Posted on 06/10/2007 4:52:45 PM PDT by Alien Syndrome
LONDON, June 9 A British teaching assistant is suing an elementary school in London after being disciplined for refusing to listen to a child read a "Harry Potter" book. Sariya Allen told a tribunal she resigned from her post at Durand Primary School after being suspended for "her obstructive conduct over time," the Daily Mail reported Saturday. Allen claims she was "harassed, humiliated and discriminated" against because of her religious beliefs. Her last alleged act of "obstructive conduct" before resigning in 2006 was refusing to listen to a 7-year-old girl read a "Harry Potter" book because she said it was against her Christian faith. Her employers disciplined her after she told the girl "I don't do witchcraft in any form" and said she would be "cursed" by hearing the novel. She is seeking about $100,000 in damages from her former school for religious discrimination.
"I admit I said to the child that I don't do witchcraft in any form," she said. "I was put in the position that listening to the child reading this book would compromise my religious beliefs."
Keep smiling,
Philip.
It’s entirely possible that I might enjoy reading the series, yet still feel that it’s not good for kids. I’ve read two of the His Dark Materials trilogy and found them interesting. But I loathe how Pullman is trying to attack the church. I am going to read the third one soon and I’ve read that it’s really very, very explicitly anti-Christian.
I am not saying they are horrible people. I have a girl who works for me who is evangelical. I love her and her husband. They respect me (although they are befuddled that I will drink a beer with my meal, or that we will go to parties and listen to Pink Floyd). I don't "push" things, but I will answer questions when asked (they thought I was from Mars when I told them I did not believe in a premillinial rapture). My advice is to go to church sometime with your two Guatemalan students and observe.
I think it is really cool that you do ESL. I worked with Wycliffe Bible Translators years and years ago, and am thinking of selling my business and maybe teaching ESL on a university level in Latin America. I would be interested in learning more on what you do, why you do it, and how you got into it.
It was in the Outer Urmind region, IIRC.
Nor is there any "Almighty" in Lord of the Rings, and those books have magic and good wizards.
Quite true. But before you make your final determination, finish Order of the Phoenix. It is a good primer on how to survive and flourish when the powers that be have decided to attempt to control your entire life.
It might have some applicability to current events...
It most definitely does. The grasp that JK Rowling has on the media is fantastic. I hope they can articulate that part in the media on OOTP, but I kind of doubt they will.
Yeah, and “the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe” are occult teachings too!
No direct references to God anywhere! And talking animals?! Blasphemy!
And then there’s “Hid dark effects- Northern Lights (aka Golden Compass)” Such devildom!
Lets not forget “The Book of Three”, adapted from oral traditions (Lloyd Alexander, that draconic pagan!)
Beowulf! Why read such a thing? It’s obviously an affront to God (while giving credit to God at certain points....)
Let’s banish Bruce Coville’s works as well. They only suggest super-natural beings, with no redeeming qualities!
Berenstein Bears! Oh, the humanity! More talking animals?!
Shel Silverstein is nothing but nonsensical poems based on irrationaly implausible ideas! Vile.
Wizard of Oz is another example of demonic paganism run rampant and seeping into our popular culture, corrupting our very lives.
And let’s not forget giving souls to inanimate objects- Velveteen Rabbit, Edward Toulaine, Indian in the Cuboard...
And lets not forget the kid wanting to eat his mom in “Where the Wild Things Are”!
As a matter of fact, aren’t the pictures on book covers an “engraven image?” They fly in the face of the Ten Commandments! Burn them all! Burn all the books but the Holy Bible! (unless it has toons inside to help kids understand events. These should be burned as well.)
</slam sarcasm off>
I saw LOTR was already addressed, so it got left out.
In your defense, you’re right.
The teletubbies in general are deranged.
That doesn’t change the fact that just because something doesn’t instantly fit into a mold you (or anyone) sets, it can’t be learned from (and GASP! enjoyed.)
I’ve seen you on two threads now, and both times (IMO) your reaction to the world has been outright paranoid.
Have a beer, smoke a cigarette, do something dumb for the sake of enjoying it. Take some deep breaths, and please, ignore the feelings of impending moral decay and doom.
They are things we should be vigilant about, but the better part of vigilance (as in most things) is discretion. Pick your fights. You can’t win them all, but you can win important ones.
And please, look at the genres of books before you judge them. “Fiction” means just that. Hell, “non-fiction” means “Fiction” in most cases.
Best FRegards
-Mac
Since you didn’t bother reading the other things I’ve written on this thread, after a good night’s sleep and a jog at the track today, I will tell you that I did put up a rueful apology, followed by some interesting discussions about personal reading choices. I know that the thread is up to #110, but you only went as far as the first response, and that is always unfair if you are going to challenge someone. The crack about the Telebubbies should have let you know that I’ve lightened up on this subject. I guess you missed that too.
You don’t know a single thing about me, but based on my comments on two threads you have judged that I am in need of your guidance. I was taught to read by Catholic nuns, and have been an avid reader for all my life. Now, I simply cannot imagine how I managed this long without your sage wisdom to guide me. That’s in those other posts on this thread that you did not bother to read.
And, finally, FRiend...I fight my battles in my own time, in my own way. I’ve won more than I’ve lost, and can accept a draw with good grace. What I cannot and will not accept is being judged by someone who dispenses lectures to strangers.
I’m going to keep in mind from now on that you aren’t reflected in every way the way you come across on every first meeting we have.
You learn, I learn, and I suppose I’m missing more (good natured) humor in your responses, so I shall make mine as cordial as possible.
I meant no offense, only help for a fellow FReeper I thought could use it. My appologies.
Are you completely sure that’s sarcasm?
*ahem* That’s not a purse, it’s a Man-Bag...
Nothing to worry about, it's just an alien implant...
Ghod, I LOVE FR!
Maybe... I broke my switch on that one. ;)
With just yourself?
Narcissist...
I prefer history and classics, but there’s always a supermarket “Purple Passion” novel around for light reading (up ‘til dawn finishing it!). Based on years of experience and three sisters with the same tacky taste, I can tell you that you don’t even really need to read the blurb on the back or look at a few pages. Standing ten feet away, you can tell a good trashy novel by the cover. Rule of thumb...the more the blouse is hanging off the tawny maned heroine (strong, stubborn, busty) plus the number of bulging muscles on the quiet, heartbroken, loner hero(piercing blue eyes, jutting jaw, a true gift to women) equals a great read. Call sisters on cell phone to see if they have it($5.95 ain’t hay), if not, buy it and share.
Great summer beach fun!
Books are such an icebreaker, aren’t they?
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