Aibu-Prayer in Florida

[Britishmumspelledmom]

I am British so is DH but we both live in the US (Florida) with our kids. DS is 14 and DD is 10 we are all non religious and prayer is never something that has come up. However, Ron Desantis (the governor) has now signed a law requiring all schools to have a 1-2 minute silence every day so students can pray if they want. They say if not religious they can just remain quiet. Aibu to be annoyed about this as it feels like DS and DD are being treated as less important that their religious students. Aibu?

Yes, I think you are. An opportunity for prayer for some, and silent reflection for others sounds like a nice thing.

I think living in Florida might have more problems than a 1-2 minute silence during which you aren't obliged to do anything except be respectful of those who do want to pray tbf.

Brilliant idea. I am not into praying, but mindfulness and being still and present for a couple of mins each day is great for mental health. Encourage you child to focus on breathing, breath in for a count of 4 then out for out for count of 4. Loads of benefit if they do it and don't just stand there waiting for it to be finished.

Well I think the 2 minutes silence is probably better than guided prayer as they can just sit silently for 120 seconds so I'm not sure they're being treated unfairly. I'd object to them being forced to recite prayers etc but I can't get worked up about this

I'm an atheist and am completely against prayer/religious assembly in schools - to the point where I've been involved in campaigns against it. I'd be fine with this. Your kids can use the time to pick their fantasy football team or practice their timetables in their head.

Pointless to spend school time on prayer imo, if praying is that important to them they can do it in their own time. I'd be annoyed as well, even though 1-2 mins isn't long. It's the principle behind it.

Are you usually easily annoyed?

I’m not religious but obviously in the U.K. schools are. I grew up with a school prayer morning, lunchtime and end of the day at primary so I guess it’s something that doesn’t bother me really. I quite liked us all standing up reciting our lunch prayer. Can’t say it ever really made me think about God...

Having said that, it's just a time your kids can use to do meditation or whatever they like so not too bad. I just don't see why time for prayer needs to be carved out in school.

I know the concept of school prayer is a much bigger thing in the US where state schools are not religious at all.

You're being utterly ridiculous. So much so that the word ridiculous is nowhere near strong enough but I'm too tired to think of anything else. And very very very unreasonable.

So because your kids might not want to pray, NONE should be allowed to? That's just ... Too disgusting and unreasonable for words.

@woodfort

I’m not religious but obviously in the U.K. schools are. I grew up with a school prayer morning, lunchtime and end of the day at primary so I guess it’s something that doesn’t bother me really. I quite liked us all standing up reciting our lunch prayer. Can’t say it ever really made me think about God...

I don't think many schools in the UK are that religious!

We used to have once a week assembly with a minister and that was it!

Op what would you prefer your kids to do during the 2 minutes prayer time?

While I know it’s frustrating I can’t see a 1-2 minute each day making your children being less important.
My children attend a church school. We live in a village and all local schools are historically linked to the church’s so there is little choice. We are non religious and it is frustrating some of the focus that religion takes and more than I would necessarily like but it gives my children a different perspective on others views and doesn’t make them any less important.

I get how it’s irritating.

Could you teach your kid to meditate instead?

Aibu to be annoyed about this as it feels like DS and DD are being treated as less important that their religious students. Aibu?

How does this make them less important?

Its 2 minutes
Its not compulsory to pray
You are being unreasonable

2 minutes a day to be quiet and think about whatever you like or nothing at all. What's the problem? 🤷

I'm not religious either, but can't see any issue here.

Unless they're giving the ones who pray a cookie afterwards that they don't give to those who don't, I can't see why everyone having 2 minutes of silence in a day is treating your children as less important.

As long as they are not mandating prayer, I think this is fine.

I don't see the problem with it. It isn't a guided prayer so they can sit in silence for a couple of minutes and take a breather.

It's pretty bonkers to enshrine this in law, but I don't see how it affects your children? Can they not manage 2 minutes of silence?

It’s prayer or reflection? A choice.