Beth is in an Episcopal school. First, the public schools in my county suck, like some of the worst in the country. And, she would be the only child of her race in the entire system, not just class. The local private school is not parochial but also sucks.

So, I chose this school she is in because it is good, my family is involved (my aunt teaches and grandmother involved too), did I mention it is good. Oh, and it is small and family-like. Beth knows everyone. I am pagan, DH and rest of family Christian.

Each year, Beth leans more and more toward a "natural" path. She loves stories of Mother Nature and the celebrations we have had for pagan Sabbats, etc. I have not been very open to her as if it is discovered I am pagan, she would possibly be expelled or otherwised asked to leave school. Well, now, someone at school has told her she can't believe in God and Mother Nature. She is very upset. If pushed to choose, she wants Mother Nature, not God. She wants to leave school because they are "forcing" a choice she does not want to make.

I am planning on educating her more over the next few days about what Pagans believe and the differences in Christianity and Paganism and to help her understand some of the intolerance she is going to encounter and is probably encountering now. Unfortunately, taking her out of school is not an option, not for the rest of this year or next year. This is a very good school. Aside from a Montessori school I cannot come close to affording, most, if not all the other private schools are parochial. I have to work for at least another year so homeschooling is not an option. If I am working, DH will not consider homeschooling, especially not because she wants to be pagan (we have not even mentioned any of this to him yet).

Any advice?

How old is your daughter?

That might help me to know what advice/etc. I might would give.


Hang in there!

Grassaf,

Becca

She is 8 and in second grade. I have talked with her further and it is not so much that someone has said you have to believe X. It is the prayers they are learning. In them, they pray to God that they worship Him and only Him. This is upsetting her. That and that they do not learn about Mother Nature at all.

Well, I guess if I were sending my child to a school that wasn't of our beliefs, I'd expect them to teach what they believed and if I didn't agree with them, either leave the school or just be quiet. I understand her being upset but I wouldn't expect them to teach something that they don't believe. As a Christian, I don't believe in "mother nature" and would not want a Christian school to teach that. Sending a child to a pagan school, I'd expect her to not be taught about God but about pagan stuff and sending her to a Christian school, I wouldn't expect pagan teachings but Christian.

I went to Catholic school and wasn't a Catholic and just kept quiet most of the time as to their teachings (except where they were teaching wrong things about the Bible). That's just what I expected to hear.

I hope that makes sense. I'm running out the door and wanted to answer this. :D

Ann

You seem to be in a bad situation. I have to agree that there really isn't any room for complaints because this is where she has been placed. Is there any way to rearrange your daily schedule to homeschool? From all your listings of whats wrong with surroundings, this seems to be the best option. Its probably best to sit down with your dh and really have an open and honest conversation about beliefs and the best way to deal with the situation your family is in.

It sounds like a good way to teach her about questioning authority, and about deciding what she truly believes for herself. I think every parent will come up against this in a school situation at some point, if not about religion then maybe about a historical perspective, or something else that goes against your personal belief system.
(When I say questioning authority I mean of course privately, to herself, not standing up in class and challenging the teacher. :) )
BTW, I personally don't agree that you can't believe in both God and Mother Nature, b/c I do. ;) And I think that a person can only pray to their own concept of God.
I guess she might have to keep quiet about it, but know in her heart what she believes. This experience could really make her faith and intellect strong, so try to look at it positively!
:butterfly