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carney09
member
Parents outraged at students participating in Muslim prayer
carney09
member
while on a school trip....
Ok, this pisses me off.
1) The students did this on their own. They were not asked, forced, or anything.
2) The mother who shot the video, and then sent it to the group who opposes the Mosque, WAS A CHAPERONE. If she didn't think what was happening was cool, how about stopping it? WTF?
I truly don't see how this is such a big deal. The school does field trips to Christian and Jewish and Hindu places too. So um...wtf?
Oh yeah, and on my local news this morning, they said the mother who shot the video plans to sue the school district.
Effing opportunistic idiot fear mongers.
ETA: The link
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Parents outraged at students participating in Muslim prayer
Pathetic!!
Of their own volition, and yet it still sends parents into an uproar...
I'd be pissed too. My son is 9 and while I respect other people's right to practice the religion they choose to, I do not want religion other than Christianity taught to my son at this point and I don't want religion taught to my son at school. It's my choice to raise my son how I see fit and bringing up different religions right now is not what I choose to do. I'm glad my son's school does not participate in these kinds of field trips.
I understand this article deals with Jr. High students so they might be able to differentiate between Christianity and Muslim.
In our school system, there is a unit in World History class that teaches all of the world's major religions.
ETA: The first go-round is in junior high school, and the more detail-oriented class is in high school.
Did you read the article? I think it says its part of their curriculum about world cultures and faiths. I remember learning about that in school as well.
But, you do bring up a good point. Maybe, because its a public school, they shouldn't. However, if this particular mother had an issue with it, how about trying to stop the field trip in the first place? No, instead she actually signed up to be a chaperone and then video taped the part she didn't like? Sketchy.
Um, then wouldn't you just not sign the permission slip for your son to go on the field trip?? Or perhaps, if you really thought it was a bad idea for the field trip to occur, bring it up with the school beforehand?
I understand not wanting your child to practice another religion, but for educational purposes? Thats just ridiculous.
To the OP, wouldn't parents have needed to sign a permission slip to go on this field trip?
I actually teach this course. If you want your kids exposed to only your beliefs, then homeschool them or send them to private school.
I agree with your viewpoint. My son's school sends out notes regularly if there is anything that might be disagreed with so parents have ample time to send a note advising their child can/cannot participate. I want my son to have a more widely balanced view of the world as he gets older but I don't think it's something he should focus on now. I'd be thrilled if he could get his addition, subtraction and reading down first. We can tackle the other topics later.
Yes I would. There are situations at school I would rather he not be apart of. I sign the opt out forms and send them back to school.
I am assuming so, yes. It always worked that way when I was in school.
I distinctly remember having to have my parents sign an acknowledgement that this is the unit we were participating in, and if they didn't want us to learn about it, we had independent study hall in another classroom.
Then I don't understand the problem. People are stupid
Perfect! Thats what should happen. Seriously. I think I'm more upset at the fact that this slimy woman not only allowed her child to attend, but also attended as a chaperone, then saw what was happening and rather than stop it, videotaped it, and then instead of complaining to the school, sent the tape to a group known as opposing this particular mosque in the first place. And now she plans to sue.
Really lady? I wish I could slap her. And I'm not a violent person. LOL.
Knowing my son is autistic and takes everything literally, I don't find it ridiculous. He doesn't learn the way other children might and because of this, it causes problems. So yes, I would keep him out of this kind of field trip if it were offered to a 3rd grade class because I know how my son is. Now, if he were older and his learning disabilities had evolved to where he could understand the difference between a concept (people practicing different faiths) and our everyday life then yes he could go. Until that happens, I need him focused on the immediate things he should be learning.
Flame away but I don't see what's so wrong with kids seeing all different viewpoints. Why do we have to shield them from other people's beliefs? That's being closed minded IMO. I think the more educated we are the better. I'd love to know what is behind Muslim beliefs, doesn't mean I plan on converting.
She's a douche. It sounds like she planned to do it. This is exactly why there are frivilous lawsuits that should be stopped. The kids obviously wanted to learn more about other cultures but because of the political fire about Muslims right now she's looking to cash in. Trashy.
I don't think Lilbit is saying she wouldn't want her children exposed to other beliefs. At first, thats what it seemed like though. But then she clarified.
Her son is unique and she feels he needs to learn other things first. I think thats important and support her feelings on the topic.
Ditto this.
Thank you. If he didn't have to deal with the autism and other learning issues, I'd be all for him understanding other faiths. If I could be certain he'd come home and say "Mom, people of Jewish faith practice this. People of Hindu faith practice this. This is what we do for Christmas but other religions do this instead." He's very literal and we have to watch what we say even in day to day expressions. He was talking too fast last night about selling cookie dough for the school and DH said "Wait. Back up just a minute." So instead of Connor stopping, he counted to 60 and backed up till he reached the front door.
He means well and is very open to learn whatever is in front of him. But I feel bringing different religions up to him now would be too much for him to take in and absorb correctly. We try little things at a time like with food. Italian, Meditteranean, Greek, Jewish, Mexican, etc. So he can experience a little bit of each culture. As he gets older I hope he can continue to embrace different backgrounds and cultures.
With so much ignorance abounding in the news about the Muslim faith, kids need all the help they can get to learn the truth about world religions.
Why can't parents see these types of experiences as learning moments. How amazing it is that a child can learn about religion and still maintain their own faith. That's where being a parent comes in.
Heaven forbid your child becomes an open-minded, well-rounded individual that can think for themselves and respect other people in the process.
I agree that the woman who video-taped acted suspiciously, and that I would have approached the situation much differently if it were my kid.
Now, I think it's important for kids to learn about all major world religions. That said, in a public school system, the kids really shouldn't be PARTICIPATING in any of the belief systems as a part of the cirriculum.
There was a quote from the article that said: ?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,??
I agree. I'm Christian, and even I would have been unhappy if my child had participated in a service at a Christian church as part of a school field trip. The bottom line is that the kids really shouldn't be participating in ANY of the services, regardless of the faith. Personally, I think it would have been more appropriate to visit the mosque at a different time (opposed to during a service, as it appears the kids will do with the other religions they're studying). If that had happened, this probably wouldn't even be an issue.
I agree here. It is one thing to visit, learn, and observe, but it is another issue with participation. I don't think the field trip was a bad idea, but allowing them to participate without the consent of their parents is a different story. I think that is the difference between how you can keep the separation of church and state while also allowing students to learn about other faiths.
There are stories all over the place where people get up in arms over praying in school. This video/article is along the same lines. Students were praying while during a school function. What's the difference?
That being said, I would have a talk with my kids, not sue the school.
Now with all of that said, I will be homeschooling Darby, but it won't be mostly based on religious reasons.
This may have been a field trip sponsored by the school, but the service and prayer was not. Praying IN a public school is something the school endorses and sponsors. Its a matter of intent. The school did not intend to have any of the students participate. But if you have in school prayer, the intent is for students to participate. I do agree the teachers should have maybe told the kids "I don't think its a good idea for you to participate in the prayer" However, its possible the kids would have anyways. They WANTED to.
And again, if this woman is so offended, she should have stopped it. SHE WAS THERE! lol.
A field trip acts as being in school. A sponsored event would be like a dance. A field trip is a class activity, likely required for the class. The school should have been aware of the things that could happen. Just like if they had taken them on a field trip to anywhere else, the school is responsible for those children at that time.
As for the mother, she may have just not wanted to make a scene. I honestly don't know what I'd do in a similar situation, but you are right, she could have stepped up. I don't think that negates the school's participation in this matter, though.
Eh, maybe. It's easy to feel compelled to participate, especially for kids, and especially if their friends are doing it. I've seen it happen time and again, even at my church. The bottom line in my opinion is that the kids shouldn't have been put in a position to have to make that choice--the field trip should have been scheduled during a time that a service wasn't taking place.
But I think the whole point was to observe the service....to see how Muslims pray.
Just like they go to Christian events and Jewish ones and Hindu ones...
I actually think they should not have been allowed to participate. Thats just me...but not for any reason other than its a bit rude to the actual Muslims there praying, kwim?
As for the mom not wanting to make a scene, fine. But why would she videotape it and then send it to an anti-Muslim group? That to me shows me that her intentions were not pure.
Thats what has me the most upset...this mother.
The thing that just kills me about this whole article is the anti-Muslim, anti-Mosque group. I mean, are there seriously people out there who are so deluded that they actually think that all Muslims are evil and shouldn't be allowed to participate in their own religion? It blows my mind.
(As far as the issue at hand, there is a separation of church and state issue, and I think that there would have been anger regardless of what religion's prayer service the children were participating in.)