Bella Wong (Wellesley School Superintendent - Massachusetts)
"It was not the intent for students to be able to participate in any of the religious practices...The fact that any students were allowed to do so in this case was an error...I extend my sincere apologies for the error that occurred and regret the offense it may have caused."
- Apology to parents after a group of middle school students participated in a prayer during a field-trip to the Islamic Society of Boston Community Center [mosque].
Why were these kids taken to a mosque in the first place? Did their parents sign 'permission slips' for them to go? Or was it simply a mandatory class obligation and it didn't matter if the parents wanted them to go or not?
"If a Catholic priest took school kids to a church and said, ‘Let’s teach them about Catholicism,’ and the kids kneeled before the altar, took wine, and the Host, the furor would be visible from outer space." - Dennis Hale
No doubt that's true. Liberals from far and wide would be screaming and marching about "separation of church and state" being trampled on...There's no problem with 'mosque and state', however.
All of the above is problematic, but my biggest concern is will the Muslim world take offense to concerns about American parents not wanting their children to pray in mosques? Will this lead to new threats of Islamic rage, followed by threats of vengeance? Will President Obama give a speech about how insensitive we are being towards the 'Religion of Pieces'?
Hmm????
- Apology to parents after a group of middle school students participated in a prayer during a field-trip to the Islamic Society of Boston Community Center [mosque].
Why were these kids taken to a mosque in the first place? Did their parents sign 'permission slips' for them to go? Or was it simply a mandatory class obligation and it didn't matter if the parents wanted them to go or not?
"If a Catholic priest took school kids to a church and said, ‘Let’s teach them about Catholicism,’ and the kids kneeled before the altar, took wine, and the Host, the furor would be visible from outer space." - Dennis Hale
No doubt that's true. Liberals from far and wide would be screaming and marching about "separation of church and state" being trampled on...There's no problem with 'mosque and state', however.
All of the above is problematic, but my biggest concern is will the Muslim world take offense to concerns about American parents not wanting their children to pray in mosques? Will this lead to new threats of Islamic rage, followed by threats of vengeance? Will President Obama give a speech about how insensitive we are being towards the 'Religion of Pieces'?
Hmm????
posted by Poison Pero @ Tuesday, September 21, 2010
4 Comments:
At 11:08 PM,
Doug Indeap said…
Your fixation on "liberalism" is unwarranted and your understanding of separation of church and state is lacking.
The principle of separation of church and state constrains the government (including government-run schools) not to promote or oppose religion. In keeping with this principle, schools are free to teach students "about" religions, but not to promote or oppose any religions.
This school evidently tried to do just that (with parental permission by the way [you could have looked that up before posting]), but things went awry on the field trip, hence the apology is entirely understandable and appropriate. Look elsewhere for the jackass.
At 9:07 AM,
Poison Pero said…
Lack of organizational control is unexcusable...I've been on school field trips before as a volutnteer parent, and NEVER would I have allowed the children to get out of my control.
The only other excuse for the children getting out on their own is if control wasn't the issue...If they were allowed to go, which the school says didn't happen.
I am fully aware of the principle of "church/state"...It's a sham, and has been turned into a tool against religion, instead of a tool to keep government out of religion as it was intended.
Finally, how can you say my "fixation on liberalism is unwarranted"? Who are you to say what anyone should be fixated on or what is unwarranted?
Our lives are bombarded with Liberalism at every level....This is what the American people are pissed about. And what they will be banging on come election day.
At 10:37 AM,
brian said…
wow doug...from how some schools react when students engage in silent prayer, or bring a copy of the bible to school,it's rather hard to see how some schools are not opposed to some religions. can you see a school taking the student body to a church to see how christianity works? and no, i'm not a christian, i just believe there should be fairness and balance to even out the scales a bit.
At 9:01 PM,
Doug Indeap said…
Brian,
Since Christianity in its various sorts commonly is the dominant religion in most American communities, one might question the utility of teaching students about something already so familiar to them. Nonetheless, some schools do organize field trips to various Christian churches, as well as Jewish synagogues, etc., much as this school did with respect to a mosque.
Note too that while the First Amendment constrains public schools from promoting or opposing religion, it also protects the freedom of individuals, teachers and students, to exercise and express their religious views--in a time, manner, and place that does not interfere with school programs and activities.
Wake Forest University recently published a short, objective Q&A primer on the current law of separation of church and state–as applied by the courts rather than as caricatured in the blogosphere. I commend it to you. http://tiny.cc/6nnnx
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