<p>I'm secular, and I'm just wondering if it'll matter if I go to a school like St. Paul's or St. Andrew's, which are both religious. I know I won't have to convert (or become religious) but how big of a deal is religion in these schools? Is there like mandatory church meetings every week or something?</p>
<p>I was wondering this too, as a lot of the prep schools are religious. does it affect everyday stuff?</p>
<p>Kent is an Episcopalian school and although there is required chapel three times a week for 20 minutes, 30 minutes, and Sunday’s is an hour, people of any or no religions go. If you are another religion they will make accommodations for the weekly service. All religions are accepted, but you do have to take theology (but it examines the Bible as history and literature and not neccessarily religion), and you do have to go to some kind of service. Many people are not religious but the quiet time to listen during chapel is nice they say.</p>
<p>I’ve taught at 2 boarding schools with a religious affiliation. All students attended a short chapel service, at one place it was 3 times a week, with no longer service on the weekend, and at the other it was 5 times a week, with a mandatory hour service on the weekend. students of other religions were provided with transportation to services for their beliefs, but the atheists and agnostics were required to go to the service on campus.</p>
<p>At the 3 time a week chapel school, the chaplain made it clear on the first day that students of other faiths and those who were questioning or non-believers were welcome to speak the prayers as he led them, to speak their own prayers, or to remain silent. They had a “practice chapel” for all new students explaining what happens in service, and why the service is structured as it is. The service did feature singing hymns, speaking prayers, and hearing readings from the bible, but the chapel speeches are always focused more broadly on leading a life with kindness and thoughts toward others. At 20 minutes, it’s not a huge amound of time.</p>
<p>Both schools had seated meals with a brief prayer beforehand, and it was again made clear at the beginning of school that everyone was invited to join the prayer, offer their own prayers, or to observe silence. In general, boarding schools with a religious affiliation are very different from Evangelical Christian Schools. At boarding schools, many of the faculty are from different religions or are non-believers, so you will not be getting a constant religious message in the classroom.</p>
<p>Since even boarding schools with religious affiliation vary a lot in their requirements, don’t forget to ask as you apply to schools. But be assured, not every student is religious, and neither are the faculty. Chapel and meal prayers are framed as a time for reflection about the bigger issues of the purpose of our lives.</p>
<p>If saying paryers, singing hymns and hearing reads from bible are happening regularly, even if non-belivers are allowed to remain silent, I imagine it could still be awkward or annoying to them. I agree with Albion. Ask for details during the interview. Better yet, sit in one of them, and imagine doing it 3 times a week.</p>
<p>EDIT: DA’s post and mine crossed, but say pretty much the same thing…</p>
<p>I’ll chime in since I’m relatively familiar with both of the schools you mention.</p>
<p>First of all, you do not have to be an Episcopalian to attend either school. And, as far as I know, each school is welcoming of people of all faiths — as well people who are agnostic or atheist. No one is going to try and “convert” you.</p>
<p>That said, if you are the sort of person who thinks chapel is “a drag” or “a waste of time”, I would reconsider any school that has mandatory chapel service(s). After all, a chapel is literally at the heart of many of the Episcopal schools, including SAS and SPS. The chapel at St. Paul’s is a centrally located building where the whole school meets — and the chapel at St. Andrew’s is integrated into the main school building, Founders’ Hall.</p>
<p>My point being, if you are secularly minded…why would you want to attend a school that makes a point to make chapel/meeting in a house of worship part of their school week? (Two services a week at SAS, with grace said at seated meals, and four a week at SPS [according to the SPS site].)</p>
<p>Here is an excerpt from the founding mission statement of St. Andrew’s: “The purpose of St. Andrew’s School is to provide secondary education of a definitely Christian character at a minimum cost consistent with modern equipment and highest standards.”</p>
<p>The SAS site goes on to say: “Our students and faculty live in a residential community founded on ethical principles and Christian beliefs…As an Episcopal School, St. Andrew’s is grounded in and upheld by our Episcopal identity, welcoming persons regardless of their religious background. We are called to help students explore their spirituality and faith as we nurture their understanding and appreciation of all world religions.” That last part is important, I think. It says to me that no matter what faith tradition you choose, that the school thinks it’s important to explore it and better understand all religions.</p>
<p>And while the SPS site states that “The Chapel welcomes people from all backgrounds and religious traditions: people of faith from around the world, those who are searching for spiritual meaning, those who embrace a secular worldview, and Christians from all denominations.”, it also says “We are a pluralistic and inclusive community, where the commitment to spiritual health and wholeness is a hallmark of our holistic education.” Which again, sounds like they think exploration of some faith/spiritual tradition is important.</p>
<p>I’m not trying to talk you out of applying to either school…they were at the top of our list last year. I just think that if secularism matters that much to you, there are plenty of other schools that might be a better fit.</p>
<p>I should’ve clarified: Some Agnostics (I define as those who aren’t sure what they believe) learn that they enjoy the time for relflection that chapel provides, and some find that chapel isn’t their thing. Atheists (I define as those who firmly believe that there is no such thing as God) would probably be very uncomfortable at a religious school. Chapel 2 or 3 times a week, prayers before seated meals, “lessons and carols services” and baccalaureate services may be more of a cross-cultural exchange than you want.</p>
<p>It’s an important part of your decision process to ask yourself if you would feel uncomfortable or left out by staying silent when you were surrounded by kids saying the Lord’s Prayer in chapel, etc. Everyone reacts differently; it’s an important thing to explore before you wind up in a school that makes you uncomfortable/unhappy.</p>
<p>SevenDad and DAndrew make excellent points, and I’d like to reinforce both of their responses.</p>