Posted on 12/09/2005 11:50:33 AM PST by Jean S
Chavez Elementary School canceled a third-grade field trip to raise money for the Salvation Army after a parent objected to having public school students help the religious-based charitable organization.
The district received a phone call from a parent who was "concerned about promoting religious organizations through the Salvation kettle point collection," district spokesman Ken Syke said.
School officials said the trip, in which the students were to serve as bell-ringers at the Salvation Army's red kettle collection points, was an unconstitutional violation of the separation of church and state and told teachers to stop sending permission slips to students' families.
Assistant Superintendent Sue Abplanalp said Chavez staff chose the organization due to its charity work with the poor and homeless rather than for its Christian basis.
Two third-grade teachers said students participated in an identical field trip with the Salvation Army last year.
One of the teachers who organized the field trip last year, Amy Carran, said parents could opt their child out of both the 2004 and 2005 trips.
"My kids were very disappointed," Carran said. "A lot of them said, 'It's not fair; it's not fair. Why can't that parent just keep their child home that day? It's not fair that the rest of us can't go.'"
Another Salvation Army employee, Donald Haar, who answers the Salvation Army's bell- ringer hot line, said he didn't agree with the district's decision, pointing out his staff has previously had atheists and agnostics collect money for the poor.
"What really bothers me is what canceling the field trip does to the kids," he said. "It says that having a religion is a bad thing, that believing is a bad thing, and that is not the message our country should be sending right now. It should instead be encouraging our kids to volunteer."
Chavez principal Howard Fried said there are other ways to instill a charitable spirit in students.
"My feeling is that we can certainly accomplish the same goals by having a service project within an organization that doesn't have a religious affiliation, and I'm hoping that sometime in the future they'll come up with an alternative," Fried said.
The Salvation Army's mission is to "preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination," according to the organization's Web site.
WI is really starting to p*ss me off!
But hey, there's no war on Christmas. That's just the paranoia of a few right-wing fundies...right?
So one rules all.
There is no constitutional separation of church and state.
There is, however, a constitutional right to practice our religion, anytime, anywhere, including schools.
If you don't want your children participating then keep them out that day, but don't tell others not to do it.
Then have THAT little cretin, stay home.
This is getting to be ridiculous.
And the original purpose of the permission slips would have been what?????
The correct answer to this bozo or bozette would have been, "What you are holding is a permission slip. If you don't want your child to participate then mark NO." Hang up, off the record comment "Idiot".
Funny how they always ignore that "free exercise thereof" phrase, ain't it?
Two third-grade teachers said students participated in an identical field trip with the Salvation Army last year.
One of the teachers who organized the field trip last year, Amy Carran, said parents could opt their child out of both the 2004 and 2005 trips.
it is a nice place to live other than the winter months...
WI ping!
With the secret ballot, those who voted for the current regime has no accountability.
The 1st Amendment prohibits Congress from passing legislation that has to do with the establishment of religion or the free exercise thereof. It doesn't prohibit either of those things, only the legislation of them.
Therefore, if it is found that any federal legislation tends to establish or prohibit, the LEGISLATION is in violation of the Constitution. The free exercise of religion is NOT a violation.
Further, in the above case, the LEGISLATION becomes null and void if it results in a constitutional vilation. This means, the federal legislation that funds or regulates public schools should be null and void. BUT THE FREE EXERCISE OF RELIGION IS NOT TO BE PROHIBITED.
Out of the mouths of babes......
Can anyone find this principal's email address so I can let him know what I think of his decision?
Chávez Elem. 442-2000 3502 Maple Grove Dr. (19)
Principal - Howard Fried
Andrea Kreft - Interim
Secretary - Debbie Kollberg
Best I could do.
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