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You'd Think That Those Who Ran Public Schools Would Be Brighter Than This

Stevicus

Stevicus

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
Skwim said:
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Iowa Public School is Taking Kids to a Christian Play at a Christian College
​

"A group of first graders from the Cherokee Community School District in Iowa are taking a field trip later this week to see the play “Jonah and the Giant Fish” (about the biblical myth) at Northwestern College (a private Christian college) during the school day.

Somehow, none of those glaring red flags inspired the adults at Roosevelt Elementary School to say this was a bad idea.

Now the American Humanist Association is getting involved, letting district officials know that this is unconstitutional for a number of reasons:


… not only will RES students be taken to an avowedly Christian institution, but they will do so for the express purpose of seeing a Christian-themed play. The risk that these children will perceive a school endorsement of a religious message should be readily apparent.

We hope that you will replace this school field trip with something more appropriate, where children and parents of all religions, and no religion at all, will be properly respected. We also remind you that any actions that might be considered punitive or retaliatory toward those raising concerns about the matters described herein would be unlawful as well.​
Attorney Monica Miller wants an answer by Wednesday, which is reasonable given that it gives them two days to rearrange their plans.
source​
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Click to expand...

Don't the parents have to sign a permission slip allowing them to go on a field trip? I remember it was a requirement when I was in school. That would give parents the opportunity to opt out, if nothing else.

Maybe they could set up another field trip, and take the kids out to see a field.
 
Cooky

Cooky

Veteran Member
Stevicus said:
Don't the parents have to sign a permission slip allowing them to go on a field trip? I remember it was a requirement when I was in school. That would give parents the opportunity to opt out, if nothing else.

Maybe they could set up another field trip, and take the kids out to see a field.
Click to expand...

Oh, you're stripping all his fun away.

giphy-7.gif
 
Skwim

Skwim

Veteran Member
Stevicus said:
Don't the parents have to sign a permission slip allowing them to go on a field trip? I remember it was a requirement when I was in school. That would give parents the opportunity to opt out, if nothing else.
Click to expand...
Regardless of who, if anyone, backs out it still amounts to government involvement in a religion.

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Stevicus

Stevicus

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
Skwim said:
Regardless of who, if anyone, backs out it still amounts to government involvement in a religion.

.
Click to expand...

Yeah, although I recall back when I was in school, there were a number of kids in my class who were excused for religious education (a couple hours per week) at a nearby Catholic school. The public school was not endorsing it in any way, but they were excusing students and allowing them to leave campus for that purpose. They walked there on their own, since it was practically next door.

In this instance, if they're using public school buses and using public school personnel to supervise the kids while they're at the play, then I think your point is valid. Even if the play is not on school property, it would still imply a use of public money for religious purposes.
 
BilliardsBall

BilliardsBall

Veteran Member
Skwim said:
.

Iowa Public School is Taking Kids to a Christian Play at a Christian College
​

"A group of first graders from the Cherokee Community School District in Iowa are taking a field trip later this week to see the play “Jonah and the Giant Fish” (about the biblical myth) at Northwestern College (a private Christian college) during the school day.

Somehow, none of those glaring red flags inspired the adults at Roosevelt Elementary School to say this was a bad idea.

Now the American Humanist Association is getting involved, letting district officials know that this is unconstitutional for a number of reasons:


… not only will RES students be taken to an avowedly Christian institution, but they will do so for the express purpose of seeing a Christian-themed play. The risk that these children will perceive a school endorsement of a religious message should be readily apparent.

We hope that you will replace this school field trip with something more appropriate, where children and parents of all religions, and no religion at all, will be properly respected. We also remind you that any actions that might be considered punitive or retaliatory toward those raising concerns about the matters described herein would be unlawful as well.​
Attorney Monica Miller wants an answer by Wednesday, which is reasonable given that it gives them two days to rearrange their plans.
source​
.
Click to expand...

How can public school leaders be intelligent? Aren't you a product of them?

PS. My kids were home school geniuses!
 
Cooky

Cooky

Veteran Member
Stevicus said:
Yeah, although I recall back when I was in school, there were a number of kids in my class who were excused for religious education (a couple hours per week) at a nearby Catholic school. The public school was not endorsing it in any way, but they were excusing students and allowing them to leave campus for that purpose. They walked there on their own, since it was practically next door.

In this instance, if they're using public school buses and using public school personnel to supervise the kids while they're at the play, then I think your point is valid. Even if the play is not on school property, it would still imply a use of public money for religious purposes.
Click to expand...

Well, we know the original story is biblical, about a whale swallowing Jonas, and then a few days later vomiting him out on land.

...But is the play actually meant to be a religious learning experience? Or is it meant to learn about how to do a play? The Friendly Atheist article doesn't specify their purpose in going -they just portray it as "ignorant" in their efforts at furthering their own agenda.
 
Twilight Hue

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
Skwim said:
.

Iowa Public School is Taking Kids to a Christian Play at a Christian College
​

"A group of first graders from the Cherokee Community School District in Iowa are taking a field trip later this week to see the play “Jonah and the Giant Fish” (about the biblical myth) at Northwestern College (a private Christian college) during the school day.

Somehow, none of those glaring red flags inspired the adults at Roosevelt Elementary School to say this was a bad idea.

Now the American Humanist Association is getting involved, letting district officials know that this is unconstitutional for a number of reasons:


… not only will RES students be taken to an avowedly Christian institution, but they will do so for the express purpose of seeing a Christian-themed play. The risk that these children will perceive a school endorsement of a religious message should be readily apparent.

We hope that you will replace this school field trip with something more appropriate, where children and parents of all religions, and no religion at all, will be properly respected. We also remind you that any actions that might be considered punitive or retaliatory toward those raising concerns about the matters described herein would be unlawful as well.​
Attorney Monica Miller wants an answer by Wednesday, which is reasonable given that it gives them two days to rearrange their plans.
source​
.
Click to expand...
Cherokee community school huh?

Maybe they should change the field trip to taking a tour of the Cherokee Nation and learning about their history from the Cherokee point of view.

It's certainly a lot more educational than a Christian Fairy Tale.
 
Skwim

Skwim

Veteran Member
Stevicus said:
Yeah, although I recall back when I was in school, there were a number of kids in my class who were excused for religious education (a couple hours per week) at a nearby Catholic school. The public school was not endorsing it in any way, but they were excusing students and allowing them to leave campus for that purpose. They walked there on their own, since it was practically next door.

In this instance, if they're using public school buses and using public school personnel to supervise the kids while they're at the play, then I think your point is valid. Even if the play is not on school property, it would still imply a use of public money for religious purposes.
Click to expand...
I remember the very same thing. All the protestant kids went to a Methodist Church across the street from the school.

.

.
 
Father Heathen

Father Heathen

Veteran Member
Stevicus said:
Don't the parents have to sign a permission slip allowing them to go on a field trip? I remember it was a requirement when I was in school. That would give parents the opportunity to opt out, if nothing else.

Maybe they could set up another field trip, and take the kids out to see a field.
Click to expand...

Do the tax payers get to opt out?
 
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