Posted on 12/15/2009 6:50:21 AM PST by Alistair Stratford IV
As if it matters whether it's Taunton, Mass or Taunton, England? The fact remains that some pinhead teacher has misconstrued the phrase that the Constitution guarantees us "Freedom OF religion" as "Freedom FROM religion". And, technically, even that phrase isn't what's in the Constitution, but close enough for discussion purposes.
The one line that really put a kink in my colon was the "advocate" stating: "They weren’t looking at the fact that this is an 8-year-old child with special needs" as a reason for her involvement.
Is she inferring that if this was a "normal" 8-year-old from Bridgewater or North Easton (nice areas nearby), she wouldn't be involved??? If that's her position, I would tell the parents of this kid to tell HER to take her condescending attitude and jump in the Taunton River!
When society decided it was wrong for kids to play those games they took away a valuable learning experience from children. It is the same thing with competition on the playground (tag, kick ball, dodge ball, etc)
This is where we used to learn to deal with the hard knocks in life. Instead these kids are sent out into the world without the experience and the emotional maturity to deal with the hard lessons in life.
As to the drawing, I can understand why it drew the attention of the teacher. BUT, after talking with the parents who told of their visit to the La Salette Shrine it should have been the end of it.
Of course it goes without saying the teacher should have asked about it in a non-threatening way "That is interesting Johnny, how does that remind you of Christmas." She may have learned about the visit to the shrine herself.
Not to defend the actions of the school but the article says that the boy wrote his name above the cross.
If he wrote his name in the place that usually read “INRI” (and which, perhaps, has been blurred for the child’s privacy on the image we have of his drawing,) THAT might be cause for some concern.
If so, the school still overreacted and handled things horribly.
I think she may be inferring that as a special needs child, making changes in classes like a suspension and making requirements like an psychological evaluation are the types of interventions that cannot be done unilaterally.
These actions were a violation of the rights of this child under special education mandates so that he is not subject to discrimination (like what occurred here).
To change a special education child’s schedule and to require an evaluation without a formal meeting that requires adherence to specific steps designed to protect the child is a clear violation. Such a meeting done properly would include a team of parents, teachers, and special education folks done with certain mandated safeguards was a violation of this child’s rights.
Perhaps the school could make a case for suspension if it assumed the child was a danger but the evaluation requirement done apart from the normal process for a special ed kid is inexcusable.
Not to a Christian because we realize that our name is on that cross.
No wonder the kid drew a picture of him shooting the teacher. Someday the idiots who vote in these liberal states are going to realize that if they come after your neighbor’s child for something they don’t believe in, it’s just a matter of time before they come after everybody.
On the Jesus picture, the teacher was probably too damned dumb to know that Jesus actually DID die on the cross.
There, corrected your sentence. My point is, I don't give a rat's a$$ if the child is special needs or not. This is a clear cut case of religious discrimination, regardless of whether the student in question is a senior at Boston Latin or a 3rd grader in MLK Elementary School in the middle of Harlem!
safety protocols were violated. HUH?
how much is that superintendent paid, I wonder? probably sends her kids to a private school. she should be sacked along with what ever school officials who support this farce.
wouldn’t want them around ‘violent’ children, now would we?
I agree but it is far easier to use the stick of special education than Christian discrimination, especially when those you are up against think Christians are dangerous.
Yep, and lawsuits should be filed against everyone involved - teacher, principal, superintendent and school district. Until these creatures are targeted for their vicious abuses against children and have to pay for them personally, they won't stop.
And in addition to money, they all should have to undergo religious sensititivity training and psychological evaluations to determine if they have a specific hatred for Christians.
If freepers are going to discuss current events in the liberal world, perhaps we need a special page with links to maps of the east coast (and the pacific coast).
Yea, that Taunton is right across the border from Providence, RI.
it is 35 miles from Providence. So I need to refresh my SE MA geography, too.
Thank you, suh!
Transferring to another school is not the solution. Get your kids out of the school system altogether and sue the principal who required the evaluation. Even if you lose, it makes their lives expensive and painful.
The boy has learned NOT to draw Jesus. That’s exactly what the school wanted.
The school needs to “learn” not to behave like this. Only pain and money will do that.
Sorry, I disagree. If this was an eight-year-old child of the Negro race, should we use the race card instead of religious discrimination because it is "far easier"? Why do you insist on downplaying the true nature of the problem (i.e. anti-religion) for ancillary issues that do nothing but enhance the agenda of the secular progressives?
...and about 15 miles from my hometown of Brockton, which is a nice place to have come from, but not necessary to be in at this time!
They still play it...in my kids’ CATHOLIC school, LOL. I saw one of those crucifix thingies in the auditorium last night when I went to see my daughter in the choir’s presentation of ‘A Christmas Carol.’ I think I might require some intense therapy after being exposed to those things the last 36 years :P
The X’s part was speculation by Toni Saunders, a representative of the boy and his father, and not connected to the school system. So, we really don’t know why the drawing was considered violent. Crucifixion is a method of killing a person, and even in the process is quite violent. Saying that the X’s in the eyes was the problem would mean that a picture of a person pointing a gun at another person is not a problem until the drawing depicts the weapon having been discharged and the target killed. Since at the end of the article it mentions the boy who ran foul of the school system for a drawing of him pointing a gun at his teacher, the X’s and death reasoning falls apart rather quickly.
When it is my kid, I use whatever I can to set things straight. I’m not going to use my kid to make a statement.
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