Standing Up for What You Believe In
In September 2011, my school, New Heights Middle School, put on a major religious event. During an assembly, a minister gave a sermon to students, Christian rapper B-SHOC performed religious songs, and students were asked to fill out a form saying that they had accepted Jesus as their savior. Students who did not want to attend the religious assembly were told that their only other option was to sit in the in-school suspension room for the afternoon.
As an atheist, I felt very uncomfortable about going to the assembly, but I also did not think it was fair that if I didn’t go I would have to go to the in-school suspension room. It seemed like I was being punished just because I did not want attend a religious event. So, I went to the rally.
As we walked to the assembly, I told my teacher that I was not looking forward to it because I am an atheist. Her response? She told me, “I wouldn’t brag about that.” This lit a fire under me.
It wasn’t the first or last time the school disrespected my beliefs and tried to push religion on me. There were other school assemblies with religious speakers and even prayers led by the principal. Teachers ordered me to copy essays stating that I believe in God and thank God every day. And in case that wasn’t clear enough, Christian religious symbols hung throughout the school.
http://www.aclu.org/blog/religion-belief/standing-what-you-believe
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