Daycare and Religion

[originalkat]

It may deter some people, but I don't think it is something for her to worry about. I would just advertise like anyone else and if a family does not want their child there then they don't have to enroll.

I do have a Christian based program. I tell parents that I believe it is the parents primary responsibility to teach their religious beliefs to their child. However, I do share christian values, simple prayers at meal time, songs, and bible stories from time to time. This is important to me because my religion is my lifestyle and it would be hard for me to separate that (especially since I work in my home).

If someone does not choose her because of her religion it does not necessarily mean they are being prejudiced. They may just want a program that aligns with their religious beliefs. Many people choose catholic or Christian or Jewish or Muslim schools because they want their own religious teachings/beliefs passed down at school as well as home.

[youretooloud]

If someone does not choose her because of her religion it does not necessarily mean they are being prejudiced. They may just want a program that aligns with their religious beliefs. Many people choose catholic or Christian or Jewish or Muslim schools because they want their own religious teachings/beliefs passed down at school as well as home.

I totally agree.

I absolutely do not think it would be prejudice at all. Just as a Non Christian would not ever choose your program because of the prayer, it would still not be prejudice.

Being Christian myself, I would only choose either a Christian provider, or a more secular provider. Not a provider who would teach her religion to my child. EXPOSING my child to other religions is wonderful. TEACHING it is not. (The friend in the OP is not going to teach her religion, so that would not ever be a problem) I never teach Christianity anymore, because I have only two Christian families in my whole group.

I also do not think that just because you live in the Bible Belt that you are prejudice. I feel like if I move to a small town in Mississippi I would integrate myself into that world. I don't automatically assume that they need to change for others. If an entire town wants to pray just before the high school basketball game, then wonderful. If one person eleven states over makes a huge fuss about that, then shame on them. People should mind their business, stay where they belong (in their own business) and stop being so emotionally fragile about what others are doing in their own town.

[Willow]

If someone does not choose her because of her religion it does not necessarily mean they are being prejudiced.

BAM.

I would not enroll my children because teaching my children about gender equality is important to me. While I also believe teaching tolerance is just as important, and would respect her believing woman are on a different proverbial "playing field" than men, I would not want my children around that mentality regularly.

That said I'm sure she is not the only Muslim in her area and people might actually seek her out for her beliefs. There is no reason why she shouldn't pursue doing daycare.

[RosieMommy]

I have a friend who is an American muslim who I was talking to today. She wears western clothes and wears a scarf or a hat to cover her hair. She is interested in starting a small family daycare...maybe just a few kids to start.

She was concerned about not getting clients based on her appearance (the scarf) and parents may be deterred by her faith.

Do you think this is a valid concern?

It's a valid concern as far as there are ignorant people who will not like her because she's Muslim. She doesn't want those people anyway.

The families who won't care are the ones she will want and get. She should go ahead and start her business. There will always be stupid people.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I know of many people looking for care in a non-faith based program.

I, personally, run a CHRISTIAN program and it's very obvious. The name of my program has the word "Christian" in it, we pray, we learn the 10 Commandments, we read the Bible, we memorize Bible verses, we discuss things from a Christian viewpoint (such as creation), etc. I have many in attendance here who aren't practicing Christians. I've only run into an issue with one interviewing family who wanted to know if I "cram Christianity down the children's throats." ::
If someone doesn't value a Christian program then I'm not the place for them. If someone doesn't value a non-faith based program then yours might not be the program for them.

[youretooloud]

It's a valid concern as far as there are ignorant people who will not like her because she's Muslim. She doesn't want those people anyway.

The families who won't care are the ones she will want and get. She should go ahead and start her business. There will always be stupid people.

But, this doesn't make them stupid or ignorant. It's the parent's choice. It isn't as if all parents who would not choose her have no common sense. It's offensive to say that a parent who would not choose her are stupid and ignorant. They just need something else. There are SOO many personal reasons not to choose a provider that has a different faith. I don't know them all, but I doubt it's out of ignorance.

[RosieMommy]

But, this doesn't make them stupid or ignorant. It's the parent's choice. It isn't as if all parents who would not choose her have no common sense. It's offensive to say that a parent who would not choose her are stupid and ignorant. They just need something else. There are SOO many personal reasons not to choose a provider that has a different faith. I don't know them all, but I doubt it's out of ignorance.

Not liking someone because they are Muslim is both stupid and ignorant. I'm not addressing valid reasons to not want to enroll a child with a Muslim daycare provider -- not liking someone solely because of their religion isn't a valid reason.

[missjenny]

BAM.

I would not enroll my children because teaching my children about gender equality is important to me. While I also believe teaching tolerance is just as important, and would respect her believing woman are on a different proverbial "playing field" than men, I would not want my children around that mentality regularly.

That said I'm sure she is not the only Muslim in her area and people might actually seek her out for her beliefs. There is no reason why she shouldn't pursue doing daycare.

I think you have some misconceptions about Islam if you think that Muslim women are not equal to men. Most people assume that shuri law and other such practices in so called Islamic countries is how Islam work but that is not true. That is culture. My husband also dresses modestly when he is out and covers his head during prayers.

For the longest time I did not wear a scarf and no one hassled me over it. This is America. If a women is observing purdah (dressing modestly) then she is doing it of her own free will. Would you tell a nun she is making herself lower then a man by wearing a habit?

[Willow]

A Catholic nun dresses the same regardless of whether her company is male or female.

You are comparing apple's to green beans there missjenny.



It would not sit right with me to teach my children that a woman has to shroud/cover her head or face in the presence of my husband but not in the presence of me.

Fine if that's what she believes and wants to do herself, but just as I respect our differences I'd expect her to offer me the same.

[youretooloud]

Not liking someone because they are Muslim is both stupid and ignorant. I'm not addressing valid reasons to not want to enroll a child with a Muslim daycare provider -- not liking someone solely because of their religion isn't a valid reason.

But, how did this derail to LIKING someone? It was always about enrolling your children in a daycare. Not about liking them as a person.

[Willow]

Not liking someone because they are Muslim is both stupid and ignorant. I'm not addressing valid reasons to not want to enroll a child with a Muslim daycare provider -- not liking someone solely because of their religion isn't a valid reason.

So you would have no problem dropping your child off with a Satanist then?

Using your reasoning as long as they treated your child kindly there would be no reason to judge them as anything but human, right?


Both enrolling your child in a daycare and being an actual provider there is a lot of scrutiny involved. Both sides want to end up with the best match possible. Whatever is important to either party - is valid. The opinions of both should be respected. Disagreeing about potty training philosophies does not make one or the other ignorant, it just means two people have come to different conclusions. If that cannot be rectified both should agree to move on because the standing issue will not just magically disappear for convenience sake.

The issue of personal and religious or spiritual beliefs is and should be approached no differently. Moving on is better for all if you can't get on the same page.

[dave4him]

Children are going to be more influenced by how you act and live then what you say and tell them.

[Cradle2crayons]

But, how did this derail to LIKING someone? It was always about enrolling your children in a daycare. Not about liking them as a person.

I'm with you. I didn't hear a single person here say that just because someone wouldn't choose a Muslim provider meant they didn't LIKE HER.

What I got was that they wouldn't feel that their personal beliefs would meld well. I also run a Christian program and I advertise that. If someone Muslim decided this wasn't the program for me, I wouldn't think it was because they didn't LIKE ME.

That's ridiculous . It's a personal preference. Just like others have said they wouldn't pick a provider who transports, or wouldn't pick a provider with too many tattoo, or wouldn't pick a provider who takes pain medication.

It's all about personal preference and deciding if that FCC or center etc would serve in the best interest of THEIR family.

[dave4him]

I take no offense when people discover I am not a woman running my daycare Though I am sure I would have more kids by now if I were.

[Starburst]

So you would have no problem dropping your child off with a Satanist then?

Are you implying that Muslims worship Satan because they don't follow a conventional Christian god?