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Falwell's Friday Folders
Filed under: Media, Day Care & Education
If your kid comes home from school with a flyer for a pagan celebration of Yule, you have Jerry Falwell to thank for it. Cathy does, only she doesn't know it. Her two kids each brought home a flyer for an educational program and pagan ritual exploring and celebrating Yule. Being pretty heavy into the whole Christian thing, she got upset and wrote about it on her journal.Every Friday, her kids' school sends home notices and other information in "Friday Folders." Cathy writes that "The Friday folders have never been used for any thing other than school work and school board and/or County sanctioned/sponsored programs." That's not actually correct, however. Last summer, two twins wanted to distribute a notice about their church's vacation bible school via the Friday Folders.
The school, however, had a policy barring "distribution of literature that is for partisan, sectarian, religious or political purposes." So the twins' father got the Liberty Council, a conservative religious legal group affiliated with Jerry Falwell, to convince the school district to change their policy. Well, as they say, turnabout is fair play. Some local pagans decided to take advantage of the revised policy as well, sending home their flyer.
Basically, if the Vacation Bible School notice can be included, so too can the Pagan Yule flyer. Not to mention any Buddhist, Muslim, Satanist, or Flying Spaghetti Monster flyers that someone wants to disseminate. Cathy goes on to say the advertised event is "an educational experience my children don't need." Perhaps a little more education is exactly what they need. Cathy wrote "they don't know what "holidays" are being celebrated this month," but I think it's Cathy that has closed her eyes to the other winter celebrations going on in December.
So, does your kids' school allow religious groups to send home notices with school information? Have you ever gotten one that you didn't like? Personally, I'm not in favor of any such information being sent via the schools, but if they're going to allow any they have to allow them all. What do you think?
Thanks to Nancy Toby for the tip
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
12-07-2006 @ 5:28PM
Jasmine said...I am 100% with you. I don't, personally, think schools should allow any religious, partisan, sectarian, etc. to be any part in schools. Schools are for scientific education, not religion. Period. BUT. If the school allowed the previous Church to do so, they must allow all people to do so. They have no right to decide what is or is not appropriate in a religious stance once they have crossed that line (barring violence of course). As for Cathy, she needs to grow up. Her children deserve to know about other holidays too. Just because the children see a flyer for yule doesn't mean they'll be walking around saying "blessed be" to everyone. And if, by chance, they did...more power to them. Yay for freedom.
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12-07-2006 @ 9:16PM
Nancy Toby said...Thanks for covering this issue and providing the link to that blog! Woo, did you follow the "Moms for Modesty" link on there? That's a whole 'nother can o' worms!
http://www.everydaymommy.net/everyday-mommy/2006/9/5/moms-for-modesty.html
"I believe that it is unwise and unfair to taunt boys and young men by permitting my daughter(s) to dress in an immodest manner."
*cough*
Sorry for the little thread-hijacking....
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12-07-2006 @ 10:12PM
Uly said...I love her use of scare quotes there.
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12-08-2006 @ 2:21AM
Wendy Mac said...Nancy Toby's link had a great sidebar-
"Blogs for Lactose Intolerant Christians"
I had no idea Lactose Intolerance was a religious issue. No idea.
Kidding aside, I agree with you 100% also. If you allow one, you have to allow all. I think it's best to keep religious issues out of public schools. If you really want your child to be in a school where religion is the focus, go to a religious based private school. Many have scholarships if you can't afford it.
Please be respectful of other religions. If you allowed the Vacation Bible School flyer, you must be open to all the other religions as well.
I personally would like my daughter to know about other holidays and other religions, but I'll take responsibility for that part of her education. I don't shield her from it at all.
I also took offense to Cathy's obvious distaste for the parent who shares Hanukkah with her child's class. I'm surprised you didn't mention that. I thought that was really cool of the other parent to bring in Hanukkah- if you're going to have a Christmas party/celebration in class, invite the children of other religions to share their traditions with their classmates as well.
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