Religious schools if you’re not religious?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would you want to do this?

I would like to get my child in a good school, but I don't want religion to dominate.

Then go Episcopal, not Catholic.

What about Presbyterian?

I would guess it’s a similar level of “religiousness” (or lack of) to Episcopal, but I don’t have personal experience.

[Anonymous]

Do you have to pray in religious school?

Not necessarily. No one can make you pray. But others around you may pray and you should be respectful and quiet during that time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Please don't. Religious schools are the only place it's comfortable for our kids to worship as they see fit.

This is not my comment and I have long advocated for everyone to feel welcome on our Catholic schools. In recent years though, more and more families have joined for the soul purpose of escaping area public schools. I understand that rationale. However, more often than not, students are not sitting in quiet, respectful contemplation.

Really? That is sad, we had mass at our Catholic school yesterday, which is about 70% Catholic, there was no difference in the level of respect between the kids who took communion and the kids who didn’t. (A decent but not perfect proxy for Catholic/not) Both groups were universally respectful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you have to pray in religious school?

You have to attend any required services but you do not have to recite prayers if you don’t want to. You just have to sit quietly and respectfully while others pray.

[Anonymous]

We are a non-religous, non-Christian background family at NPS (National Presbyterian School) and consider the religious elements to be a positive. If you are interested in the school you should definitely attend a chapel and see how it feels for you.

The kids attend a short chapel once a week in the morning. In lower division it's in the gym, for upper division in the church. In LD chapel, which is where we still are, the kids sing a few sweet songs (e.g. this little light of mine) and they have a short lesson or bible story that connects to the school values. Chapel is also an opportunity for the little kids to have leadership roles and speak in front of large audiences. For many first graders it is their first time standing in front of an audience and it helps them develop poise and confidence.

A few times a year there are special, all-school chapels (e.g. Thanksgiving, Christmas). These are cherished traditions that bring the school community together. The older kids can do handbell or choir at the all school chapels and there are opportunities for solo or small group singing.

In chapel the school also celebrates other religions (e.g. Jewish holidays and Diwali). When the kids are older they take religion class and learn about other world religions as well.

My DC comes home from school talking about what it means to be a good person and how to treat people. When I think about leaving NPS someday it is the chapel traditions that I am the saddest to leave.

[Anonymous]

I went to an Episcopalian school here in the DMV that is mentioned often on dcum. There was chapel and some religion classes but, at the time at least, much of that class was free period. It did not dominate the remainder of the school and did not permeate things like sex ed and science (understanding of evolution, etc) classes, etc: these, from the perspective of a now parent would be key. That being said, I would still avoid any religious affiliation if at all possible and would never even consider Catholic or Christian (for religious *and* academic reasons). We made the mistake of looking at one school during elementary age and *ran*.
For HS, DC ended up choosing a BS. It does have a chapel on the grounds as it is an old school, but does not have a particular religious affiliation. They handle any chapel services they offer as an optional part of the school and the religion/philosophy requirement can be satisfied with classes such as world religions or comparative religion, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please don't. Religious schools are the only place it's comfortable for our kids to worship as they see fit.

Really? I'm glad the schools themselves feel differently. A lot of religious schools could not stay afloat if they didn't accept non-religious students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please don't. Religious schools are the only place it's comfortable for our kids to worship as they see fit.

Really? I'm glad the schools themselves feel differently. A lot of religious schools could not stay afloat if they didn't accept non-religious students.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would you want to do this?

I would like to get my child in a good school, but I don't want religion to dominate.

If it's a religious school, religion it's a part of the mission. That's non-negiotiable and the school won't change. So you'll get what you get...

[Anonymous]

The purpose of the religious schools it to expose believers and non believers to the religion. It will dominate.