Mississippi School Board Banned Jewish Student From Wearing Star of David

[Heracles 417]

More bullѕhit. Public schools do have comparative religion classes.

So in an elementary or middle school, teachers are allowed to teach about the various religions are they?

[The_Dude 1,142]

In other words, the same group of people make stuff up as they go along, as it suits their agenda; with you being the prime candidate. Being that I know people in the eduction system, including a school board member, it's safe to assume I have asked what is permitted and what is not. Religious discussions of any nature are a taboo period.

Next you guys are going to tell me the US has more religious freedom than every other first world countries.

Nice straw man argument there BY.

Just admit it, you don't know sh!t about U.S. schools. It's ok that you don't know everything. It's not like it's going to change anyones ingrained opinion of you.

[Heracles 417]

Nice straw man argument there BY.

Just admit it, you don't know sh!t about U.S. schools. It's ok that you don't know everything. It's not like it's going to change anyones ingrained opinion of you.

Are public American schools permitted to celebrate Easter or Christmas?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

So in an elementary or middle school, teachers are allowed to teach about the various religions are they?

Here is a link to the social studies core curriculum for NJ public schools -

http://www.state.nj.us/education/cccs/2009/std6_ss.doc

Here are a few excerpts for you -- there are a lot more instances of the word religion or one of its variants. Educate yourself.

Compare and contrast gender roles, religion, values, cultural practices, and political systems of Native American groups.

Compare and contrast the tenets of various world religions that developed in or around this time period (i.e., Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, and Taoism), their patterns of expansion, and their responses to the current challenges of globalization.

Contemporary United States : Evaluate the role of religion on cultural and social mores, public opinion, and political decisions.

Early Civilizations and the Emergence of Pastoral Peoples: Ancient River Valley Civilizations : Analyze the impact of religion on daily life, government, and culture in various ancient river valley civilizations.

[Heracles 417]

It's not like it's going to change anyones ingrained opinion of you.

Opinion of me is all you guys have. It's also why in four years I can count on one hand how many time someone has actually proven me wrong beyond personal insults.

As I asked, can an American public school teacher watch a Christmas film or create Christmas cards in class, as we did in AUS?

[thongd4me 69]

Are public American schools permitted to celebrate Easter or Christmas?

The last time I checked, they call it a "holiday" show but had Hanukah songs that

did have religious significance but Christmas ones that had none (IE, about frosty

the snowman & santa but nothing about "Come All Ye Faithful.")

[The_Dude 1,142]

Are public American schools permitted to celebrate Easter or Christmas?

Again BY, just admit that you don't know sh!t about it.

Seeing as schools are on break during Easter and Christmas, your point is moot. From my year of teaching, we did celebrate Easter and Christmas, but we also celebrated Hannukah, Ramadan and other holidays. They weren't celebrated in the sense of participating in the religious context, but more in an educationl context. We would have parents come in and tell about their holidays as a means of teaching about the religion and its roots and customs.

Now, if they started talking about conversion or teaching that one religion is better than another, then you'll get in trouble.

[Heracles 417]

Again BY, just admit that you don't know sh!t about it.

Seeing as schools are on break during Easter and Christmas, your point is moot. From my year of teaching, we did celebrate Easter and Christmas, but we also celebrated Hannukah, Ramadan and other holidays. They weren't celebrated in the sense of participating in the religious context, but more in an educationl context. We would have parents come in and tell about their holidays as a means of teaching about the religion and its roots and customs.

Now, if they started talking about conversion or teaching that one religion is better than another, then you'll get in trouble.

Rubbish! Out of four teachers I know, who teach in four different counties (including DC - your capital), all have said the celebration of a religious holiday is not permitted.

For example, they are not allowed to say Merry Christmas nor have the students create Christmas cards.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Rubbish! Out of four teachers I know, who teach in four different counties (including DC - your capital), all have said the celebration of a religious holiday is not permitted.

For example, they are not allowed to say Merry Christmas nor have the students create Christmas cards.

It is only banned if you do so for one religion (or two) exclusively. The school district that I taught at got into some trouble about a decade ago because they focused exclusively on Christianity and Judaism. If you only teach students about one or two religions, you are implicitly supporting them. That is what they are trying to stamp out.

Personally, I think it is pure ####### to be teaching adult science fiction in a school.

[Heracles 417]

It is only banned if you do so for one religion (or two) exclusively. The school district that I taught at got into some trouble about a decade ago because they focused exclusively on Christianity and Judaism. If you only teach students about one or two religions, you are implicitly supporting them. That is what they are trying to stamp out.

Personally, I think it is pure ####### to be teaching adult science fiction in a school.

I have to ask you this off-topic question, do you personally ever wonder why with all of these freedoms (well the US definition) and generally the way the US does things, it has not and does not receive any international recognition for it. Furthermore, that not one other first world country has a system that mirrors the US.

Before you go off on not caring, tell me to move or state I hate the country, I am just curious as to why you think that is. Surely if I was an auto manufacturer and built the best car in the world, people would want to copy it.

Edited May 12, 2010 by Booyah!

[The_Dude 1,142]

I have to ask you this off-topic question, do you personally ever wonder why with all of these freedoms (well the US definition) and generally the way the US does things, it has not and does not receive any international recognition for it. Furthermore, that not one other first world country has a system that mirrors the US.

Before you go off on not caring, tell me to move or state I hate the country, I am just curious as to why you think that is. Surely if I was an auto manufacturer and built the best car in the world, people would want to copy it.

BY, I don't see articles in international journals spouting off about how great Australia is. To be honest, I really don't care, can you really say that there is any nation that you could compare the U.S. to? There are some nations that fall into some sort of peg or another, and some don't. I don't think the U.S. is perfect, far from it, but I dont' agree with your doomsday point of view.

Now, does it bother you that many people, worldwide, when they think of Australia, they either think of Steve Irwin, or Crocodile Dundee? So in essence, the public image of Australia would be that of a douche. Oh wait, but then again, from our little interactions, that might be that far off.

[Heracles 417]

BY, I don't see articles in international journals spouting off about how great Australia is. To be honest, I really don't care, can you really say that there is any nation that you could compare the U.S. to? There are some nations that fall into some sort of peg or another, and some don't. I don't think the U.S. is perfect, far from it, but I dont' agree with your doomsday point of view.

Now, does it bother you that many people, worldwide, when they think of Australia, they either think of Steve Irwin, or Crocodile Dundee? So in essence, the public image of Australia would be that of a douche. Oh wait, but then again, from our little interactions, that might be that far off.

You mean coming from the same country where less than 30% of the country has passports, compared to over 70% in other first world countries. Real worldly you guys are.

I didn't mention Australia in the post. What I asked is why you, yes you, believe the US is not recognized by any internaitonal study comparing various dimensions such as quality of life, human development, crime etc. Basically leading in anything that pertains to actual life - like education. Unfortunately, developing the latest ipod does nothing for the 12 million Californians living in poverty.

I never said it was doom or gloom or even evil, so don't put words in my mouth. Once again, what I asked is whether you acknowledge and accept that others have a better way of looking and doing a number things.

Edited May 12, 2010 by Booyah!

[Otto 83]

** Potentially Racist/anti-Semitic remarks have been removed.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

It's perfectly understandable that people around the country are not as knowledgeable as those from Massachusetts. Not to mention, you have people in this country that probably couldn't point the US out on the map, yet expect them to know the star of David.

I'm not disputing that, but don't you think that people in the education field should be familiar with the symbol most closely associated with a major world religion?

[Heracles 417]

I'm not disputing that, but don't you think that people in the education field should be familiar with the symbol most closely associated with a major world religion?

We are talking about Mississippi here, not NY state.