https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 12 May 2026 08:35:36 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-it-bother-you-if-your-kids-had-to-pray-in-school-to-a-religion-they-didnt-believe-in#post-2667383 Mon, 19 Dec 2016 12:12:20 +0000 snowjewelz 2667383@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For us, yes, because we are already Christians so it would not be okay that LOs have to pray to another God/religion. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-it-bother-you-if-your-kids-had-to-pray-in-school-to-a-religion-they-didnt-believe-in#post-2667316 Mon, 19 Dec 2016 11:11:43 +0000 GardenFloral 2667316@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It completely depends on the situation.</p> <p>I don't know any public school that allows prayer at all anymore, so I can't fathom a situation in which prayer would be required.</p> <p>That leaves private school as the only type of school where prayer would be aloud, let alone required....and for that my thought is that you shouldn't send your child to a school with a religious foundation if you don't believe in that religion. </p> <p>I was raised Christian, and even though I'm pretty lax with religion I attended a Baptist college and Chapel was a required "class". As annoying as it was, it was my decision to go to that *private* college and that was one of the required classes....so you can't really complain or protest. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-it-bother-you-if-your-kids-had-to-pray-in-school-to-a-religion-they-didnt-believe-in#post-2667196 Mon, 19 Dec 2016 08:26:39 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2667196@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Boogs: Agree. I am totally ok with learning a new religion. But if something wasn't aligned with our beliefs I would have issue with forcing prayer on a child. I'm totally ok with a general prayer to God, giving thanks, etc. I'm Christian and would be ok with my kids attending Catholic or Jewish school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-it-bother-you-if-your-kids-had-to-pray-in-school-to-a-religion-they-didnt-believe-in#post-2667187 Mon, 19 Dec 2016 07:16:10 +0000 travellingbee 2667187@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Interestingly, although I'm atheist, I don't think it would bother me much. My best friend (non-catholic), went to catholic school and she is no more religious after than before. Both my nieces go to a catholic school too and my brother is also atheist. I guess it would depend on how forceful the school was about pushing the religion and if it was otherwise the only good option. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-it-bother-you-if-your-kids-had-to-pray-in-school-to-a-religion-they-didnt-believe-in#post-2667174 Mon, 19 Dec 2016 04:10:06 +0000 mamainthesun 2667174@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It would definitely bother us but if we were in your situation I might accept it, especially if there were no other international schools around. It would also depend how the prayers were done. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-it-bother-you-if-your-kids-had-to-pray-in-school-to-a-religion-they-didnt-believe-in#post-2667141 Sun, 18 Dec 2016 21:47:51 +0000 Boogs 2667141@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm don't take issue with my kids learning about different religions, but I would take issue with my kids being forced to do something that didn't line up with our beliefs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-it-bother-you-if-your-kids-had-to-pray-in-school-to-a-religion-they-didnt-believe-in#post-2667082 Sun, 18 Dec 2016 18:19:21 +0000 matador84 2667082@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes. Our kids go to Catholic school (and we are Catholic), and I noticed on the paperwork when you register that all children are expected to learn the teachings of the church and participate in the religious activities at the school. They aren't exempt from anything. I think a parent going into that would have to be okay with it. If I weren't okay with it, I wouldn't put them in the school. I think it would be really hard to do if my beliefs didn't align with Catholic beliefs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-it-bother-you-if-your-kids-had-to-pray-in-school-to-a-religion-they-didnt-believe-in#post-2667067 Sun, 18 Dec 2016 15:54:54 +0000 Ms. RV 2667067@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@honeybear: True. Catholics (I am one) venerate Mary and ask intercession of the saints, but it so much easier to type "pray to" haha :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-it-bother-you-if-your-kids-had-to-pray-in-school-to-a-religion-they-didnt-believe-in#post-2667064 Sun, 18 Dec 2016 15:47:37 +0000 honeybear 2667064@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The chief question for me is what is the best environment for the child. It sounds like you've found a really good one!</p> <p>Regardless of the religion involved, if I were in a similar situation, I think this would be one factor among many that I’d consider, but would definitely not be the sole basis upon which I’d make my decision. It would be even less of a consideration for me if the religious instruction was limited to prayers and doubly so if the children were merely asked to be respectful during the prayers. I also think it’s good to learn about other people’s beliefs, and I think it’s best to learn directly from people who believe in the particular faith. </p> <p>@Ms. RV: Catholics don't pray <i>to</i> the saints or Mary. We ask for them to pray <i>for</i> us. ;) That's not a distinction without a difference--it's very important! It's essentially the same as asking a friend here on Earth to pray for you or for a particular intention. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-it-bother-you-if-your-kids-had-to-pray-in-school-to-a-religion-they-didnt-believe-in#post-2667030 Sun, 18 Dec 2016 14:03:31 +0000 Truth Bombs 2667030@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If I enrolled my kids in a Catholic school it would not upset me that they were then expected to pray according to the Catholic religion. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-it-bother-you-if-your-kids-had-to-pray-in-school-to-a-religion-they-didnt-believe-in#post-2667006 Sun, 18 Dec 2016 11:43:44 +0000 Silva 2667006@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Deal breaker. I'd homeschool if a religious school was my only option. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-it-bother-you-if-your-kids-had-to-pray-in-school-to-a-religion-they-didnt-believe-in#post-2666999 Sun, 18 Dec 2016 10:50:36 +0000 gingerbebe 2666999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are Protestant so the Catholic thing didn't bug me at first - we would just explain the theological differences - but then I was like well let's say the option was a minority religion with a vastly different theology or basis and they were praying several times a day or engaging in religious rituals or practices and then I was like yeah, nope. So I guess it would bother me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-it-bother-you-if-your-kids-had-to-pray-in-school-to-a-religion-they-didnt-believe-in#post-2666893 Sat, 17 Dec 2016 18:35:52 +0000 Ms. RV 2666893@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It all depends on which prayers. If they conflicted with our beliefs I would ask our children to just not say the prayers. OH went to Catholic elementary school despite being a Presby and he wouldn't pray to saints or Mary but would say other prayers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-it-bother-you-if-your-kids-had-to-pray-in-school-to-a-religion-they-didnt-believe-in#post-2666882 Sat, 17 Dec 2016 16:59:46 +0000 youboots 2666882@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm torn. T goes to daycare at a Catholic school which does not do prayer but the preschool and above does. I've talked to the principal and she said many kids come who are not Catholic. I'm on the fence about changing schools at preschool. But we are still considering private school there. It's a very well respected private school that goes through 8th grade and most classes have less than 10 kids. I wish she could go to private school that is not religious. We will see. We have tilll fall 2018 to decide </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-it-bother-you-if-your-kids-had-to-pray-in-school-to-a-religion-they-didnt-believe-in#post-2666880 Sat, 17 Dec 2016 16:40:00 +0000 mrbee 2666880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: Yah that's our situation exactly! In the US, I would be very uncomfortable with prayers in school. But here our only choice is to withdraw from the school.</p> <p>@Cole: That's a good idea - I'll make sure and tell the kids that they don't have to actually say anything during the prayer, unless they want to! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-it-bother-you-if-your-kids-had-to-pray-in-school-to-a-religion-they-didnt-believe-in#post-2666866 Sat, 17 Dec 2016 15:06:49 +0000 MrsKoala 2666866@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It would be huge deal breaker. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-it-bother-you-if-your-kids-had-to-pray-in-school-to-a-religion-they-didnt-believe-in#post-2666865 Sat, 17 Dec 2016 14:29:25 +0000 Cole 2666865@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Here in the US it would be a deal breaker. If my choices were extremely limited I'd probably deal with it. I'd also request that they be allowed to respectfully bow their heads of they didn't want to participate. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-it-bother-you-if-your-kids-had-to-pray-in-school-to-a-religion-they-didnt-believe-in#post-2666863 Sat, 17 Dec 2016 14:22:21 +0000 catgirl 2666863@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In our current situation- living in the US and picking a town based on school districts it would be a definite deal breaker. </p> <p>I really can't speak to making the choice if we were living abroad though. Depends on the country, the overall area, and the school options. It's easy to say I would never allow it now but in a very different living situation, who knows. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-it-bother-you-if-your-kids-had-to-pray-in-school-to-a-religion-they-didnt-believe-in#post-2666825 Sat, 17 Dec 2016 10:45:59 +0000 yoursilverlining 2666825@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Deal breaker </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-it-bother-you-if-your-kids-had-to-pray-in-school-to-a-religion-they-didnt-believe-in#post-2666801 Sat, 17 Dec 2016 02:07:39 +0000 lamariniere 2666801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Dealbreaker. Secular education was my #1 priority. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-it-bother-you-if-your-kids-had-to-pray-in-school-to-a-religion-they-didnt-believe-in#post-2666794 Sat, 17 Dec 2016 00:57:20 +0000 birdofafeather 2666794@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i probably wouldn't have my kids in a school that was actively praying to a God we didn't believe in, but the only way i'd be okay with it is if it was just quiet time to pray, not reciting things from a teacher/book.</p> <p>side note: i attended a zen buddhist service when i was in an intro to religions class in college and instead of meditating to whomever for the final 30 minutes of the meeting, i did my own prayers. i felt great about the and it really helped me understand the differences between the major world religions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-it-bother-you-if-your-kids-had-to-pray-in-school-to-a-religion-they-didnt-believe-in#post-2666745 Fri, 16 Dec 2016 19:03:01 +0000 nana87 2666745@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My first impulse is definitely yes it would bother me, but I think it would depend on the content and the way it's presented. Silent time that can be used for personal prayer or non religious reflection? Fine. Prayer said together or that is presented in a way that is specific to one religion definitely would bother me though </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-it-bother-you-if-your-kids-had-to-pray-in-school-to-a-religion-they-didnt-believe-in#post-2666736 Fri, 16 Dec 2016 18:34:33 +0000 meredithNYC 2666736@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes. But if the school is private, presumably that's something you consider before enrolling. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-it-bother-you-if-your-kids-had-to-pray-in-school-to-a-religion-they-didnt-believe-in#post-2666734 Fri, 16 Dec 2016 18:18:09 +0000 Greentea 2666734@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Complex question. In this case, I would be okay with it. What exactly are they expected to do? Lower their heads during a group prayer? I wouldn't have a problem with that. That could be simple respect. Or is it repeating a prayer? Perhaps I need more info. I also think praying is a peaceful and personal act, so I'm not sure it is something I would see as negative. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-it-bother-you-if-your-kids-had-to-pray-in-school-to-a-religion-they-didnt-believe-in#post-2666730 Fri, 16 Dec 2016 18:10:08 +0000 looch 2666730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Dealbreaker. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-it-bother-you-if-your-kids-had-to-pray-in-school-to-a-religion-they-didnt-believe-in#post-2666728 Fri, 16 Dec 2016 18:07:03 +0000 lawbee11 2666728@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, that would be a dealbreaker for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-it-bother-you-if-your-kids-had-to-pray-in-school-to-a-religion-they-didnt-believe-in#post-2666725 Fri, 16 Dec 2016 18:01:22 +0000 LilSprinkles 2666725@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No. While we practice Catholism, we teach DS about different religions. We want him to be aware of the different beliefs. As he gets older, if he chooses to practice a different faith, that's okay by us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-it-bother-you-if-your-kids-had-to-pray-in-school-to-a-religion-they-didnt-believe-in#post-2666723 Fri, 16 Dec 2016 17:56:55 +0000 Mrs. Microscope 2666723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would pull them out immediately. Not ok for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-it-bother-you-if-your-kids-had-to-pray-in-school-to-a-religion-they-didnt-believe-in#post-2666721 Fri, 16 Dec 2016 17:52:24 +0000 Bao 2666721@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If they HAD to, yes. If they could choose to participate or not, that would be different. Our kids are 2 and 4 and we haven't even talked about religion at all yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-it-bother-you-if-your-kids-had-to-pray-in-school-to-a-religion-they-didnt-believe-in#post-2666718 Fri, 16 Dec 2016 17:43:24 +0000 runnerd 2666718@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Absolutely - not acceptable. I come from a region where religion is serious business (our way is the right/only way), and as an ex-Christian, I do not take lightly the influence it has on youth. </p>