Religious bullying in the 5th grade. How to handle it?

[spacelady]

This is not a zealot deal with us, I would rather it stayed out of the public school. To put it Very simply, apparently some of my daughter's classmates continue to ask her if she believes in Jesus Christ. This seems to be a BFD in Deep South Alabama. I have always told her to not discuss this topic, it is personal & belongs in church for the most part. They keep bugging her, she stays mum, but let us know today that she wrote 666 on her hand to scare them away & now they are calling her the Devil.
She makes very good grades. I think I am just now reaping what I sowed. But never mind, any tools to suggest for dealing with this???!!!11~!

[Porcupine]

1. Sounds like she''s doing just fine......

of course you could call the teacher and the principal and raise hell. Religious bullying in school is a CRIME and it is criminal for the staff to tolerate it. Mention that you are diarying incidents and if they don't stop they will be hearing from a lawyer.

Xtians in areas where they feel they are in the majority tend to be a royal pain in the ass. It actually wouldn't be one bit better for your kid if you were Cathilic or Quaker so don't sweat it.

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. She can say, when they ask, "I believe that Pharisees are the only ones who care"

[spacelady]

3. What about Philistines?

[Rabrrrrrr]

5. That would have no meaning.

[spacelady]

6. We advised her to talk to the school counselor about it rather than

I or Dad get involved at this time. I do so not want to make this an issue. Not my hat to throw in the ring at this time. But it is painful to watch. Is the counselor thing a mistake? They can be morality police also.

[idgiehkt]

4. maybe tell her to hit them with the bible verse

where Jesus tells his followers not to be like the hypocrites that pray in the streets. They probably won't let up on her until she fights fire with fire. My concern for her is that many of the adults in that environment are going to be fundies and may not think this harassment is such a bad thing. It can get very, very ugly, as it did for a young girl in my town a few years ago...at one school function she was shouted at by parents of the students after the function was over because her parents had protested religious songs being played. As she walked from the school to her parents' car she was shouted down and parents had religious songs in their cars with the speakers turned up full blast. It was a pretty big debacle because they parents had acted so hatefully toward a single child. I can't remember the outcome...but that was NC and AL is probably even worse.

[spacelady]

7. Yeah, you hit the bull's eye. Not something I want to campaign.

She actually LOVES SCHOOL, this I do not want to discourage. She said that they said the Bible says to spread Jesus' word. I said the Bible advocates praying quietly. I did so want to say this simply, but alas, cannot.

[idgiehkt]

9. yes, I think it might be better not to openly flaut what they are saying

but I know that is a lesson that is hard for a parent to teach. There is a Buddhist teaching about that...or it may be from the Tao, about just walking quietly amongst proselytizers; I can't remember where I read it but it made alot of sense. I've been a fighter all my life and it's only recently I've learned ho to 'go around' so to speak. I'd hate to see your daughter get made a target of ignorance. I don't envy your position at all.

[applegrove]

8. Tell her the whole point of Jesus' death where he died "for our sins" was

so people would stop scapegoating each other. Tell them it applies to public school as well as in their churches. Don't Scapegoat.

I read somewhere that if someone insults you outright..for something you cannot change about yourself..and it really hurts you should say: "ouch! That really hurt". Doubt it would work on a gang of girls.

[spacelady]

10. You are correct about that gang of girls. My daughter egged on this situation

with her 666 stunt, so I am not considering formal complaints right now. Even grownups have major trauma from religious blather. Hopefully they will move on to safer topics like sex, drugs & rock n roll.

[PVnRT]

11. Tell her to start speaking in tongues

Then find their parents and curse them in the name of Satan and Barbara Streisand. Then watch the fun begin.

[cobalt1999]

12. We live in the Fla panhandle and it's just as bad.

My daughters have had a few small incidents, but they've never escalated the situation by provoking the other kids. At most they've said is "I don't believe in invisible men".

Elementary school kids have short memories, the other girls will forget and move on.

[Az]

13. Unfortunately their parents are using them as proxies in a culture war

The only way to deal with it that has any chance of success is to put pressure on the school to limit such abuse.