My oldest (7th grade) daughter tried out for the basketball team, and made it. I was thrilled and proud of her. After the second practice, she came in the door, sat down, and started crying. I asked her what happened, did someone do something to hurt her? She told me that the coach started out the practice with a prayer session, that everyone was asked to say the Lord's Prayer. She said she just kinda mumbled it because she didn't know all of it. After the prayer, the coach said "If you are not a religious person, the basketball team is not the place for you." I can not begin to describe the rage that built up in me in that moment, but I breathed deeply and thought about how I should handle this.
Now, I am openly pagan living in the backwaters of Georgia. I am used to criticism and outright bigotry. I have raised my children to be open-minded but skeptical. Some time last year, my daughter decided that she is atheist (which I fully support). I told her to be careful what she says when she is approached about her beliefs, but she was open about it last year and it spread like wildfire and was just as painful when it came back on her. Pretty much all of her class knows about it.
This incident is especially difficult, though. I asked her if she wanted me to talk to the coach, but she insisted she would be ok, that I didn't have to say anything. She says that she respects their beliefs and would just mumble along. I feel contrary to that. I think that religion should not play a determining role in a public school basketball team. I don't think a child should have to fake religious views in order to maintain a position on the team. Shouldn't a religious practice be optional, not coerced? I want her beliefs to be respected as equally as she respects those of others. However, I do not want to pick a battle that will adversely affect her.
Any thoughts of how I could handle this diplomatically?
Now, I am openly pagan living in the backwaters of Georgia. I am used to criticism and outright bigotry. I have raised my children to be open-minded but skeptical. Some time last year, my daughter decided that she is atheist (which I fully support). I told her to be careful what she says when she is approached about her beliefs, but she was open about it last year and it spread like wildfire and was just as painful when it came back on her. Pretty much all of her class knows about it.
This incident is especially difficult, though. I asked her if she wanted me to talk to the coach, but she insisted she would be ok, that I didn't have to say anything. She says that she respects their beliefs and would just mumble along. I feel contrary to that. I think that religion should not play a determining role in a public school basketball team. I don't think a child should have to fake religious views in order to maintain a position on the team. Shouldn't a religious practice be optional, not coerced? I want her beliefs to be respected as equally as she respects those of others. However, I do not want to pick a battle that will adversely affect her.
Any thoughts of how I could handle this diplomatically?
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