Anonymous asked this question on 3/27/2000:

I am wiccan and my children have been raised wiccan. They have been exposed to the ideology of all major religions so that they may make an informed decision when they are older. The question is, they will be starting school soon and I want to know how to protect them from being spoon fed Christian dogma (10 commandments, etc) and also how to help keep them from being harrased about their religion as I was in school. Also a school here recently suspended a student for wearing a pentagram calling a gang symbol. I would love to send them to private school but all the ones in my area are affiliated with a church.

Wiccan Mom

BlueEagle gave this response on 3/28/2000:

Well, there is nothing wrong in believing in other faiths or ideals. If you are open to children and be honest with them and explain why you believe in what you do and allow them grasp ideals of others you will have no problem. Now I am a conservative christian one those right wing radicals the press like to put the label on us. I was raised in christian home where my parents allow us to ask questions and to tend other churches. My father always reminded me that we should respect other beliefs and can learn from them. I grew up near Indian Village of a Winnebago tribe from this experience till this day I still call God the Great Spirit and believe that all nature is precious to us. Even though some may find this to be crazy I do not care! Your children will grow and learn all kinds of information that is why we call it public education. My parents took a lot of heat from not sending their children to private school so that they would not be exposed to outside influences. The world is big place people are exposed to all kinds cultures and experiences. One other thing your children are going to see how you live and way you care your life by example. If you smoke then more likely your children will smoke so on. If you practice your faith and follow it there less chance for them to not change. Remember children do change and depending out influences and their peers this will have some effect on them. Make them stronger they need to be able to survive any hardship. Children can be cruel but with your help they can get through it. Be prepared to be have a lot people miss trust or not understand your faith. People tend to make assumptions of others from not willing to learn about something have no idea about or care to learn. Supreme Court has ruled in many cases that students have rights to express their faith be it Christian, to Hindu to Buddhist. As long as does not disrupt classes or harms someone else they have right to express their faith. Freedom of Speech or Expression does not always work in class room. Teachers can and their Peers can make it difficult for children. I would suggest to get to know your school board members. Also check out the web if there is support groups in your faith. Many times they will be able make suggestions or can help in the legal area by filling you in your rights. Finally, there is parents that are teaching their kids at home. Stay at home school is growing for many reasons such as main one people's faith. They believe they can give their children a better education then the public sector and this will help kids practice their faith with less persecution. Home Schooling kids are doing quite well and tend do better on grades and social skills then the many public taught kids. Recently, in Virginia they are opening a college for Home School kids this fall. I hope the best for you and remember you have rights and this is America and you have every right believe in and worship as you please. Remind this to your children and most of all to the school officials when they make a fuss. Remind to read their history books to see what the what this nation was based on that all people have rights. We are not England where we have one set church of faith we are America with many diverse religions and ideas. Good luck.

The average rating for this answer is 4.8.

Anonymous rated this answer a 5.

Thanks so much! Its nice to hear from someone who doesn't share my faith but is willing to let me have it!