Chicago Public Schools set up Muslim Prayer Rooms

Chicago Sun Times ^ | November 29, 2001 | Rosalind Rossi

[cookcounty]

Muslim students hail prayer policy

November 29, 2001

BY ROSALIND ROSSI EDUCATION REPORTER

Chicago Public Schools were given an official green light Wednesday to set aside a vacant room for students to pray during school hours, a policy welcomed by Muslim students whose daily prayers overlap with school hours.

The "Policy on Accommodations for Student Religious Practices'' approved unanimously by Chicago School Board members is similar to one practiced in Los Angeles, but it goes further than one observed in New York City, where schools are barred from designating a room for student prayer.

Some Chicago schools, such as Von Steuben High, already set aside space for Muslim students to observe one of their five daily prayers, but other schools have been calling recently with questions about what is allowable, Chicago Board of Education attorneys said.

[cookcounty]

Funny how the need to be PC has transformed the way the liberals look at prayer in school.

[Husker24]

Is there a Christian prayer room, nope didnt think so.

[parentsgonenuts]

Funny how Christians aren't include in that policy. But, God is a bad word and isn't allowed anywhere near a school, along with morals, and advanced classes (sarcasm).

[all4one]

In many schools around the country it is a fight to get a moment of silence.

The P.C. crowd would never protest a Muslim prayer room in schools. But, in Maryland they will keep Santa Claus from lighting the town Christmas tree.

[ChemistCat]

The next step is to permit Muslim students to proselytize, giving them space and access to copiers and a nice liberal paper allowance.

[SirChas]

I keep clicking my heels together but still no Kansas.

[TopQuark]

Has anyone seen the text of that decision?

I am really curious whether they specified the religion (Muslim) there. That alone could be grounds for a suit.

Why would you not do the same for Christians, Jews, Buddhists..?

[Kryptonite]

This is the link to the story. The link above is dead.

[chatham]

As a Roman Catholic and as a christian I am personally insulted that the government would allow such a double standard to flourish.

Christians have not been able to pray in public schools and have been stopped by the law.

If this story is true it appears the government is prejudiced against Christians and this practice should be stopped.

[Kryptonite]

From the article it appears as though the policy is not specific to any particular religion, but in practice it appears that different areas, times, and clubs are religion-specific. I personally don't know what to make of it yet, but one thing that I can conclude is that it is sad that the catalyst for cracking the door on respecting religion in public schools was not respect for Christianity; rather, it appears as though the school gestapo opened its mind and policies for students of other faiths.

[TopQuark]

That's what worries me: this seems to be just a strange twist of PC.

[Righty1]

Quick translation is that we are kissing muslim butt, but Christians, Jews, and Hindus may also use it. I know my translation is correct as I visit a UM site full of aclu types and if they had their way they would make it for everyone except Christians.

[Amore]

And here I was just thinking this might be one suit the ACLU could bring where the ACLU could come in on the side of Christianity . . . .

[DonQ]

The provision of a room inside the school, during official school hours, is constitutionally prohibited to Christians, Jews, and almost anyone else, this going back to the McCollum decision around 1947, not even the more recent school prayer decisions of 1962 & 1963.

But, of course, a population segment that comprises a lot of voters, some of them capable of generous donations and others capable of planting bombs, does trump the Constitution ... at least in Chicago's history.

[sweetliberty]

NOT AGAIN!!!!! Why the h**l are these people getting more rights than regular Americans. And this is supposed to fostering tolerance???? The more of this kind of BS I read and the more of these issues I see come up that should never even have become issues, the more I want to say to h**l with all of them and tolerance be d****d. Give us our country back!!

[Kryptonite]

One thing that I can conclude is that it is sad that the catalyst for cracking the door on respecting religion in Chicago public schools was not respect for Christianity; rather, it appears as though the public school gestapo opened its mind and policies for students of other faiths. A similar thing happened recently in NYC, where the public school system attempted to create Muslim-specific exceptions for prayer on school premises. That effort was withdrawn when the double-standard was attacked.

I think in the long run, these types of accomodations will be good for the public schools, but I fear that the Christian students will be targets for the minority and pc elite, and it's sad that gains for Christians could not have been achieved without radical Islamic fundamentalists attacking our country. The public schools never gave a hoot about offending Christians, and I highly doubt that they do now. Yet, in their horror over offending Muslims, they are creating precedent which will benefit other students of faith, and Christians, as the majority, will tend to benefit the most over time. So, while I think the course of events is a sad commentary on the state of affairs, I patiently await this sort of policy to be broached in my sleepy community, although a part of me doubts that this will ever get off the ground in areas which do not share similar demographics.

[Let's Roll]

Not NO, but HELL NO! This really pisses me off. More special treatment for this disgusting religion.

[Kryptonite]

You know, your comments made me think about the response the ACLU types will give if these types of programs are abandoned. They will blame it on the Christians, for "pushing too hard and too fast" or something like that, when in reality, all the Christians will be asking for is the same accomodations they should have been granted in the first place.

[dennisw]

btttttttttttt

[Salvation]

Chicago Public Schools set up Muslim Prayer Rooms

WHAT? Yes, I screamed that!

So where do they set up the table for a Catholic Mass?