I'm not a Christian

**triedit** · 02-12-2009, 02:11 PM

I support the extreme separation of church and state. I believe that only silent prayer should be allowed in schools.

That said, I was still shocked and horrified when I saw this:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...lking-God.html

A primary school receptionist is facing the sack after her five-year-old daughter was scolded for talking about God in class

The gist of this is the 5 year old told another student she was going to hell. She was pulled aside and told that was wrong, and the mom was called into the office. Mom emailed some frends asking for prayer support for the school and the email ended up on the principals desk. They are threatening to fire the mom for circulating negative stuff about the school.

This is SO wrong. Aparantly the little girls both went home in tears. One because she had been chastised for talking about God and the other because she feared hell. I get that. The little one was upset and rightly so. But to make this a big deal only traumatizes everyone more.

She should have been quietly pulled aside and told she couldnt talk about things related to God because that's not allowed in school. She should be told that gently, as to guide her not scold her. Then mom should get a phone call filling her in on what happened and asked to talk about this with her child. Now it's a public display that the radicals will make hugely political. What a shame that both families have to go through this.

**El Barto** · 02-12-2009, 02:17 PM

total over reaction here.

**Love2smile** · 02-12-2009, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by triedit

She should have been quietly pulled aside and told she couldnt talk about things related to God because that's not allowed in school. She should be told that gently, as to guide her not scold her. Then mom should get a phone call filling her in on what happened and asked to talk about this with her child. Now it's a public display that the radicals will make hugely political. What a shame that both families have to go through this.

I agree. Grown-ups often don't know how to behave in front of children.

**karrie** · 02-12-2009, 02:36 PM

I think trying to tell a child of 5 she shouldn't talk about god is almost impossible. How on earth would it make sense in the head of a 5 year old that an all powerful deity they've been taught about can't be talked about in certain circles.

What should make sense to her though, is to explain that telling people they're going to hell is bullying. Flat out, plain and simple, bullying. It might pay to teach a few thousand congregations that too btw.

**Mark** · 02-12-2009, 02:43 PM

I'll probably get clobbered for this, but I sometimes wonder how teachers are able to learn when they haven't (an awful lot of them) basic problem solving skills.

**triedit** · 02-12-2009, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by karrie

. It might pay to teach a few thousand congregations that too btw.

Amen, sister!

**DurkaDurka** · 02-12-2009, 02:48 PM

What the hell does the title have to do with the thread, Triedit? Reported for being a soulless witch. :biggrin:

**Zan** · 02-12-2009, 02:51 PM

What's wrong with this scenario is not necessarily that religion and the practice or discussion of it needs to be barred from the classroom.

That immediately throws out a connotation that religion and spirituality is a 'bad' thing, and needs to be kept hidden from public view or discussion.

What I'd like to see happen is for the religions to all stop instilling such vile, loathsome and cruel concepts like "Hell" into the minds of our young ones - and then, give them permission to compare and discuss their respective belief systems in a manner that teaches them to hold respect towards the beliefs of others, and expect the same in return.

That poor girl - already infused with the spirit of "judge-your-neighbour" at such a young age. What a huge strike against the hope of her growing up with an open mind and heart.

If they want to get rid of anything, get rid of hell and references to it.

**karrie** · 02-12-2009, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by Midnight_Rider

I'll probably get clobbered for this, but I sometimes wonder how teachers are able to learn when they haven't (an awful lot of them) basic problem solving skills.

I agree 100%. Most of the teachers my kids have had have been great at teachig, but seriously lack basic common sense about a lot of stuff.

**IdRatherBeSkiing** · 02-12-2009, 03:12 PM

I wonder about this sometimes too. Fortunatly in our school the opposite is true. In December, they were obviously sharing traditions of all the religions as my son was coming back with stuff about dradles and stuff which was obviously not being taught by us. I think that is a better approach.