Christian pre-school?

[Riven]

I have a 3 year old daughter. We've been having a hard time finding a pre-school for her, because most are ridiculously expensive. My wife found a relatively inexpensive one that is run by a Lutheran church. I adamently refused that she go to any pre-school founded, supported, or ran by any religious group. When she asked why, I said because it was too early to expose her to that kind of stuff, she's too young to make any informed decisions about God or the lack thereof, and I will NOT have any religion sway her choice by indoctrinating her before she's even old enough to realize what's going on. My wife replied, "Well, she's been around your goofy, religious B.S. for the last 4 years. What do you think that's doing?"

She has a point. I don't preach to my daughter, I haven't told her any of my beliefs about God. But, I talk to others about my beliefs a lot while she's in earshot, even holding discussion groups while she's in the house. So, she very likely is picking up some things about religion.

It's way too early to start teaching her everything I know about various religions. But, is it too early to start exposing her to them at all? Maybe she should go to the Lutheran pre-school, so she knows that my religion isn't the only one.

 

[kreeden]

I think that your wife has a point . But just because the scholl is run by Lutherans , doesn't mean that they hold services in it . If it bothers you , find out more about the school .

 

[anders]

I was sent to a Church of Sweden Sunday school. I don't think that it influenced me too much one way or another. In those days, there was nothing like pre-schools, so I can't opine on that, but I firmly believe that there's nothing in indoctrination systems that parents can't outweigh.

 

[Original Freak]

I went to Sunday school, and it was basically brain washing. Everything is they did was designed to specifically make that specific religion the answer to everything. If you want your daughter to know about other religions then you can let her know there are others. If you want to send her there, I would find out what the learning ciriculm is because I wouldn't be suprised if the games are all designed and aimed towards their beliefs with no leeway.

I adamently refused that she go to any pre-school founded, supported, or ran by any religious group. When she asked why, I said because it was too early to expose her to that kind of stuff, she's too young to make any informed decisions about God or the lack thereof, and I will NOT have any religion sway her choice by indoctrinating her before she's even old enough to realize what's going on

It's an IUO for frubals.

 

[michel]

This is new to me; we would'nt think of sending kids to pre-school at 3 years - mind you that was twenty odd years ago; maybe things have changed.

 

[Ceridwen018]

I attended a Catholic pre-school for 3 years when I was little. The only way I know it was Catholic was because it was called"St. Something-or-other", not because I remember anything they said about God! At that age, kids are much too young to be preached to, but the reason why they're too young is not because the preaching would confuse them, but because they don't even listen to it!

Young children have no concept of "literal truth". If you send your child to this Lutheran school, assuming that the school tries to introduce the kids to Lutheran teachings, your kid will simply come home bursting to tell you about all of the nice stories they heard today, etc. You can reply by saying, "Yes, those are some nice stories. Someday when you're older, I'll tell you the truth!"

 

[michel]

I've never heard of St. Something-or-other; is the the patron saint of thingamy- jigs?

 

[SarahBeara]

I don't think it's too early to expose her to religion. She isn't old enough to make an informed decision, but it's still good to be exposed to it. Sure she might say she's Christian and just go along with things because she's young and doesn't know any different, but when she gets older, she will probably take a closer look at things and question them. And sense she would have grown up with exposure, she would be able to make an informed decision.

 

[Dinogrrl]

My mom used to teach pre-kindergarten in a Christian (Methodist) school. The only reason it was a 'Christian' school was that it was held in a church. The religious schools in my area only started getting religious in first grade or so. Any younger, and most children simply don't have a concept of 'God' beyond it being a name.