BellaOnline Forums Family LDS Families Homeschooling and Religious Kids

Some people think religious children need to be in public school to spread their beliefs to other children or to be exposed to values and ideas beyond their own.

How do you feel about children as missionaries in the school? How do you feel about children being exposed to other beliefs--on the government's time table? Is it inappropriate for religious children to homeschool?

Hope you don't mind me popping in here.

I think if the child is in public school and is focused mostly on sharing their beliefs that it could make them a target for bullies.

I'm not referring to setting an example but by quoting to other students. In an ideal public school situation it wouldn't matter as much. Unfortunately the public schools are not. And in some areas, being religious could make them a target for bullies. Childhood is hard enough without inviting trouble. On the opposite side of that is that if there are a large number of students in the school with similar beliefs they may become the bullies. Anything is a reason to exclude another, strongly held beliefs hurt more then say, hair color.

Some food for thought: It's a two way street. Public schools have kids from all walks of life and if you send you child to school spread their beliefs you can and should expect others beliefs to be shared with them. If you don't want that, then I wouldn't recommend public school. Public schools do not hire teacher based on religion so your child�s teacher (role model/authority figure) may believe the opposite of what you do. If a child goes to school as a missionary this could cause major conflicts within themselves because the person who is supposed to know more has said that they don�t believe that. Imagine being a child and having to come to terms with that. No child should have to.



I have to say, of course not! If a child is really interested in learning about their religion then homeschooling allows the time to do that. But then I don�t believe religion should be forced on a child. I�m Buddhist but I don�t expect my son to be Buddhist unless he feels that is the right path for him.

I should add that I am against public schooling no matter what! I think the idea that ALL kids learn the same way and are therefore lumped together and taught the same is the cause of a lot of the trouble in schools. I worked at an inner city high school and the students said it was a joke, they weren�t learning anything because the entire class had to follow the pace

I wouldn't send a child to school simply to be a beacon, if you will, unto others. I agree with what a pastor told me years ago, that it's more dangerous to the faith to send in an ill-prepared child, they aren't equipped to be "warriors of the faith".

I do believe, also, that sending a child to school with the specific purpose of converting others would probably cause more problems than do good. Being a living example is one thing, a child preaching is another.

meg

Hi Samten, I intentionally didn't leave the post religion-specific to welcome others to participate in this question.

I chose those specific questions because religious homeschoolers get told regularly that their children can't share the gospel if they don't go to school and that they need alternate viewpoints. My own feelings on the subjectof missionary work are that children should be teaching by example, not preaching, and they can do that anywhere--it's sort of the socialization question in disguise.

As for the different beliefs, that always made me laugh. At school, my kids learned only evolution, one point of view. When we homeschooled, I taught evolution and creation both. I tried to give them multiple viewpoints, but share them from my perspective. We studied other religions when they came into our history. We had a history book called Opposing Viewpoints. They never got multiple viewpoints in school.

I was never afraid of children knowing the world doesn't agree with us in everything, but I wanted first crack at their minds, so I wanted to be the one to tell them.