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I'm stumped...

sunkissed7804sunkissed7804 member
in Attachment Parenting

I want to react in the best way possible.  I am fuming inside...disturbed...shocked...and I seriously don't want to react the wrong way.

My daughter came home singing "The Unicorn Song."  Now, granted the song is very sweet and if the words were changed around I don't believe I would have any problem with it at all.  Here is a link to the lyrics:

https://www.songlyrics.com/irish-rovers/the-unicorn-lyrics/

Those of you who are familiar with this song know that it is adapted from a Shel Silverstein poem.  I love him.  He is one of my favorite authors. 

My issue is that my daughter is learning a religious song in her music class at school!  She came home and asked if she could sing me the song, all words intact, and it took every ounce of calmness within me not to react.

In my head I was screaming "WTF?!?!?!?!  ARE YOU F*&%^ KIDDING ME?!?!?!"  However, to my daughter I smiled and said "Wow!  You learning a pretty long song and you remembered all of the words.  And you sang it so sweetly.  I love when you sing to me!"  That is all I said and then sent her on her way to do her homework so that I could fume while I finished the dishes.

I know some of you will say "So what. Big Deal."  Some of you may fume right along with me.  I am extremely ruffled by this and I even feel let down a bit as well.  I send my child to school to learn about math, music, science, literature, art, etc.  I also send her to school to learn social behaviors and appreciation for diversity.  However, we are also the type of family who is very involved with our child's education and development and this conflicts with our values and beliefs at home.  She is very aware and knows this.

SO...what to do?  How do I react?  I don't want to get the teacher in trouble but at the same time, did he really believe that it is okay to teach kids this song?

 ARRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!

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Re: I'm stumped...

  • mrsshawnavanbmrsshawnavanb member
    So you want your daughter to be culturally diverse but not be taught anything about religion? Not being snarky, just a little confused by that. Or, do you just not want religion introduced at an age that she can't fully comprehend it? I don't kn
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  • LatteLady5LatteLady5 member

    I don't necessarily think this is a religious song. It's kind of a weird song and while it mentions Noah's Ark it's obviously not accurate to the Biblical story. As a Christian I can understand where you're coming from. I would be upset if my child cam


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  • sunkissed7804sunkissed7804 member

    imagemrsshawnavanb:
    So you want your daughter to be culturally diverse but not be taught anything about religion? Not being snarky,
    Report Reply
  • sunkissed7804sunkissed7804 member
    imageLatteLady5:

    I don't necessarily think this is a religious song. It's kind of a weird song and while it mentions Noah's Ark it'

    Report Reply
  • nosoup4unosoup4u member
    imageLatteLady5:

    I don't necessarily think this is a religious song. It's kind of a weird song and while it mentions Noah's Ark

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  • TiffanyBerryTiffanyBerry member

    As an atheist, I think you are over reacting.

    Religion IS a part of our culture, due to the fact that more people are religious than not.  It's no different - if you're atheist - than saying Santa Clause exists and you have to be good becaus

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  • LatteLady5LatteLady5 member
    imagenosoup4u:
    imageLatteLady5:<

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  • sunkissed7804sunkissed7804 member
    imagenosoup4u:
    imageLatteLady5:<
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  • TiffanyBerryTiffanyBerry member

    I feel that bottom line this is a violation of rights.  Whether or not someone else finds it to be okay with them and their family is not in question.  I know some of you realize that that is my point.
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  • pitterpatter129pitterpatter129 member

    We all make mistakes.  Tell the teacher you weren't loving the song and don't think it should be taught and why.  They can cut it next year. 

    However, that song isn't a religous song in my opinion.  Yeah, it talks about Noah,

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  • thebokitheboki member
    I would talk to the school.  Religion is not supposed to be taught there.  It needs to be brought to the Principal's attention. 
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  • salt78salt78 member

    I think you are WAY overthinking this and I am from a very non-religious family.

    Though my DD's favorite song is Uncle Noah's Ark by The Wiggles. Atheism...I'm doing it wrong.

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  • pitterpatter129pitterpatter129 member

    imagetheboki:
    I would talk to the school.  Religion is not supposed to be taught there.  It needs to be brought to the Pr
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  • MarseeMarsee member

    Dude. Chill.

    If this is all it takes to get you this riled up, you need to get a hobby.

    The school was not teaching your daughter religion. They were teaching her a weird little song that happens to include the names of people in the Bible.

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  • CalinsBrideCalinsBride

    I feel like as this song includes a unicorn, the entire thing could just be considered folklore and is not a serious lesson on religion in any aspect. . .

     ETA: And are you American? What about the pledge of allegiance?<span style="font-size

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  • barnwifebarnwife member
    I have a lot of music teacher friends. They can use religious songs in music class, as long as they are a good/among the best examples of (insert whatever class is learning here). So if a religious song is a fantastic example of sixteenth notes or syncopa
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  • highlightshighlights member

    I just looked up the lyrics to the song, and I really don't see how the song is "teaching" religion at all. It happens to mention God and Noah, but it also references unicorns, so it could easily be portrayed as a silly song about a made-up flood and a

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  • lawrightlawright member

     Are you pissed because you're an atheist who doesn't believe in God and don't want your kid to be exposed to a made-up story that would incorporate such an unrealistic character?  Or because you're a religious f

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  • lawrightlawright member
    imagesunkissed7804:

    imagemrss
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  • lawrightlawright member

    I feel that bottom line this is a violation of rights.  Whether or not someone else finds it to be okay with them and their family is not in question.  I know some of you realize that that is my point.
    </BLOCKQUO
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  • tokenhosertokenhoser member

    Regardless of if you believe it is true, the story of the Great Flood shows up in many religions (not just Christianity/Judaism). It's a story that a child should be familiar with even if they don't believe it to be history.

    And an Irish Rovers s

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  • gnomemomgnomemom member

    DH and I are both atheists and I think it's a pretty cute song. Yes, it's clearly about Noah's ark...which is obviously a ridiculous made up story. I'm not threatened by that. I wouldn't expect my child to think about the song lyrics and believe they w

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  • lawrightlawright member

    https://www.aclu-nm.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Religious-Liberty-in-Public-Schools-web.pdf

    Page 8 and 9.  If the ACLU doesn't think that it's a violation of your rights for a school to mention religion, then it's a fair bet that it's not.

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  • farfanoogenfarfanoogen member
    imagegnomemom:
    DH and I are both atheists and I think it's a pretty cute song. Yes, it's clearly about Noah's ark...which is obviously a
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  • skibunny59skibunny59 member

    imagebarnwife:
    I have a lot of music teacher friends. They can use religious songs in music class, as long as they are a good/among
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  • BrittKavBrittKav member
    If your family is non-religious, then how is that song any different from any other little story-songs? It's a fairy-tale. Do you tell her stories with fairies and magic? How is that any different from god and the flood? Honestly, I'd only be a bit peeved
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  • adoruhbuladoruhbul member

    Just want to quickly say that I was raised by parents who held the same beliefs about religion in a public school and it made me an outcast and likely is what caused me to later in life turn atheist.  I come from a religious Jewish family and ever

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  • ncbellencbelle member

    I'm going to just echo what's already been said - there's a huge difference in teaching religion and teaching about religion (or using texts with religious references).  Sacred music (which this is definitely not!) and biblical texts are regularly



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  • sugarbear0524sugarbear0524 member

    So, no Away in the Manger, Joy to the World, or Silent Night at Christmas?

    No America the Beautiful ("God shed His grace on thee...") , Battle Hymn of the Republic ("My eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord"), or My Country 'Tis of

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  • belladonna11307belladonna11307 member

    If it makes you feel any better, this song is performed at all the pagan festivals I go to.

    I hate to jump on the "you're over reacting" band wagon, but if you're worried about the type of music being used in public schools, you might want to d

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  • Jbosarge85Jbosarge85 member
    imagesunkissed7804:

    I want to react in the best way possible.  I am fuming inside...disturbed...shocked...and I seriously don'

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  • abbeylanecbabbeylanecb member
    You need to relax. Homeschool if you are that picky. 
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  • thatoneredheadthatoneredhead member

    Noah's ark is on alot of baby items. I would put money on 75% of kids knowing who Noah is. Religious or not, I think this is a major biblical story that our culture is familiar with.

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  • MeganequineMeganequine member
    OP- In my opinion you are way overreacting. It's not really about religion, it just has some religious references. It is in no way teaching your daughter religion. However, if it really bothers you talk to the teacher and have your kid sit out. Don
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  • sucredeesucredee member

    Over reacting...

     

    I was born and raised in the Netherlands and in 7th grade for English we were learning drinking songs. I remember learning "I've been a wild rover for many a year, I've spent all my money on whiskey and beer...". Gra

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