Baby Mama Want Daughter To Attend Christian School

[NuclearNed]

I don't care if she's religious, but I care if she thinks the world is 6000 years old and Jesus rode on a dinosaur. Which they in fact advocate at the school.

I don't believe the bolded part, specifically that the school advocates this.
Source?

 

[AMDZen]

You do care if she is religious.

Jesus riding on a dinosaur. That's what they advocate? lol

Radical Creationism actually teaches that Dinosaurs didn't exist at all, their bones were put here to test our faith.

 

[Numenorean]

So she has already surpassed your education level then? I guess that's not terribly impressive anyway.

Shows that maybe you should discuss these kinds of things before you go sticking your wanker in people with vastly different beliefs than you.

 

[moshquerade]

There's no such thing as "the norm" for religious schools. Curriculum can vary greatly.

"The norm" I am referring to means more often than not. In fact, I have never heard of anyone being behind when coming from a parochial school, quite the opposite. These schools are usually smaller and with smaller classes.

 

[AMDZen]

I don't believe the bolded part, specifically that the school advocates this.
Source?

Many many creationist schools in the south advocate the fact that the earth is 5-6k old, the dinosaur part is incorrect simply because of what I just said above.

All you have to do is google it, there is a freakin' museum for christ's sake

pun intended

 

[DougK62]

Catholic schools are very different than Christian schools.

Well Catholicism is a subset of Christianity. I've seen both good and bad schools from varying Christian denominations.

EDIT: At least the Catholic schools will teach proper science, hah

 

[mattpegher]

First, what is your legal rights regarding the child. If you are the father but were never married to the mother, you may be SOL, depending on the state. If you are divorced there may be stipulations in the law that allow you to help determine what school.
Barring all of that, you will just need to teach your child your point of view when she is with you.
At this age it is not easy, but I will warn you, you need to think through your position and what argument you will use to counter the teaching that she is recieving. Ridicule of the belief will not get you very far.
Just like teaching children science, you have to dumb it down a bit. But that does not change the facts of science. If you wish to teach her the metaphysical position of atheism, you better have worked out the logical argument that you would have with an adult and then decide how to adjust this for a child. Again an argument that simply ridicules the opposite position has little weight.

 

[Drako]

I would be more concerned if she was going to a public school.

The Christian schools around here have a 95%+ graduation rate, while the public schools are below 80%.

 

[ch33zw1z]

"The norm" I am referring to means more often than not. In fact, I have never heard of anyone being behind when coming from a parochial school, quite the opposite. These schools are usually smaller and with smaller classes.

I wasn't behind on paper, but I felt very much behind when I went to college. First, in terms of science/physics classes in particular. We did not have labs, and our teachers were sub par. Second, socially and precisely what you mentioned. I went from a class of 8 to a class of 60 for my base courses in college, it was overwhelming for me.

My advice for the op was to be involved as much as possible. This doesn't merely apply to christian schools, but I would be even more cautious.

 

[moshquerade]

I wasn't behind on paper, but I felt very much behind when I went to college. First, in terms of science/physics classes in particular. We did not have labs, and our teachers were sub par. Second, socially and precisely what you mentioned. I went from a class of 8 to a class of 60 for my base courses in college, it was overwhelming for me.

My advice for the op was to be involved as much as possible. This doesn't merely apply to christian schools, but I would be even more cautious.

8 kids in your class? that's smaller than small.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

I don't believe the bolded part, specifically that the school advocates this.
Source?

Reading what was posted here, it sounds like they teach biblical literalism, which means more likely than not they teach the earth is 6000 years old.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Switch the attitude and you'll get more progress with her. You wont get anywhere by making comments like "Jesus rode a dinosaur." You'll be taken more seriously by approaching her with a more mature attitude.

I went to christian schools and I can agree that:
Your concerns about science Curriculum are legit. They wont give a very broad spectrum, and may even not bother with teaching the Theory of Evolution at all.

You, as an Athiest should be concerned that she will be taught that you are going to hell. This may have a VERY negative impact on her view towards you.

But on a side note: you can have confidence that she will be in 'safe' environment, with kids from good moral backgrounds. This may cause her to be a little sheltered to the things of the world when she gets older, but that may be for the better. IMO there is nothing wrong with raising a kid with christian morals and teachings as long they are made to know that they should keep an open mind towards other ideas and philosophies on life.

 

[ch33zw1z]

8 kids in your class? that's smaller than small.

Indeed...

 

[CZroe]

I learned a lot more in Christian school than my neighborhood playmates. They all called me "computer-head" before I ever owned or used a computer. Eventually, a Christian school teacher did bring in a TI-BASIC and teach us BASIC programming.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Many many creationist schools in the south advocate the fact that the earth is 5-6k old, the dinosaur part is incorrect simply because of what I just said above.

All you have to do is google it, there is a freakin' museum for christ's sake

pun intended

Stfu seriously. We don't fucking believe the earth is 5k years old in the "south". Everytime someone spouts something fucking ridiculous they justify it by saying it happens in the "south".

 

[AreaCode707]

I went to a Christian school K-5th. I hated it because I was bullied. Because of the size, I couldn't just shrug off the bullies and hang out with someone else; there were only three girls (including me) in my class, so I spent all my time isolated and alone. The bully was the teacher's pet and so I was constantly in trouble for stuff I didn't do.

I wouldn't worry too much about the religious aspect of it, honestly. I know a ton of kids who did Christian school or homeschool and they grew up to claim their own personal beliefs, even when it was difficult to stand against their parents.

I think a lot of times, Christian school works against trying to make a kid Christian; they basically get inoculated against religion. By the time they're old enough where they might be intrigued by religion, it's totally blase to them. Even as a Christian myself, I don't think I'd send my kid to a place where felt boards and 30 year old music are sold as a critical part of a religious experience. It sells Christianity short and it prevents kids from understanding religion, even on an intellectual level, as a part of the larger human experience.

 

[MotF Bane]

Hell no. That school sounds like it has placed religious teaching above all other functions, and that's not the way it should be done.

1) Offer your wife (wife, or unconnected mother of your daughter?) an explanation of that this school seems to be making a high quality education secondary to religious training. Answers to Genesis, no way that's a worthwhile science text. Teaching out of a Bible is something to be done in Sunday school or Church, not an accredited teaching institution. Hell, I'd be worried about college placement from that sort of a school, try saying that to the mother. If she's more concerned about her daughter receiving a Jesus-filled education than a quality college/life preparing education, you're screwed, your daughter is screwed, and everybody is going to lose.
2) Offer a compromise - Catholic schools. They still love Jesus, they still sing to potential students' parents how much they love Jesus, but quality education is usually just as important if not more so than religion. I went into a Catholic school with no beliefs (not even atheism, just an absolute blank), and emerged as a dedicated atheist, but the education was far superior to any of the local public schools, and especially my town's.

 

[AMDZen]

Stfu seriously. We don't fucking believe the earth is 5k years old in the "south". Everytime someone spouts something fucking ridiculous they justify it by saying it happens in the "south".

Didn't say everyone in the south did, I said there are religious schools in the south that do, predominately more in the south then in other areas of the country. Learn how to read

 

[NuclearNed]

Many many creationist schools in the south advocate the fact that the earth is 5-6k old, the dinosaur part is incorrect simply because of what I just said above.

All you have to do is google it, there is a freakin' museum for christ's sake

pun intended

I know that there are a lot of nutcase Christians out there... my quibble is that the OP is making an exaggerated claim about "Jesus riding on a dinosaur" being advocated by the school. That's simply looney and (I suspect) untrue. Had he said that the school claims the Earth is only 6k years old, then I could probably buy it, but instead he's out to make what is possibly a perfectly good school sound like a bunch of radical goons.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Didn't say everyone in the south did, I said there are religious schools in the south that do, predominately more in the south then in other areas of the country. Learn how to read

Must...resist...more...southerner....jokes.....grrrrr!!

 

[amddude]

Radical Creationism actually teaches that Dinosaurs didn't exist at all, their bones were put here to test our faith.

I've gone to probably 6 or 7 different christian schools and more churches than that (lol my family moved a lot) in four states and I have never, ever heard this or heard of it.

 

[AMDZen]

I know that there are a lot of nutcase Christians out there... my quibble is that the OP is making an exaggerated claim about "Jesus riding on a dinosaur" being advocated by the school. That's simply looney and (I suspect) untrue. Had he said that the school claims the Earth is only 6k years old, then I could probably buy it, but instead he's out to make what is possibly a perfectly good school sound like a bunch of radical goons.

Agreed but whats worse, saying dinosaurs existed at the time of Christ or that they don't exist at all? Because as I said, I have family in the south who have attended creationist theory Christian schools, and they have told them specifically that "Dinosaur bones were put here to test our faith."

Definitely not saying all Christian or religious schools teach this, as its the radical church's that are spreading this faith - but its growing rather alarmingly.

 

[Saint Nick]

My GF went to an all-girls Catholic school and she isn't religious at all.

SN

 

[AMDZen]

I've gone to probably 6 or 7 different christian schools and more churches than that (lol my family moved a lot) in four states and I have never, ever heard this or heard of it.

Its a very new thing from what I understand, so it wasn't around probably when you went to school. And I agree it might be more fringe but current schools are teaching that. Its sad really, and I have said several times its the radical schools that are teaching this.

 

[GWestphal]

First, I don't live in the same town with my daughter. I have every other weekend with her. So, I can't be the voice of reason on a daily basis.

Second, I have no issue with pledge of allegiance, I take issue with a second pledge to the christian flag.

"I pledge allegiance to the Christian Flag and to the Savior for whose Kingdom it stands. One Savior, crucified, risen, and coming again with life and liberty to all who believe...."

The riding on dinosaur thing isn't far fetched, her mother bought her some DVDs from a speaker at the school who talked about how dinosaurs and people are both land creatures and god made them on the same day, so they must have lived together and that fossils that appear millions of years old are a test of your faith by god. So yeah...