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In the teachers "defense" (and without knowing the facts of the incident) I would guess that it came down this way: Almost certainly the teacher had never, ever heard of someone or heard of any religion that "rubbed ashes on their heads for Ash Wednesday." I would bet that only a minority have. Just think of how silly that would sound to them. With this outlook I'm sure that, especially in a high school setting, they were sure they were simply dealing with teenagers in a public school who were trying to be goofy by rubbing ashes on themselves because it was "Ash Wednesday." I mean, what could be sillier? It would be as absurd as painting your face black for Black Friday wouldn't it? So of course the teacher would say wash it off (The physical contact issue aside) if they were trying to maintain some sense of order in the class.

Just remember what substitute teachers go through from students. I'm sure they thought they were just being "hazed" as the sub, and thought that the "Ashes for Ash Wednesday" explanation had to be a joke.

Almost certainly the teacher had never, ever heard of someone or heard of any religion that "rubbed ashes on their heads for Ash Wednesday."

This teacher was in America, where one out of ever four people is Catholic.

If you are an American and have never heard of Catholicism, you lack the mental resources to be a substitute dogsitter, let alone a substitute teacher.

I mean, what could be sillier?

Your argument, for starters. I would probably refrain from characterizing Biblical practices as silly, moreover.

I substitute taught at one time for a short period of time and I NEVER would have dreamed of touching a child nor requiring them to wash something off their face. If I thought there was an issue of discipline, to the office they would go.

If some student claimed it had religious significance, then I would give them the benefit of the doubt. That was not her call to make.

I find it highly unlikely that ANY sub in this country had not heard of Ash Wednesday, considering two things: Her age (being old enough to substitute teacher) and the fact that Ash Wednesday has been marked on calendars for decades, including this year even. My current 2008 calendar has it marked and it’s just your generic calendar bought at Border’s.

She was WRONG, period. End of story.

Let’s assume, as you say, that the teacher was fresh off the ship from Pluto and didn’t have a calendar, most of which say “Ash Wednesay” on, you know, Ash Wednesday.

So, we’ll assume all that. Why did the teacher touch the child? Because, I’m sorry, I can’t set the physical contact issue aside. And I can’t set aside that there is a teacher teaching anywhere that is unaware of Christian Culture to the degree that this one would have had to have been.

If the are that culturally unaware, they should not be teaching. If they were aware and have some prejudice against Catholics, they should not be teaching. And finally, if they can’t keep their hands to themselves, they should not be teaching.

I am visualizing a foreign teacher from some non-Christian-influenced country, perhaps from Africa, Asia, or the Middle East, and I can kind of see your point...BUT, if the situation were reversed and a Christian teacher somehow assaulted the beliefs of an African, Asian, or Middle Eastern student, that teacher would be in "sensitivity training" before recess.

In fact, there's an article on Fox this a.m. about an Iranian student suing his school for something a teacher said.