Punished at school for talking about Jesus!

[meluckycharms]

Today, I withdrew my 1st grade son from the public school system and put him in private school. He has high functioning autism and absolutely loves Jesus so much that he gets upset when it is not his turn to pray at dinner time. His favorite book is his children's Bible and he insists on reading it every day. All this, of course, before public school.

Over the last few months I began to notice that he wasn't as insistent on prayer and did not want to read bible stories. Finally, at dinner time, he told me that he didn't want to pray. So I asked him why, the answer shocked me.

It started around Christmas time when all the kids in class were talking about Santa and Frosty the Snowman. My son told his friends that Christmas was about Jesus and began to share the Gospel. As a result, he was punished by the administrators and he was told that he was being offensive.

Eventually, the other kids in the class started picking on him because he shared Bible stories. When we talked to the school they told us, "Well, if he would just stop talking about Jesus so much then the kids will stop picking on him."

I am absolutely furious that this has happened. So I immediately withdrew him from the public school system and enrolled him into a Christian private school. My question is, "Has anyone else had similar issues with the public school system attacking your child's faith?" If so, how did you handle it?

 

[Andrew]

A Christian private school is perfect for him, he needs to be around a like minded faculty

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[NewCreation435]

Jesus will always be offensive to the world, whether the witness is from an adult or a child. We are promised we will be persecuted

 

[George]

I would speak to the public school system about what they said.

 

[Andrew]

I would speak to the public school system about what they said.

Bring a crucifix too just in case!

 

[Virgil the Socialist]

For an emotional event like this I feel like there is probably the version of events mom posts on facebook and tells to the online Christian messageboard.

And then there is probably the teacher's version about the class of 30 1st graders and the one little tyke whose disruptions were very difficult to manage.

And somewhere in between is probably the truth.

Was it really REALLY about a teacher or admin restricting religious expression? Students --especially young ones-- do that all the time and no one in a school will usually think its a big deal.

But if so, in case it isn't obvious, there is of course no legally permissible way for them to prevent a student from choosing to talk about Jesus. Certainly the teacher can't teach religious views (Establishment Clause) but they can't punish a child for doing so (Free Exercise Clause).

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[Josiah]

Today, I withdrew my 1st grade son from the public school system and put him in private school. He has high functioning autism and absolutely loves Jesus so much that he gets upset when it is not his turn to pray at dinner time. His favorite book is his children's Bible and he insists on reading it every day. All this, of course, before public school.

Over the last few months I began to notice that he wasn't as insistent on prayer and did not want to read bible stories. Finally, at dinner time, he told me that he didn't want to pray. So I asked him why, the answer shocked me.

It started around Christmas time when all the kids in class were talking about Santa and Frosty the Snowman. My son told his friends that Christmas was about Jesus and began to share the Gospel. As a result, he was punished by the administrators and he was told that he was being offensive.

Eventually, the other kids in the class started picking on him because he shared Bible stories. When we talked to the school they told us, "Well, if he would just stop talking about Jesus so much then the kids will stop picking on him."

I am absolutely furious that this has happened. So I immediately withdrew him from the public school system and enrolled him into a Christian private school. My question is, "Has anyone else had similar issues with the public school system attacking your child's faith?" If so, how did you handle it?

I affirm your decision....


I don't know where you live, but my wife is a public school teacher in California and what your child's teacher APPEARS to have done violates the California Code of Education. And HERE it should have been reported to the principal and superintendent. The teacher probably MEANT well but actually violated the law.

Now... your child could not violate classroom rules (such as talking out of turn, etc.) and could not be disruptive ( as in speaking out of turn) or being insistent or argumentative or disrespectful to the teacher or other students. But STUDENTS have freedom to express their faith.... and they should not be bullied for their religious faith. IF your child was complying with school and classroom rules, then the school was at fault at two points: For violating the religion of a student and for permitting bullying based on religion. These are not only violations of the California Code of Education but actually MIGHT be considered criminal actions since (depending on the situation) might be considered "hate crime."


- Josiah

 

[Pedrito]

A general thought or two.

Moving his son to an environment that should be more supportive and less antagonistic was a good move.

However, I suggest that meluckycharms keep a very close watch on the situation.

“Normal” kids in whatever environment love picking on other kids that are “different”. The son’s condition makes him a prime target wherever he is.

Secondly, the type of “Christian” school can also be a factor.

Consider the “discussions” that have been in evidence in CH in recent times. Baptism A versus Baptism B, “once saved always saved” versus “you’ve got to stay on your toes”, you name it. “Different” (in the context of belief and practice) can be perceived to be just as great in “religious” schools as in non-religious ones. And bullying in general does not stop at school boundaries.

My hope is that meluckycharms has had access to a school, the religious basis of which is highly compatible with that of his family...


(...And that the Principal and teachers have a loyalty to their students’ welfare that significantly outweighs their loyalty to favoured doctrine and practice. And that they are not inherently bullies themselves.

Quiet vigilance is proposed.)

 

[Krissy Cakes]

This is so sad that we can't talk about Jesus in places anymore.

Glad you got him in private school. :thumbsup: