I homeschool.

AprilD32 Mar. 26, 2009 at 2:28 PM

Saying Mother Nature brings in springs is not being respectful of all religions.   Why the teacher even felt a need to say "who" brings in spring should be questioned.  That is unnecessary to the explaination of the basic function of how winter transitions to spring.  And ironicly it is accepted that she said mother nature did it is in the school, but if she would have said God the school would have been in an uproar and it would be considered unacceptable.

blessingsathome Mar. 26, 2009 at 2:29 PM

I agree with blessingsathome. The parents of nearly every child in that school would have thrown a fit if the teacher had said God brought spring. So if it is not ok to talk about God in school than it should not be ok to talk about Mother Nature.

asmcbride Mar. 26, 2009 at 2:35 PM

'Mother Nature' has been around for a long time, and isn't, to the best of my knowledge, considerd an actual diety. Yes, it's pretty pagan imagery, but so is Father Time and the New Year's baby, the Easter bunny, even the cross is pagan by origin...I could go on forever, but you get my drift.

Mother Nature is an idealized icon. Kali *is* an actual goddess. Kuan Yin *is* an actual goddess. Cerridwen *is* an actual goddess. There are thousands of them, or one depending on your culture, traditions, outlook, preferences etc. Most prefer simply the Goddess, and some could be referring to mother earth.

Rule of thumb is the same as with xtians. Ask 3 pagans, get 9 different answers :)

As for the schools, make your wishes crystal clear from the outset. I honestly don't think a kindergarten teacher is out to recruit your kids.

We (Pagans) not bound by the great commission, and recruiting/preaching etc is a huge no no if there are any at all, there is that.

MizKizzy Mar. 26, 2009 at 2:51 PM

I never thought of mother nature as a person. Would it be different if the teacher had simply said nature?

Faye-Tula Mar. 26, 2009 at 2:53 PM

That's because it IS unacceptable and unconstitutional to preach to a class full of kids that god did it.  Now maybe photoqueen240 understands what it is like for Atheist parents and those of other faiths when christian imaginary friend garbage gets spouted in schools and throughout the government that is supposed to be for ALL citizens.  The teacher is right that all religions should be respected.  Yet the second any other faith is even hinted at, even with something as culturally innocuous and watered-down as the image of Mother Nature, here's an outraged christian with her tail in a knot.  Yeah.  It's JUST the Atheists complaining...wait, look, no it isn't. 

roachiesmom Mar. 26, 2009 at 3:01 PM

As a Christian, I see Mother Nature as in the same category as Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. So, for me, no harm no foul.

But, when I was a kid and the school presented something that was different from my faith, my parents told us to answer, "According to the textbook (or the teacher or the lesson), this is the correct answer". From that, I learned that I don't have to agree with everything the teacher says but I can respect the authority of the teacher to say it. 

May-20 Mar. 26, 2009 at 3:04 PM

I am a Darwinist who homeschools and man, I am SO glad I don't have all these issues. It is at the cost of a salary, but it is SO worth it.

InGinouity Mar. 26, 2009 at 3:05 PM

ok, here is my take on it. my teachers said things like "mother nature" all the time when i was little and some did even when i was in high school.

MOST people use the phrase "mother nature" to describe the earth, to personify the earth. nothing more. if the earth didn't spin then we wouldn't have night and day.

she was saying it was the nature of the earth is ow we have spring.

and yes all religions should be respected and treated with love and compassion.

for it is not the religion that makes the person but it is the person that make the religion what it is( i.e. if a Christian goes around spewing hate and hurtful words people tune them out and turn away.  i.e if a pagan talks of love, compassion, hope, and life, people are most interested in hearing the GOOD and POSITIVE MESSAGES.).

CheshireHope Mar. 26, 2009 at 3:31 PM

I believe in what's called Intelligent Design.  It doesn't deny that there were dinosaurs, that, to a certain extent, evolution occurs, etc, but that God is directing it all. 

When things are brought up in school that is in contradiction to this, depending on how extreme a contradiction it is, and how disrespectful it may or may not be towards differing beliefs, they either share their views in a respectful way.  Or, they answer questions with phrasing like this:

According to the theory of ____ , this is how ____  occurs.  Or, our textbooks state ____.  That way, you are not saying you agree or accept the premise that's being presented, just that you are aware of what the premise or theory is.

sailorwifenmom Mar. 26, 2009 at 3:38 PM