Posted on 12/22/2007 2:41:44 PM PST by Lorianne
A NINE-YEAR-OLD boy was banned from his school Christmas party because he does not believe in God.
Douglas Stewart was asked to stay at home while his classmates were treated to jelly and ice-cream, followed by a visit from Santa and presents.
Douglas's mother, Dawn Riddell, was informed that he was unwelcome at the celebration because she had withdrawn him from religious education classes at Cluny Primary School, in Buckie, Banffshire, earlier in the school term.
Ms Riddell, 38, said the headteacher, Ian Davidson,had told her that as the youngster had no interest in religion, he could not celebrate the birth of Christ.
She said yesterday: "It doesn't make any sense to me.
"I've helped out at the Christmas party before and it's got absolutely nothing to do with Jesus. It's all about the kids getting excited about Santa and enjoying themselves.
"Douglas was heartbroken that he couldn't go. It was cruel. There was no reason for him to be excluded."
Ms Riddell explained that her family has no religious beliefs and she decided to withdraw her children from religious and moral education classes when they began to study Bible stories earlier this year.
She wrote to the school asking for the boys to be exempt from the lessons, but was contacted by Mr Davidson and warned that the children could miss out on fun activities.
On the day of the end-of-term party, Ms Riddell was again contacted by the headteacher to say that Douglas could not attend.
She said: "Douglas had come home to get changed for the party. No-one had said anything to him, so as far as he knew he was going.
"He was really upset when I told him he couldn't go back to school. He just lay on the rug and cried. It was such a shame, but there was nothing I could do."
With her other son Callum, 11, due to attend another class party, Ms Riddell contacted Moray Council's education department to find out about its policy on school festive parties.
She said: "I spoke to someone at the education department who told me that Christmas parties are non-religious.
"He said they're a chance for the pupils and staff to mark the end of a year of hard work, and that he would talk to the school."
After the council's intervention, the school relented and Mr Davidson called Ms Riddell to apologise for the "misunderstanding." Callum was allowed to attend his class party a few days later and was given a gift that had been set aside for his brother.
Douglas said he had been left confused by his exclusion.
He said: "People put up Christmas trees at Christmas. They're not religious, so why would a party be religious?"
His mother added: "If it had been something like a nativity play, then I could understand. My children don't take part in anything like that, or go to church services.
"But Christmas parties are totally different. They're not all about religion or Jesus."
Maureen Lane, of the Professional Teachers' Association, said: "This sounds pretty awful. Schools should try and be as inclusive as possible."
A spokesman for Moray Council said the problem had been settled. He said: "The matter has now been resolved between the school and the mother, to their satisfaction. Mr Davidson called the family to apologise."
MISTLETOE MEDDLERS
A LOCAL council has banned staff from kissing under the mistletoe, it emerged yesterday.
Hyndburn Council bosses in Lancashire sent a memo telling staff not to be "misled by mistletoe" over the festive season and warning against "inappropriate party behaviour"
including suggestive language, unwanted jokes and bodily contact.
The memo, also said "Secret Santa" gifts should be carefully chosen so as not to cause offence and risqué items should be avoided.
The council's Tory leader, Peter Britcliffe, said: "If I had been consulted about this I would just have said respect others and apply common sense."
Maybe this could work here...
A wheat seed was planted or a seed for a weed was planted..These folks need to wake up..all of them..
You can’t convert people by excluding them.
What nine-year-old child is that much of a hardcore atheist?
So, excluding the boy is going to get him interested in religion .... ah, .... how again?
Certainly not following Jesus' teachings about the little ones.
That was wrong. He may have learned something.
she had withdrawn him from religious education classes
The mother choose to remove her child from religious education classes. So, why should the kid be involved in religious celebration?
I think this comes down on the mother. She probably wanted to stir the pot. Well, she made her bed, let her sleep in it. She is a religious baiter, if you ask me.
Boy, ya just can’t make an atheist happy can you?
If he was allowed to stay there would be a law suit against the school because the names of God and Jesus might be mentioned which would cause the kid undue psychological damage.
That’s what would happen here anyway.
This is stupid.
Good question.
More of like a taste your own medicine thing.
Sounds like nothing more than pure spite on the part of this Mr. Davidson. Not the most Christian of emotions.
When a single person objects to a religious holiday, said person should just stay home > period <
Hope the school officials in the USA see this common sense solution. The majority should not suffer because one student does not believe or objects to a Christmas celebration.
If they had included him, his mother would have complained about that, too. She’s just an atheist B*tch.
Hey folks,
the mother is the person excluding her child. She excluded her child from going to religious classes. Why should the kid be involved in religious celebrations then? If they would have included the kid in religious celebration, the mother probably would have had a cow about that.
Not to be trite, but what would Jesus do?
“After the council’s intervention, the school relented and Mr Davidson called Ms Riddell to apologise for the “misunderstanding.” Callum was allowed to attend his class party a few days later and was given a gift that had been set aside for his brother.”
That should have been the end of it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.