My dd's teacher is being too policitally correct!

[bicker]

yes this is what gets me mad, you can do things about other religions as long as its not christianity.

That's wrong. Let's fix that.

this year in our cultural geography class we learn about the religions in the area we are studying.

Comparative religion is a valid educational topic.

 

[Miss Inga Depointe]

That's wrong. Let's fix that.

Comparative religion is a valid educational topic.

You didn't answer my question about the library. Are you going to go through and pull all the references to anything Christian-like in there? We used public funds for those books.

 

[bicker]

Comparative religion is a valid educational topic.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

For my dd's school, they always have a spring concert. My dd was asked to sing a Gospel song (picked out by the music teacher) most of the other songs are from Fiddler on the Roof and three are Jewish songs (lots of Jewish kids in this school) Well the teacher (who by the way picked out this song for my dd) told her today to omit the word Jesus as it might offend people. She's kidding right??? My dd went nuts, as did all the other Christian kids, and now theres going to be a problem. Why is it ok to sing songs about the Jewish faith and not say Jesus in a Gospel song? I am sure tomorrow will be interesting. But very proud of dd, who is learning at a young age to stand up for what she believes in!

We had a similiar instance. Last year my DD 5th grade teacher had a Chankkah party, telling the class the history of it, having some foods(which the class mother made) and playing the dreidal game.

Yet, the next day the class had a "winter party", with ABSOLUTElY no mention of Christmas, santa, etc. They made blue and white smowman.

I thought the class mother(my friend) was going to burst

 

[Miss Inga Depointe]

So you get to draw the line when it's appropriate and when it isn't? Tell me how spending money on Babar and Father Christmas is not as bad as a girl singing a beautiful Gospel song that itunes is selling to plenty of nonreligious people for 99 cents a pop every minute of the day on itunes.

 

[bicker]

So you get to draw the line when it's appropriate and when it isn't?

No, the Constitution and the Supreme Court dictates that.

 

[Miss Inga Depointe]

No, the Constitution and the Supreme Court dictates that.

So, the courts are defending the rights of people not to hear the word Jesus mentioned in any way shape or form all over the country right now? I don't think so.

The courts are doing what they should be doing, keeping religious instruction out of schools and keeping kids from being led in prayer in public schools. They aren't going over board like you and some teachers are.

And if there was such a case, I'd be right there protesting, cause I've had it!

 

[bicker]

Protesting is always an option: That works both ways. Be prepared for major conflicts if teachers start disrespecting minority religions more than they already do.

 

[Miss Inga Depointe]

I'd really love it if you answered my question though, ? Tell me how spending money on Babar and Father Christmas is not as bad as a girl singing a beautiful Gospel song that itunes is selling to plenty of nonreligious people for 99 cents a pop every minute of the day on itunes.

 

[TinkInPink]

all the constution says is that the federal governmet could not establish a national religion

congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

so really the school can teach about religion including christianity.

 

[Miss Inga Depointe]

I was really getting into this debate! But I have work that has to be done by 8:00 am and I better get to it. Thanks for the discussion. I'm calling for common sense, that's all. It's kind of my new "cause".

 

[Charade]

Y'all should have a look at this book.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/15...f=pd_bbs_1/002-7672388-0783204?_encoding=UTF8

The first chapter...


http://www.mastalk.com/mastalk/pdf/Muzzled_CH1.pdf

 

[bicker]

What's interesting is that "sense" is not "common" -- reasonable people disagree.

 

[Miss Inga Depointe]

What's interesting is that "sense" is not "common" -- reasonable people disagree.

But I have yet to understand your reasoning. Explain why a high school girl can't sing a gospel song at an evening concert, and you aren't telling kids what they can paint and display at art shows, or ripping books out of the library?

And may I add, that if it comes to that, what a dismal public education you are suggesting!

(Oh, man, I have to stop! I have so much work!)

 

[JoiseyMom]

I am a Kindergarten teacher and I agree that 'PC' has gotten way out of control, but it's not totally schools that are at fault, it's society as a whole. I have this one little boy who hates to read, but he came in all excited that he wanted to read this book to the class and it was about Noah's ark. I couldn't let him read it, there would have been major trouble (but I did tell him he could come to my table and read it to me alone later in the day ) We don't get to have Christmas or Easter celebrations, we can't even mention Santa or the Easter Bunny. I mean it's Kindergarten, this is what they live for! Those icons in themselves are not religiously based, they are formed from a commercial holiday.

Ok, I must disagree, not all kids/people live for Santa and the Easter Bunny. Of course Christian kids do, and that is fine. I never did, and neither do my kids. We don't believe in Santa or the Easter Bunny. My kids understand that they are all associated with a Christian Holiday. No matter how commericalized they are, they are still Christian Holiday's.

In this particular situation, I agree. The teacher should have never even suggested a gospel song to begin with, and Jewish songs should not be allowed either then.

As another poster said earlier, only one song from Fiddler can be considered "Jewish", and that is the one on the Sabbath Prayer. Only one other song can be considered "Jewish".

The songs from Fiddler are as follows:
Tradition
Matchmaker
If I Were A Rich Man
**Sabbath Prayer
**To Life
Miracle of Miracles
Tevye's Dream
Sunrise Sunset
Do You Love Me
Far From The Home I Love
Anatevka

Again, only the ones with the ** can be considered "Jewish" or a better term is religious.

Oh, btw, there are other Musicals that I am sure have been sung in Chorus's of public schools:
Soundtracks: Jesus Christ Superstar
Godspell (Oh man do I LOVE this soundtrack)
Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (very popular for school plays)

 

[SamRoc]

Hi Everyone, the songs my dd's music teacher is having them sing for the spring concert from Fiddler is "Tradition" and "To Life". At the winter concert she had them sing "oh hannukah" and "the dreidal song" Not one Christian song was sung at the winter one, and now this music teacher (who picked the song for my dd) is trying to take the word Jesus out of the song. The song she chose for my dd to sing is "Climbing higher mountains" my dd has been practicing the Aretha Franklin version and loves it. The teacher is probably afraid she will insult some parents at the concert, the kids don't care. For Black history month in February, the kids who were running the celebration asked my dd (who is white) to sing "Amazing grace" at their concert. She was thrilled to be included. I think the adults should take a lesson from the kids, my dd likes singing songs from all different cultures, but she doesn't like the fact that hers is being neglected.

 

[punkin]

Lyrics to "To Life":

To life! To life! L'chai-im!
L'chai-im, l'chai-im, to life!
If you've been lucky, then Monday was No worse than Sunday
was,
Drink l'chai-im, to life.

To life, l'chai-im!
L'chai-im, l'chai-im, to life!
One day it's honey and raisin cake,
Next day a stomach ache,
Drink L'chai-im, to life!

Our great men have written words of
Wisdom to be used
When hardship must be faced;
Life obliges us with hardship
So the words of wisdom
shouldn't go to waste.

To us and our good fortune
Be happy be healthy, long life!
And if our good fortune never comes
Here's to whatever comes,
Drink l'chaim, to life!

To life, to life, l'chai-im,!
L'chai-im, l'chai-im, to life!
Life has a way of confusing us
Blessing and bruising us,
Drink l'chaim, to life,

To life, l'chaim!
L'chaim, l'chaim, to life!
A gift we seldom are wise enough
Ever to prize enough,
Drink l'chaim, to life!

God would like us to be joyful
Even though our hearts lie panting on the floor;
How much more can we be joyful,
When there's really something
To be joyful for.

To life, to life, L'chai-im!
L'chai-im, l'chai-im, to life!
It gives you something to think about,
Something to drink about,
Drink l'chai-im, to life! l'chai-im !

the blessing and bruising us part comes first.

the honey and raisin cake is not in the song at all.

you forgot the part about there lives being more
pleasent

then there future ones.

This may be a version of "To Life", but it's not the
version from either the play or the movie. In "Fiddler,"
the song is about the wedding of Tevye's daughter.

To Life

Here's to our prosperity, our good health and happiness,
and most important ...
To life, to life, la kayim,
La kayim, la kayim, to life,
Here's to the father I tried to be,
Here's to my bride-to-be,
Drink la kayim, to life,
To life, la kayim,
La kayim, la kayim, to life,
Life has a way of confusing us,
Blessing and bruising us,
Drink la kayim, to life!
God would like us to be joyful, even when our hearts lie
panting on the floor.
How much more can we be joyful, when there's really
something to be joyful for?
To life, to life, la kayim,
To Tzeitel, my daughter--my wife,
It gives you something to think about,
Something to drink about,
Drink la kayim, to life!

(Le Morta!
Yes, Lazar Wolf?
Drinks for everyone!
What's the occasion?
I'm taking myself a bride!
Who is it?
Tevye's eldest, Tzeitel!)

To Lazar Wolf--
To Tevye!
To Tzeitel, your daughter--my wife!
May all your futures be pleasant ones,
Not like our present ones,
Drink la kayim, to life,
To life, la kayim,
La kayim, la kayim, to life,
It takes a wedding to make us say,
"Let's live another day,"
Drink la kayim, to life!
We'll raise a glass and sip a drop of schnapps in honor of
the great
good luck that favors you,
We know that when good fortune favors two such men, it
stands to reason,
we deserve it too!
To us and our good fortune!
Be happy, be healthy, long life!
And if our good fortune never comes,
Here's to whatever comes,
Drink la kayim, to life!

Heaven bless you both, to your health and may we live
together in peace!
May you both be favored with the future of your choice,
May you live to see a thousand reasons to rejoice!

We'll raise a glass and sip a drop of schnapps in honor of
the great
good luck that favors you,
We know that when good fortune favors two such men, it
stands to reason,
we deserve it too!
To us and our good fortune!
Be happy, be healthy, long life!
And if our good fortune never comes,
Here's to whatever comes,
Drink la kayim, to life!

Definately Jewish, but absolutely no religious content.

 

[JoiseyMom]

We had a similiar instance. Last year my DD 5th grade teacher had a Chankkah party, telling the class the history of it, having some foods(which the class mother made) and playing the dreidal game.

Yet, the next day the class had a "winter party", with ABSOLUTElY no mention of Christmas, santa, etc. They made blue and white smowman.

I thought the class mother(my friend) was going to burst

Man, that is so wrong. If you are gonna do one, then you need to do them all. There is a history to Christmas, just as there is to Chanukah. I am sure that the teacher felt that Chanukah is not in the bible, but the story of Christ is. It was still wrong of them to do that.

 

[Charade]

all the Constitution says is that the federal government could not establish a national religion


so really the school can teach about religion including Christianity.

Actually, there something more to it than that. It's called the Lemon test. This is a 3 prong test to see if the law meets or fails the establishment clause. If the law hits all three points, it's unconstitutional.

But this is what you get when the Constitution is "interpreted". We have no idea exactly what the founding fathers meant. Unless we take it literally, it can mean quite a number of different things.

 

[SRUAlmn]

Ok, I must disagree, not all kids/people live for Santa and the Easter Bunny. Of course Christian kids do, and that is fine. I never did, and neither do my kids. We don't believe in Santa or the Easter Bunny. My kids understand that they are all associated with a Christian Holiday. No matter how commericalized they are, they are still Christian Holiday's.

And you are very much entitled to your own opinion. I was just speaking from my own experience working with many, many children throughout my life, and no matter if they were Christian or Jewish or something else the majority of them enjoyed the concepts of Santa and the Easter Bunny.