Any other agnostic or atheist parents here?

Question

I'm agnostic and I have a few questions for other non-religious parents. I was looking at the elementary schools within walking distance and it seems the only really good one with excellent standards and the best uniform and everything is roman catholic :(...they sing hyms, attend church on Friday mornings, Priest gives "religious" classes etc

She does not have to be baptized but Would you send your child to a religious school just because it's the only good one in your area?

How do I deal with my young daughter coming home asking "How come everyone goes church on Sunday & I am the only one" etc..she is bound to ask stuff like this....maybe I should just say to her what I think people who attend church are silly sheep..but I dont know.

And regarding the school can I ask them to let her be excluded from religious trips & activities?

Thanks ; )

Answer 1

I'm not a parent but I am agnostic, so maybe my opinion might help. I think that sending her to catholic school would lead to alot of confusion for both of you. Especially if your ideas about religion rub off on her. At such a young age, she shouldn't be sent to a place where she's bound to be an outsider, especially if you're planning on denying her the right to participate in events that everyone else will be attending. I knew a girl who was in catholic school for years, and when she finally went to the less-refined public school, she found that her education wasn't compromised. She actually liked it better because they're was a wider range of opinions that she got to encounter everyday. Just because a school isn't good on paper doesn't mean it won't do the job well.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

My sister and her husband have their 5 year old daughter in a religious school, they are both atheists.  They enrolled her there because it is the best school in the area.  She does ask questions a lot, like why don't we pray, etc.  My sister just deals with it by telling her that different people do different things.  It is okay for the people at school to pray, but we don't do it at home.  However, she lets her daughter do what she feels comfortable with.

I think it depends on how long your child is going to be in the school.  If it's just a few years that might not be too confusing, but the longer she is in the system the more endoctrinated she will become.  Please don't put her in the school and then tell her that the people she trusts and looks up to are just mindless sheep.  That will cause her more confusion, and she will likely repeat it to them.  I think letting her know that everyone has different beliefs and being clear about what your thoughts are, and answering her questions when she raises them should be fine.  

Just be aware that religious schools are masters at fully immersing children in their beliefs, and you may not be as good at combatting that.  So what are your priorities?  She gets a good education, or she is not endoctinated into something you fully disagree with?  A hard choice.

Your best bet is checking out the school, talk to other parents, see what a typical school day is like, etc.  Then make a choice.

Answer 3

I did not grow up in a religious household nor did I attend a religious school but I had a lot of non-religious friends who did, particularly in high school when the public schools no longer met their well-to-do parents' standards and they instead were sent to the local Catholic high school.  Everyone I knew turned out normal and didn't seem to suffer any ill effects from it.  There were minimal religious requirements but they seemed reasonable (a religion course and Chapel once a week).  It probably depends mostly on the school and the philosophies of the local diocese overseeing it.  It might be a good idea to check into it further and make sure all your potential concerns are addressed before moving forward with such an option.  Good luck.

Answer 4

I was raised Roman Catholic, but I myself am Agnostic. I have gone to a Catholic school for basically my entire school life. It's a regular school, just religion is incorporated. It's nothing cult-like, and what is taught there is very basic, there is absolutely no brainwashing.

Send your daughter to a public school then, there has to be one around your area. I also wouldn't recommend telling your daughter that 'people who attend church are silly sheep.' That is teaching her not to accept other people's religious beliefs and opinions. Why would you even think of saying that to your daughter?

Answer 5

no, it is wrong, children learn to believe as toldfrom a young age, by sending them there you are basically going to get them to become a christian. send them to a normal school so when old enough they have the choice of atheism or a religion they choose/

Answer 6

You do have a choice to send your child to a public school or a Catholic school... so if you choose the religious school, you should just suck up all of your problems you have about it because you think it's better than the alternative.

And telling your child that people who attend church are silly sheep is forcing your opinion on her.  Let her grow and thrive to be what she wants to be without having her think that choosing a religion would upset you.

Answer 7

I would just go talk to someone at the school and ask if they have other children who are not Catholic and what types of religious-based activities go on in a day ... and from there figure out whether it's worth it to you.

I'm agnostic.  I was raised Catholic but went to an Episcopalian boarding school (my parents taught there).  I never found it particularly confusing but I think it would likely be a different story at an elementary level.

Answer 8

I have a friend who sent her child to a Catholic school and almost everyday it was something. Coloring pics of Jesus or some other bible theme. If it is a religious school they include religion where ever they can. I also don't think it is appropriate to tell your child that ppl who attend church are silly sheep. Don't you think it would be good to teach your child that everyone has their own beliefs and are entitled to them?

Answer 9

I think you should send her to a public school, that way you won't have all kinds of religious conflict.  Yes, it may be the best school, but she will come home with lots of questions that you may or may not to talk about.  As your child gets older she will be able to decide on her own her religious beliefs.  I personally think for your situation, the Catholic school isn't the best choice.  Just MY opinion though!

Answer 10

My kids go to Catholic school and yes, they do teach religion there.  They attend a 1 hour religion class every day and are taught about Jesus.  The class is taught by their regular teacher, not a priest.  There are also many non-Catholics that go to the school.  Probably not any atheists though.  If you send your child there and ask that they be excluded from the religious activities and classes, then you will be setting your child up for riducule.  Kids are very mean and cruel at this age.  Yes, even in the Catholic schools, because most of them have wealthy families and are brought up to think that there are no other types of people.  Please don't tell your child that people who attend church are silly sheep... this will only be showing that you think that people aren't entitled to believe in what they want, as you do.  And, by the way, you'll only be getting off to a terrible start if you go into a Catholic School and try to start preaching to the teachers that you don't want your kid to do this or that!  That's not the way they work.  They are very different from public school standards.

Edit: - As far as education in Catholic schools, it is much the same as public as far as the subjects go, except for the fact that some private schools are ahead in academics.  For instance, my son is in the 5th grade, but all of his books are 6th grade level. It is not considered an accelerated class either.   They also DO NOT walk up and down the hallways with crucifixes in their hands waving them around.  So, no harm will come of your child there, but you do want to make sure she fits in whereever she goes and is not made to feel like she is any different than anyone else.  They also don't put put up with a lot of the c**p that goes on in public schools.

Answer 11

UR THE SILLY SHEEP!!! NOT TO BE OFFENSIVE THOUGH....BUT UR GOING TO SEE ONE DAY THAT GOD IS REAL... AND WHEN YOU DO UR GOING TO BE SORRY THAT YOU DIDNT BELIEVE IN HIM.....AND YOU SHOULD SEND UR DAUGHTER TO THAT SCHOOL BUT DONT TELL HER WHY SHE DOESNT GO TO CHURCH....JUST LET IT BE