Pagan Group At School

[Antoninus]

Ive been thinking about starting a little Pagan/Wiccan group/club at my school, but Im a little affraid the school is going to go ape and scream about devil worship and satanism and stuff like that. The biggest reason I havent taken steps to form one is because Im worried that the few people who do practice will be affraid of being singled out because of thier faith and not join out of a desire to stay out of the spotlight. I must confess that that is ALOT of the reason I havent gone public myself. I know theres safety in numbers but I dont know if people are willing to trade thier friends and respect for thier faith. What do you think I should do?

[mato]

Ask yourself why you want a school group and than see if that matches up with your goals. Then go to a faculty advisor and pitch it as a multicultural/religous thing to promote awarness and stuff... But there is a catch there, if you cant find enough people to join your group your out-a-luck. Ask around see if people are interested in such a thing. If not get together with some of your pagan friends and do the whole hang out thing. They cant really stop you from having a pagan style conversation if it doesnt involve em.

[Erincelt]

Everything Mato said, and with emphasis. When I was in high school we did start up a group, so it can be done if you have enough interest. As for the administration crying "Devil worship!" or the like, don't worry about it. Chances are nothing like that will happen at all -- heck I live in the middle of the Bible belt and all they told us was, "If you can find a teacher to 'sponsor' it, sure, why not." Also as Mato said, consider your motivations. If you just want the group for the sole reason of having it, its probably not really worth the trouble. Does your school have a chapter of the CSU (Christian Students Union)? Mine did, so we pitched our group as a counter-balance, and included ANY individuals who wanted to discuss religion openly. We actually had a few members who referred to themselves as Buddhist, and one who was raised a Hindu. The rest of us were the usual crowd of young Wiccans, shamans-in-training, and New Age hippy types.

If you have sincere goals for the group, there's nothing wrong with going for it, and there's not much anybody could do to stop you. As a hint -- Philosophy and psychology teachers make good sponsors for these kinds of groups... ;)

[SylverStar]

Is this a High School or College? If your school has a website with a messageboard check out how many people would be interested. It won't go no where if no one wants to participate.

[Chibi-Fallon]

These things tend to be more of a bother (both socially and just getting the stupid thing set up) then they're worth. And that's when the school *isn't* against it.
Just watch around a bit, try to find other things around your area that sound Pagany. It's a *much* easier way to meet Pagans then by starting a school group.
And you might be *really* disappointed with the Pagan population at your school. And not for the reasons you might think. Once you find them, you may not be able to get rid of them... they make start to make you twitch uncontrollably...

[Kaylara]

I would ask around and see if there was enough interest that would warrent having a pagan group in the school first. It's not a group if no one shows up, ya know?

[HallsOfAvalon]

If you are going to do it, find a Teacher to support you. Helps out allot with some of the bad things you can't avoid.

I think if it's trully what you want to do, it'll be great! Only if your heart is in it.

[Matt]

wow what a good idea ive thought about trying to start a group like that but well..... i live in a hick town and

Hicks + paganism = nothing good :(

theres a couple people i know that practice but there not really into it i think they just do it because its different :( so as far as i know im aaaaaall alone.

[Chibi-Fallon]

Hicks + paganism = nothing good :(


Least you're smart enough to know that, I've heard *so* many people whine (no one here) about how they set up a Pagan group in their little hick town and are now surprised and outraged that they're being persecuted. :rolleyes:

[asher]

hi i'm asher and i am also at school and i have sort of also been wondering if i should start one aswell and the boys at school call me{ruth}/asherand my friend meg like witch's
and stuff and i hate that any way i'm babbling so cya ruth is my real name but asher is my mystic wicks name
:elf: :huddle: :fprtyman3

[KaimelarFeylove]

one of my friends tried that here. They said no. Yet everythursday morning we all get to here the FCA music filtering though the school. I'd try, but its so late in the year now it wouldn;t work, and i won;t be here next year (Yay for being a senior finnaly) Starting any club is annoying here. If you go for it i wish you the best of luck

blessings
Kaimelar

[CelestiaSynth]

I really thought the idea of a Pagan club was great because we had at least 5 Christian clubs in the school, and one Pagan one would at least present an alternative view that I'm sure othe students had, because among my friends, the majority of us were interested in non-mainstream spirituality and religion.We had a short-lived Wiccan club called "The Circle" my sophmore year of high school.
A good friend of mine fronted it and put alot of fight into making it happen. It was disputed by the school boards and it took quite awhile for things to work out and the club to be "legally accepted". But sadly, it didn't flourish that well because most of the people that did show up didn't seem to be too genuinely interested in learning the theology and culture
of Paganism and Wicca, but just wanted quick spells, or to be seen at the "Witch Club" to feel cool. The club disbanded by the next year. I was sad to see the club go, but I had other clubs that I attended as well that were headed in a better direction than that one, so I moved on from it. However, when I go to college next year, I would like for there to be a Pagan club there, and if not, maybe I should just start one. I would hope that the student there would be more mature and would attend for more noble reasons that the ones at my high school did.

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

Technically speaking, any public school that allows a school sponsored (meaning faculty advisors, etc.) religious group such as Christian club, must by law allow the formation of other religious groups, ie a Pagan club. Also, even if it's not school sponsored but the religious group is allowed to meet on their grounds, then because it's public property they must also allow similar groups of differing religions to meet there as well. If they refuse to let one religious group form, they could be in serious legal trouble if persued. The only way they can legally prevent one religious group from forming is to ban all.

This is protected and covered by the Equal Access Act

Equal Access Act
Student religious clubs in secondary schools must be permitted to meet and to have equal access to campus media to announce their meetings, if a school receives federal funds and permits any student non-curricular club to meet during non-instructional time. This is the command of the Equal Access Act. A non- curricular club is any club not related directly to a subject taught or soon-to-be taught in the school. Although schools have the right to ban all non-curriculum clubs, they may not dodge the law's requirement by the expedient of declaring all clubs curriculum-related. On the other hand, teachers may not actively participate in club activities and "non-school persons" may not control or regularly attend club meeting.

The Act's constitutionality has been upheld by the Supreme Court, rejecting claims that the Act violates the Establishment Clause. The Act's requirements are described in more detail in The Equal Access Act and the Public Schools: Questions and Answers on the Equal Access Act*, a pamphlet published by a broad spectrum of religious and civil liberties groups.


~Saoirse Aiyana