"Guess what, sweetie, it ain't about YOU. You were asked to do a simple task in a first grade classroom, not sit there and pontificate on your beliefs. This person is the kind who gives "Christians" a bad name."
I think if a person has the courage to stand up to what they belive, that is admirable. The story is about being forced to teach something against one's religous beliefs in a secular school. Why would any Christian want to teach their children that some guy in a red suit who smokes a pipe is the one who anwers their prayers, gives them their presents on Christmas, and rewards their deeds because he sees them and hears them all the time?
Where do you get the idea that she was forced to teach this assignment? She was asked to read a poem. She had options. 1. read it; 2. ask for an alternate assignment; 3. ask for a different class. There are always several substitutes in a school on any given day.
The option she did not have was to force her religious beliefs on six year olds.
Crawdad's wife
Do I think someone should be forced to teach something that they do not believe in? No. But...that is NOT what this story is about. If that was what the story was about...it would have went like this: Substitute Teacher Fired after failing to read Poem.
That was Not the story. The story was about how she decided to turn the teacher's desk into a pulpit and use it to trump the parent's wishes in regards to their child. If you want to get angry about something...get angry at her for stomping on THEIR rights. She had the right to be persecuted by the world (which is what our Lord calls for) by refusing to not read the story. She did not have the right to pontificate and turn the desk into a pulpit. I am an evangelical minister...and even I can see how wrong that was. I have preached in the past to children's camps where the children were at the camp and I preached to them...but they were not there listening to my words without the knowledge of their parents. Now...do you REALLY think the parents had NO RIGHT or no say in this? As a parent...I think they have every right. She was wrong. She was right to not read it if it violated her conscious. IF it cost her her job...then that is the price of Christianity. She gave up her reward when she turned that desk into a pulpit and made a decision for those who could not make it.
She is no Hero.
And on this Christmas season...if you REALLY want to examine things that don't belong in celebration of our Lord's birth...I believe Santa is the least of your worries. The early church had no birthday party for Jesus. If you want to examine Easter traditions you will be sorely disappointed there too. Matter of fact...if you want historica Christianity...and would only want to celebrate Christmas and Easter the way the Apostles and Early church fathers did...Santa is not the only thing you would be missing. So... I say if the lady did anything on December 25th she is a hypocrite because the early church certainly didn't. Be real in all of it...or don't judge others for the little bit of fun they've added.
That is irrelevant.
Why do you think that it is acceptable for strangers to make decisions about other people's children??
What would she do if she was asked to read a classic tale of Greek or Roman gods?
No, she ACCEPTED a job which included reading this story. She wasn't forced to do anything.
It is WRONG to insert yourself between parents and children EVEN IF you think their beliefs are stupid.