I have two children aged 6 and 12 years old, both of these boys are not interested in the religion taught at there Catholic schools infact the oldest of the two wants to be wiccan when he grows up.

Some people think it is wrong that i am open about what i believe in and the school head master goes white when i approach him (he has reacted like this since he saw my pentagram around my neck last summer).

But why should i hide it, why should i be ashamed about what i truely believe in and if there was a school for pagans both my children would attend.

Quite simply, you shouldn't!
Regarding faith and the law/education there was a thread a few weeks back on this self-same subject. Not sure where though, so maybe Pomona could help you out? There was a lot of relevant info. in this thread that could be a help to you.
And please, DO NOT be made to feel bad about either your faith, or any faith your kids might show an interest in! Faith is personal. Or SHOULD be!

I agree with Tas. What you tell your children is your business and only you can decide what's appropriate. After all, are Catholics not open with their children about their religion, or Muslims, or Budhists? Same principle.

I can sympathise with you from a different angle.

I teach in a Church of England school. I keep my beliefs to myself as I dont know how it would be taken. Yes I do assembly and have to teach Christain stories and beliefs to my class, but I also make sure they know there are people out there who have their own beliefs. I always tell the children that it is up to them to decide what they believe.

It is hard because I want to shout that 'I am a pagan and proud' but well silence at the present time is better.

One day though it may be ok to share it.

Ignore the looks of the head. Be happy with yourself and let your boys believe what they are comfortable with.

I worked in a Catholic school many years ago. I can kinda see it from the head teachers point of view. It IS a faith school. That means they have a remit that allows them to have a preferential position to one specific faith. Heck, secular schools have a hard enough time with the concept of Paganism much of the time, let alone faith specific schools.

Now that doesn't mean you shouldn't be open about your beliefs and that you shouldn't share your beliefs with your kids. It doesn't mean the head teacher, in terms of the rest of society, is right either. But it IS an understandable position he holds. I've posted a document to teachers about having a Pagan child in their class here a few times. Education is the key. Just because you're dealing with educators doesn't mean they are educated...at least, not in all fields. Fear is bred from a lack of knowledge and understanding. If you fill in the gaps of that knowledge and understanding then it is hard to sustain fear. The head teacher may still believe Paganism is wrong. Hey, that is a feature of the Christian faith. But education should help the head to see that Pagan paths are no more wrong than any other non-christian faith.

BB

Mike

Dear Mike,



Brilliant! I wish I'd said that. Thinking about it, I probably will in future .

BB & all best wishes,

John Macintyre

In these sort of cases I find invoking the name of the Great Almight Most Trusted Auntie of us All (aka the BBC) helps. There is some great information on the BBC website in the Religion & Spirituality section, and because it's got BBC somewhere on the page, it often has the effect of getting through where other information might fail.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/pa...s/beliefs.shtml

bb
Rhiannon

I think this is too good a topic to be lost to the Snug... how about a move to General Paganism, anyone ?

I was just thinking the same LCC so will move it now

One of our local moot goers has started a family moot where all sorts of things get discussed, pagan and non pagan, the kids have pagan orientated story and colouring books (depending on age) and it is held in a cafe. From this it is being developed into all sorts of craft workshops such as salt dough, scrap booking and card making, all again with a pagan theme that the children can join in on much the same as any other religion really.

Picking up on that article I mentioned before, Ceri has now posted it to a web page http://www.paganpride.org/resources/paganstudent.html Something I think should be saved as a valuable resource.

BB

Mike

which moot is this?? wud be ace to be able 2 take kids- as i am a single parent and am findin it hard to get a sitter for moots as i have already 1 nite a week doing the Kabblah

Point the educator to the diveristy officer of your area education office, sounds like he needs a lil educating. I'll confess, all our chap has heard off is Wicca, but its a start, Pagans have made it onto our official faith 'calendar' so that they can be included in diversity ed along with everybody else.

Q

Useful link, Cern. The articale makes a good starting point for teachers who are totally unfamiliar with Pagan concepts. When my children were at primary school the head invited me to come and talk to one of the older classes about Paganism - caused a bit of a stir amongst some parents and I'm not sure that he didn't regret it! Now they're at senior school and my son has done a couple of assemblies with a Pagan theme (the students take it in turns to lead assemblies) and the RE teacher has been very interested. It's always worth seeing if schools are prepared to do that kind of thing, although I guess it might be a bit difficult for a faith school.

I babysit for a Christian friend's children. Whilst I was over at her house last week I was looking through a children's book that was basically an introduction to all different religions. I was disapointed to see no mention of Paganism at all. Children need to be given a balanced view.

I too are discussted at this- why shouldnt we be reconised? when kids do things about religions why cant they be shown pictures of nature and the phases of the moon?, the schools do things for chinese new year and Dawali, why cant they do something for Soltice??? (as a for instance) At summer Soltice my kids know when it comes around we have a big dinner and they get presents (Usually super soaker water pistols) and we spend the time around that walking amongst nature and wetting other throu with the new 'Big ass' guns.

When will people recognise this? Am i a bad parent involving my children? My ex- husband seems to think i am - says i am imposing my views on my kids????

The book I was reading did manage to talk about 'dangerous new age cults' though....
I wonder if that is where Paganism would be included in the view of these narrow-minded people?

One of the problems is that there are just so damned many different religions in the world. If the school curriculum were to cover all religions then there would not be time to cover anything else- no maths, no english, no science etc. But when there is a known Pagan child in the class it is not a bad idea for the school to find a way of making some time to allow others to explore that if possible. But they might need some help in research and in resourcing. (Something I think we, as a Pagan community should be thinking about- developing resources for schools to use when teaching about Paganism). Such explorations help in terms of illustrating diversity within the community apart from anything else. So the 'You Have A Pagan Student In Your School' article is a useful introduction (although it could do with re-working to encompass pantheism, duotheism and the like).

Are you a bad pent for involving your children? Heck no! But what you do for your children and what a school can do for your children might not always be the same. Why should a school that sees your child for maximum 8 hours of the day for 5 out of 7 days, be held responsible for everything when you have those children for 16 hours of the day for 5 days and 24 hours a day for the remaining 2 days? It is cool that you're sharing stuff with your kids. It is something all parents should do- expand their kids learning and experiences.

BB

Mike

Sorry JoFreyja, it's in Birmingham, bit of a long way for you!! Is there no way you could set up a family moot of your own?
We go to the tea rooms in the Art Gallery and Museum for the moots and we are holding the craft workshops at the Pen Museum where I volunteer.

Also i run the beaver group on a thurday night at this particular school and have got a feeling that because i dont attend church that they will not let me carry on with it.

u no when u have that feeling that people are talking- well people are talking and last thursday i was putting sum stuff away when i heard the cub scout leader talking to one of the school teachers and he said "I dont care who goes to church and who doesnt" when they saw me- they went red and the teacher put her head down???

am i just being silly or should it not be a pagan who teaches children about nature and looking after each other??

what do u all think??

Get them into a discussion, with witnesses, about religion and the scout movement.

Make sure you make it obvious that you feel that their religion should be respected despite the way some people behave...

Mention how you are sure that reasonable Christians don't approve of what some African churches think about killing children who they believe are subject to demon-possession and that you are as bemused as they are about the violent actions of Christian Voice...

--

Mention how interesting it is that Rowan Williams is a druid...

Mention how similar some modern pagan religions are to Hinduism and how fascinating it is to discover the philosophy of Buddhism and how it relates to meditation practices in modern Christian spiritual movements...

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Jez

Hello JoFreyja! Welcome To UKP! Pikey.

Hi Pikey
Thanks for the warm welcome