How would you handle this?

[debaudrn]

FEDERAL CHARTER

Little League operates under auspices of the highest recognition that may be accorded to any such organization by the government of the United States. By virtue of legislation approved unanimously by both the House of Representatives and the Senate and signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 16, 1964, Little League has been granted a Congressional Charter of Federal Incorporation. No other sports organization has been so honored by the Federal government.

Sounds like a separation of church and state issue to me. BTW my husband has been a Little League Softball and Baseball coach for at least 10 years. This is a sport open to all kids regardless of race, religion etc.. Our league has catholics, jews, protestants, muslims, Jehovah's witnesses (you get the idea). Just because the majority of players here may belong to one religious group doesn't make this right. This is a federally chartered organization. Religious teachings don't belong at team practices.

 

[pearlieq]

I'm honestly shocked by how obstinate people are being! I would be pretty ticked if I were the OP. They signed up for a county run (i.e. government) little league. The kid has the right to play baseball without religion getting mixed in. Courtesy would dictate looking the other way during a brief team prayer or "God bless" on the emails, but this coach is taking it WAY too far!

Being below the Mason-Dixon line is not an excuse for shoving religion down people's throat.

And, for the people ranting about letting what the minority wants override what the majority wants, that same logic would still have a Jim Crow South.

What's right is not always what's popular.

 

[MoniqueU]

I agree with Riley Roos Mom. I won't even type what I really think because I would piss off half the board. But not everyone is a believer out there and not every event, team, appointment, meal, or experience in life calls for religious expression to me at least.

Also I have a daughter named Riley and we call her RileyRoo too.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

I live in the South, and also happen to live fairly near to two towns that have been basically taken over by people in non-mainstream religions. I wonder if the people on this board who are defending the "rights of the majority" would feel the same way if the majority was not Christian? Would you think it was "no problem" if your child was in a league with a bunch of Krishna children and the coach preached Krishna teachings in his emails and expected team members to read and be quizzed on these Krishna teachings?

To the OP, the vast majority of fundamentalist Christians I know (and my brother is a fundamentalist Christian minister) do NOT believe in the separation of church and state. They believe Christianity is the ONLY way, and they want Christianity to run the schools and the government. Unfortunately you will not be able to expect a lot of support for your position in your town.

 

[beckmrk04]

I am not religous, but I wouldn't have a problem with my son being tought Christian thought. Would this still offend you if they were discussing Jewish beliefs? Hindu? Buddist? Muslim? Why does everyone have such a knee jerk reaction to Christianity? Oh yeah, I forgot, it comes from the destain of the old dead white man culture. Those people that gave us electricity, antibiotics, indoor plumbing, and the bill of rights. Those *******s.

I can't answer for the OP, but yes, I would have the same reaction, because she paid for baseball, not religion classes!!! No matter what religion! I am very spiritual, and believe that all religions have something to teach us, but NOT AT LITTLE LEAGUE PRACTICE. To insinuate that OP is mad due to some percieved offense at "old dead white man culture" is insulting. It has nothing to do with that. It has to do with, "There's a time and a place. This is neither the time nor the place." I think that's an "old dead white man" saying.

 

[golfgal]

Since when does Little League teach religion? Did the information on the league's website indicate religious education was an added bonus for the team players? Will the team study the Koran and Torah (sp?) as well as the Bible? OP--I'd be upset about this proselytizing during Little League time. Would those who see nothing wrong with this be okay (as others have suggested) if the Coach were Jewish? Unitarian? an Atheist? a member of Wiccan?
Let's leave Little League for baseball instruction, and religious education for Bible study.
I sympathize with you, OP. You're stirring up a pot in your new hometown. Good luck.

The point EVERYONE is missing in this whole debate is just because YOUR town wouldn't go along with this doesn't mean it isn't ok some place else and if the entire or majority of the team WANTS this, why is it wrong????????? If the majority of the team was Jewish, Unitarian, Atheist or a purple people eater it would be the same, the MAJORITY wants it.

Our government was founded on and has outlasted every other government on the face of the earth on a MAJORITY rule system. There has to be something to that??????

 

[kdibattista]

Like the OP said, our's is a diverse country and if you can only accept those that think like you then you really are narrow minded and prejudiced against all others just like the KKK.

OMG.. so now I'm like the KKK because I don't want my children preached to at Little League. WOW... that's funny

 

[beckmrk04]

And, for the people ranting about letting what the minority wants override what the majority wants, that same logic would still have a Jim Crow South.

What's right is not always what's popular.

Could not have said it better!!!

 

[rileyroosmom]

Remember, when you take a job with children you can't influence them with your personal beliefs. You can't talk about your personal life or your beliefs and values. This man couldn't stand up in front of a class (in a Southern town or not) and start quoting bible verses.

As I said before, the town is becoming more diverse. There are many Indian and African American families in the league. I can't speak for these families, but I'm pretty sure the Indian families are not reading bible verses. Where I come from, religion, politics, how much money your make/spend are pretty personal matters that you don't discuss with strangers.

I think for the most part, people in general are afraid to speak up. They don't want to be looked at as the one who is making trouble. I think that is a shame. You have to get involved when something doesn't feel right. Another situation we were in: my son's published English workbook had a sentence that the kids had to correct. The sentence said Jane attends the First Baptist Church. Outrageious.....I can't believe a published book would say that. I taught school and my oldest is 13 so I've seen a lot of published text books and never have I come across a statement like. The same book had another sentence that talked about "the golden cross high on the hill". We spoke to the principal who apologized and said she would check the books for any other religious statements.

I'm not going to have different beliefs shoved down my throat anymore.

 

[golfgal]

OMG.. so now I'm like the KKK because I don't want my children preached to at Little League. WOW... that's funny

By only wanting your children exposed to what you want and agree with then YES, that is exactly the teaching of the KKK and other hate groups. It is no different then not liking Jewish people because they have a different religion or Asian people because their eyes are shaped differently. Same thought process.

 

[DisneyDotty]

I'm honestly shocked by how obstinate people are being! I would be pretty ticked if I were the OP. They signed up for a county run (i.e. government) little league. The kid has the right to play baseball without religion getting mixed in.

This would be a whole different story if the team were part of a church league or sponsored by a church. Then I'd say the OP knew what she was getting herself into and shouldn't complain. But that's not the case here (is it, OP?) and it seems reasonable that the OP's son learn BASEBALL in Little League, not Bible studies. There's a time and place for everything...

 

[golfgal]

FEDERAL CHARTER

Little League operates under auspices of the highest recognition that may be accorded to any such organization by the government of the United States. By virtue of legislation approved unanimously by both the House of Representatives and the Senate and signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 16, 1964, Little League has been granted a Congressional Charter of Federal Incorporation. No other sports organization has been so honored by the Federal government.

Sounds like a separation of church and state issue to me. BTW my husband has been a Little League Softball and Baseball coach for at least 10 years. This is a sport open to all kids regardless of race, religion etc.. Our league has catholics, jews, protestants, muslims, Jehovah's witnesses (you get the idea). Just because the majority of players here may belong to one religious group doesn't make this right. This is a federally chartered organization. Religious teachings don't belong at team practices.

We know for sure this is a Sanctioned Little League and not just a term the mom used for young kids playing baseball???


As for the Jim Crow south comment, the majority of the people in the US pre-civil war lived in the NORTH.

 

[rileyroosmom]

By only wanting your children exposed to what you want and agree with then YES, that is exactly the teaching of the KKK and other hate groups. It is no different then not liking Jewish people because they have a different religion or Asian people because their eyes are shaped differently. Same thought process.

You are way off here. I have my beliefs and it is my job as a parent to expose my children to my beiefs. I know plenty of Jewish families, however, I don't allow my children to attend Temple, because that is not my bellief. I also have familiy that married Asian people. I don't hate them because their eyes are slanted.
You are being ridiculous! You are turning this into a "hate" issue, which it is not.

 

[mickeysgal]

Maybe I can provide a different perspective here. We too recently moved from a major metropolitan northern city to a rural town smack in the bible belt. When I read the OP, it was uncanny how similar some of the OP's experiences have been to ours.

I can only describe the experience as INTENSE in regards to religion down here. There is great pressure to attend church, not only on Sundays, but also Wed evenings, Sunday school, Sunday regular service, and Sunday evening service. To just attend regular service isn't enough. You're viewed as different and not fitting in if you differ from what is done here. Yes, the OP wasn't joking, its true that everyone's first question is "what church do you attend".

I understand the OP's tone of frustration. I also am not used to the outright blending of religion and school functions. When we attended a baseball informative parents session, we all had to pray before the meeting. I've never encountered this before. Yes, emails from this particular coach had religious phrasings in it. Right or wrong, its not what we're used to and therefore seems strange. We've gotten used to it over time.

If you go out to lunch with someone, you pray before eating. Thats something we weren't used to also. I think overall its a major culture shock that the OP is experiencing. While it may feel strange to him/her or that this is all being forced upon him/her, I'm sure they still want to fit in and belong. When towns are small and you want you and your kids to adjust, fit in, and not be shunned, you don't take a stand...you try to blend in as best you can. Its very much a different culture down here. Its very, very different from the north. Its easy to say how you should speak up and say whats on your mind, but when you're not living in it, its easier said than done.

 

[kdibattista]

By only wanting your children exposed to what you want and agree with then YES, that is exactly the teaching of the KKK and other hate groups. It is no different then not liking Jewish people because they have a different religion or Asian people because their eyes are shaped differently. Same thought process.

Wow

I'm glad your not my soon to be Asian's daughter's little league coach

 

[golfgal]

Remember, when you take a job with children you can't influence them with your personal beliefs. You can't talk about your personal life or your beliefs and values. This man couldn't stand up in front of a class (in a Southern town or not) and start quoting bible verses.

.

Actually that isn't quite true. This man could stand up and quote Bible verses LEGALLY in any classroom in the country. What he can't do is make kids BELIEVE or follow those teachings.

 

[rileyroosmom]

This league is definetly a county run Little League. It is played in Forsyth County, Georgia and is based out of Sharon Springs Park.

 

[DisneyDotty]

The point EVERYONE is missing in this whole debate is just because YOUR town wouldn't go along with this doesn't mean it isn't ok some place else and if the entire or majority of the team WANTS this, why is it wrong????????? If the majority of the team was Jewish, Unitarian, Atheist or a purple people eater it would be the same, the MAJORITY wants it.

Our government was founded on and has outlasted every other government on the face of the earth on a MAJORITY rule system. There has to be something to that??????

Well, the majority has been known to be wrong...
But my question here is what kind of Little League is this? Does the League promote itself as a baseball/Bible study group? If so, the OP knew this in advance and should not have enrolled her son in the program. I don't think that's the case here. So I guess I'm asking, why are they doing Bible study during baseball? Why can't they just do baseball during baseball, and do the Bible study some other time (if the MAJORITY want it, couldn't the MAJORITY agree to do Bible study during non-baseball practice time?) Seems simple enough to me.

 

[beckmrk04]

By only wanting your children exposed to what you want and agree with then YES, that is exactly the teaching of the KKK and other hate groups. It is no different then not liking Jewish people because they have a different religion or Asian people because their eyes are shaped differently. Same thought process.

It is NOT the same thought process- and she didn't say she never wanted to expose them to Christianity or the Bible- but it isn't up to a Little League coach to do it!! Sorry. It isn't church. It isn't Bible school. It's baseball.

That statement is way out of line.

Not wanting your child to have to endure a bible lesson every time he goes to little league practice in NO WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM equates you with the KKK or any other hate group, in my opinion.

 

[bubie2.5]

I'm honestly shocked by how obstinate people are being! I would be pretty ticked if I were the OP. They signed up for a county run (i.e. government) little league. The kid has the right to play baseball without religion getting mixed in. Courtesy would dictate looking the other way during a brief team prayer or "God bless" on the emails, but this coach is taking it WAY too far!

Being below the Mason-Dixon line is not an excuse for shoving religion down people's throat.

And, for the people ranting about letting what the minority wants override what the majority wants, that same logic would still have a Jim Crow South.

What's right is not always what's popular.