious, we are no better than those of the past who burned and banned things that wern't religios. I do not want my kids only learning rudolf the red nosed reindeer and santa clause is coming to town and thinking that's what chrismas is all about. this anti religios trend is going to soon bann everything contraversial in schools, like chrismas and easter and such. why? there is no harm in these things.they are good for kids. and while were at it,lets get rid of believeing in saints because that's relgious, so none of those holidays, and lets get rid of halloween because that's an old scary druid holiday.

ANd then, lets bann all things that separate people by ethnicity because we don't want to be prejudice. So no japanese customs, no stories about our ancestors.

And then, lets no be sexists so lets raise all children as an equal gender. No more dresses and princesses. Everybody must be androgenous.

That's where were headed.

All or nothing.

I second that, either all religions or none. There's no "in between".

I wear a pentacle to school every day. A few weeks ago I noticed 14 out of the 17 girls in my grade wear symbols of their faiths, and one boy. What do you think of people wearing symbols of their faiths/special clothing, etc in schools? Should kids be allowed to pray in schools? Are teachers/administrators tolerant enough? Should religous music be banned from choruses and bands? Should schools be allowed to decorate for religious holidays? Etc. Debate!

I'd say that you should be allowed to wear any symbols you want that don't defame others. (Ie: a cross is okay, a swastika isn't). Special clothing is fine, so long as it's not distracting. (A headscarf isn't distracting. Wearing a Knight's Templar's tunic would be.)

Students should be allowed to pray in schools, but not during the actual school day.

As usual, teachers/admins are not nearly tolerant enough to the kids, but far more than others might expect. ;)

Yes. Music, books, etc that are religious don't belong in the public school system. The difference is that you personally endorse what you wear. What do you do if you don't want to dance the Hora (sp?) or sing "Silent Night"? Fail art class?

Yes, decorations should be allowed, so long as every faith practiced at the building is/can be represented.

*Shrugs* there is a christian club at school.

I felt like creating a Jewish club just for kicks .. considering i'm the only jewish kid in the grade heh.

Ah, it doesn't bother me, not very popular anyway :p

Do it if they have trips/funding for the other clubs. :)
(And who knows? Maybe there IS someone out there you don't know of??)

Music is precious. if we burn and bann all music that is religious, we are no better than those of the past who burned and banned things that wern't religios. I do not want my kids only learning rudolf the red nosed reindeer and santa clause is coming to town and thinking that's what chrismas is all about. this anti religios trend is going to soon bann everything contraversial in schools, like chrismas and easter and such. why? there is no harm in these things.they are good for kids. and while were at it,lets get rid of believeing in saints because that's relgious, so none of those holidays, and lets get rid of halloween because that's an old scary druid holiday.

ANd then, lets bann all things that separate people by ethnicity because we don't want to be prejudice. So no japanese customs, no stories about our ancestors.

And then, lets no be sexists so lets raise all children as an equal gender. No more dresses and princesses. Everybody must be androgenous.

That's where were headed.
Nice slippery slope you got there. We're not trying to make everyone the same, and we're not trying to ban religion. What we are trying to do is make sure that government doesn't promote one type or one group of religious beleifs over others. In fact, by taking religion out of school sponsored events we are protecting individuality. We're not allowing the school to dictate one particular school of religious thought to it's students.

Ironically, the american and european music we know today has been inspired by both african "drums and rhythm" as well as classical music, which used to be purely church music.

Should religion be banned? No. Should it be taught? if there's an alternative. Religion isn't something you can and should force upon someone. You should give people the opportunity to discover religion for themselves. Compulsory prayers, religious music and whatnot in school won't make that happen. Neither will banning religious symbols.

Decorations are a different story. Christmas is primarily a cultural event nowadays. I mean, how many people REALLY celebrate the birth of christ? Ask anyone for the meaning of christmas and I guarantee a great majority will say something along the lines of "family, friends, being together, happy, neighborly love" and so on. Putting up christmas lights, decorating trees or wearing pointy red hats doesn't remind anyone of jesus, it puts them in exactly that mood, that "I love everyone and christmas is a time of being together" mood.

Now if schools were to be "fair" and decorated for all other alternatives, such as Chanukka, it would send more of a "we're attempting to be politically correct and failing miserably". Unless of course we're talking about a school with a majority of jews. Which should be rather seldom.

[What do you do if you don't want to dance the Hora (sp?) or sing "Silent Night"? Fail art class? ]

you dance, or you sing. get a little taste of someone elses culture and belief. america needs there kids to get some enrichment. you don't need to belief to participate. and if it's completely against your belieds, as the teacher for an alternative. but don't deny other people the chance to try something because you, one student, is against it.

i'm not filipino but if i was told to try the tinicling dance, i'd go for it. i've danced in bon dances before, and felt a connection with trying something new. i'm not japanese and don't believe in the ancestors coming back. most people who dance probably don't either but they do it because it enriches the culture and allows you to connect with your past.

hmm...i would say that students can wear symbols of their faith...even teachers can. However, teachers can NOT push their religion (Note: teaching about religions and pushing a religion are very very different. I can teach students about the torah, the history of judaism, and the different sects without telling them that they should convert).

As far as prayer in school, you can't really stop it. A student before a math test says "please god, help me". That's prayer. Students should be permitted to if they want. Again, the school just can't support one over the other.

Oh! almost forgot...the music. I'm not religious at all...in fact, I hate organized religion. However, religious music (particularly some christian music) is beautiful. Handels Messiah or Salvation is Created or anything by bach is amazing. For its artistic value, it needs to be permitted

Do it if they have trips/funding for the other clubs. :)
(And who knows? Maybe there IS someone out there you don't know of??)

And I can steal all their monies!!!111!!!

Teh w00tz :p

I wear a pentacle to school every day. A few weeks ago I noticed 14 out of the 17 girls in my grade wear symbols of their faiths, and one boy. What do you think of people wearing symbols of their faiths/special clothing, etc in schools? Should kids be allowed to pray in schools? Are teachers/administrators tolerant enough? Should religous music be banned from choruses and bands? Should schools be allowed to decorate for religious holidays? Etc. Debate!
I don't see anything wrong with showing one's faith at school. I think kids should be allowed to pray in schools, but in my public schooling system, it is often required in certain situations, and THAT is wrong. No, teachers/adminstrators are not tolerant enough. Yes, religious music should be banned from choruses and bands. If schools decorate for one religious holiday, they should decorate for multiple religious holidays for multiple religions.

I have no problem with religious symbols or whatnot. However, It is COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE to have religious music or prayer. However, if they had a song or decorated, It would be acceptable if they did so for every Holiday, and I mean EVERY holiday. I myself am not religious at all, I am an atheist. I try to be very respectful of other religions but having religion in school is something Im extremely against unless it represents all religions and no favoritism.

I'm anti religion in general especially in schools, that said, so long as the school itself is atheistic or at least secular I dont see a case for banning religious expression within school so long as it was discrete and didn't get in the way of normal activites.

1. What do you think of people wearing symbols of their faiths/special clothing, etc in schools?
2. Should kids be allowed to pray in schools?
3. Are teachers/administrators tolerant enough?
4. Should religous music be banned from choruses and bands?
5. Should schools be allowed to decorate for religious holidays? Etc. Debate!

1.absolutly horrible! they are promoting false values, or in some cases the right values, but for the wronge reasons.
2. no, takes valuable time doing nothing of any importance.
3. much too tolerant.
4. yes
5. no

Religion in school.

Sure, whatever you want to say and do should be allowed, so long, of course its not a lie and you do not present opinion and faith as fact. Thus you may bear anything that expresses an opinion like.

"i believe [***]'s are going to hell" or "[***]'s may go to hell"

Rather than "[***]'s will go to hell"

Religious music, its fine, its just music, you can draw the line when people start singing rap versions of their distorted sermons, but thats not likely in schools anytime soon i shouldn't think.

Religious assemblys are fine, but only as part of a balanced and informative set of assemblies about world religions which do stress at some piont that religions are based on faith not fact.

Anything else?

If there is i've forgotten it.

1.absolutly horrible! they are promoting false values, or in some cases the right values, but for the wronge reasons.
2. no, takes valuable time doing nothing of any importance.
3. much too tolerant.
4. yes
5. no


You don't truly believe that do you ?

Luckily this gives me the questions i was supposed ot asnwer so i'll do it here :D.

1.Certainly
2.If it is not disruptive
3.I wouldn't know i'm afriad.
4.no

and finally

5.So long as they do it for every religious celebration someone asks them to celebrate. if they do it for one they potentially open a tide.

I wear a pentacle to school every day. A few weeks ago I noticed 14 out of the 17 girls in my grade wear symbols of their faiths, and one boy. What do you think of people wearing symbols of their faiths/special clothing, etc in schools? Should kids be allowed to pray in schools? Are teachers/administrators tolerant enough? Should religous music be banned from choruses and bands? Should schools be allowed to decorate for religious holidays? Etc. Debate!

I'm not sure what country you're in. In the United States, the national constitution does expressly mention a seperation between religious institutions and the state, including government-funded education.

If the students themselves are praying or wearing religious symbols without the specific endorsement of the school or its teachers as a part of curriculum, then it is acceptable.

In my public education experiences, I've been to assemblies in which we've listened to religious music and I've actually performed religious holiday music with the school's band, orchestra, and jazz band. Now, we played tunes from a variety of religious traditions and therefore I'd imagine there's nothing wrong with that since there was no endorsement of one religion over another. It could be argued that the secular, nonreligious festive holiday tunes included agnosticism/atheism as part of the performance programme as well.

No issue of controversy had come up with respect to that.

So, what the other person said about "all or nothing" is sort of appropriate, though I'm not sure if my own interpretation of "all or nothing" is the same as his/hers. We would either have to endorse all ways of thinking, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Atheism and others, depending on the ideological demographics of the school.

I wear a pentacle to school every day. A few weeks ago I noticed 14 out of the 17 girls in my grade wear symbols of their faiths, and one boy. What do you think of people wearing symbols of their faiths/special clothing, etc in schools? Should kids be allowed to pray in schools? Are teachers/administrators tolerant enough? Should religous music be banned from choruses and bands? Should schools be allowed to decorate for religious holidays? Etc. Debate!

I see no reason why a person should be discouraged from displaying symbols of their faith in their dress. That's suppression, not freedom, of religion.

The only place religion should be restricted in schools is that the school itself should not be allowed to promote one religion as right or true as opposed to other faiths, unless of course that school is a privately funded institution. There should be no restrictions on teaching religion in correlation to how it relates to history or current events. The idea that the very concept of religion should be taboo in an educational environment is myopic and ridiculous.

I think it's fine for schools to be religiously tolerant, the only grey area is something like Sikh which requires a ceremonial knife to be carried. There was a legal battle over this in Canada a few years ago, I think it may have been in my province (Ontario) but I'm not sure. Since it's a weapon, it goes against school policy, but that's something entirely different.

One question though: if people are allowed to wear crosses (and other religious symbols) should I be allowed to wear a "crossbuster" which is essentially a "no-smoking" sign with a cross instead of a cigarette? This symbol does not represent hatred of Christianity, it simply means that I disagree and it represents a no-religion zone just as a no-smoking sign denotes no smoking. I wear a shirt with one on it to school fairly often and actually it seems that nobody cares.

I think there should be, like every other piece of clothing in school, a set of regulations regarding where the clothes are, not what they are. If a school bans jewelry, then people cant wear crufixes. If a school bans headwear then people cant wear head scarfs. I am getting rather tired of people playing the race/religion card on these issues. Its an institutional policy, not a race/religion issue. The issue applies across the board. If a school bans jewlrey then it bans all jewlrey, necklaces, ear-rings, bracelets, the lot. It isnt out on a mission to target one particular group.

Students should be able to practice their religion through symbols, clothing, praying, singing etc. Schools shouldn't force any religion (i.e. everyone singing hymns in an assembly) but should give students the choice to (i.e. a choir that sings hymns). If you celebrate one religious holiday, you should celebrate all religious holidays. Religious education shouldn't be taught as giving a wrong/right religion but simply teaching about the religions and the beliefs involved. Teachers should be able to voice their personal opinions as long as it is made clear that they are only opinions.

There's nothing wrong with decorating for Christmas. People aren't being forced into that faith anyway.

I see no problem practicing real religions in school as long as it is lawful, doesn't require discrimination, and is a real religion. I don't like it when people go to court and say,"You see, me and my family practice Bobism, in which we are held above the law at all times. If you put me in jail for killing all those orphans and burning down the orphanage, you'll be violating my freedom of religion." Either pick a real religion that you didn't pull out of your fat butt or not have a religion at all.

The bill of rights clearly states that there should always be a seperation of church and state. If I am correct, banning religious practices that would not otherwise be illegal(let us pray in school during lunch and break. Don't allow someone to carry a weapon to school because the religion said so. We don't need another Columbine.) is violating that rule. The government should remain neutral on religion. Private schools should be allowed the right to ban prayers because they are not government funded or sponsered, and therefore, not part of the government.

Should lawful religious practices be allowed in schools if they are practiced by the people who want to practice them and only those people? Yes.
Should it be forced on you by the schools? no
Should religious music be allowed in schools? depends. Many religious songs, especially Christian songs, are neutral, and therefore should be allowed. Those that aren't neutral should not be allowed to be forced onto students and/or teachers.
Let's enforce the constitution, not change it to suit your wishes.