According to data from the Pew Research Center, Mississippi, Alabama, and other Southern states are the most devout ones in the US. Texas comes in 11th place, with 64% of adults describing themselves as "highly religious." Reddit user u/srmacman is not one of them. But his daughter's teachers are.
Just yesterday, u/srmacman made a post on the subreddit r/pics, where he uploaded a shot of a school project his little girl was working on. Judging from the text, it was clear to the man that the facility was indoctrinating her.
His surprise indicates that this matter probably wasn't discussed with the administration during the kid's enrollment and it was probably what inspired a heated discussion in the comments on the role of faith in today's education system.
Continue scrolling to catch a glimpse of the paper that started it all and the talk we had on choosing the right school for your kid with Talya Stone, media maven who now runs digital magazines Motherhood: The Real Deal and 40 Now What.
Image credits: srmacman
Image credits: srmacman
Image credits: srmacman
Experts say that parents who are looking at multiple options and are considering sending their kids beyond their local public school should first and foremost consider what's important to them and their child.
To do this, moms and dads can look at what schools might best suit their child’s personality, strengths, needs, and interests.
"Parents often get very tied up with the academic merits of a school when deciding what kind of education they want their children to receive. The reality is there is so much more to think about," Talya Stone explained. Here are some of the additional things she thinks are worthy of being considered:
- Is the school a good fit for your kid's personality?
- Do the school's values align with yours?
- Do you want your child to have a religious education?
- Are you looking for a particular teaching philosophy?
- Where are your children's friends going to school?
- School size and whether this will fit with your child's needs and personality;
- Approach to behavior management;
- Management of home-school communication.
It's also important to note that most government (or public) schools have enrollment zones. This means that in order for your child to be able to enroll, your family must live within a certain area around the school. However, out-of-zone enrollments are sometimes possible, so if you're interested in government schools outside your zone, contact them to find out whether your child is eligible to apply.
"Research is everything when trying to seek out the right school for your child," Stone said. "Selecting the right school can be a bewildering and overwhelming process and shouldn't be entered into lightly or rushed. Allow plenty of time for research, visits, and discussions. It's not easy to know if a school is a right fit for your child but ultimately, your child will know if it feels like the right place for them."
"Visit the school and talk to as many teachers, members of the leadership team and students as possible. Be prepared and draw up a list of questions that both you and they want to cover. Ultimately it should be a team effort!" However, Stone also highlighted that in the pursuit of what's practical, moms and dads shouldn't compromise on their child's (and their own) needs.
Of course, even if parents do their homework, things can still go south. Everyone wants to make sure that they're doing what's best for their kid, but it can sometimes be a challenge to know what, exactly, the best thing to do is. It's unlucky that u/srmacman's daughter ended up in a place where the family didn't want her to. But at least they know what they want and can adapt accordingly. Let's hope this process goes as smoothly as possible.
At first, people started blaming the parent:
But he defended himself by clarifying the situation:
And eventually, people began sharing their own experiences about having met someone from such a school:
However, many who went to Catholic schools made it clear that most of them are nothing like this:
Others took apart the assignment and questioned the logic further:
