From Our Readers

Dear Editor,

     It is nearly midnight as I write this letter. My three children are asleep, my housework is as good as it's going to get, and my little dog is curled up by my feet wondering, I'm sure,  "Why on earth we can't just go to sleep for heaven's sake?" I tell you those details because I, like most everyone else, have plenty to do and hardly have time to pick a fight about every single wrong I see in the world. There are some things that are just not that big of a deal and are really just not worth the time. Other issues bother me and honestly, sometimes I feel like moving to the mountains, hand sewing my clothes, and living off the land. Then I remember, I like an occasional shower and can't live without my trusty hairdryer. So, since I've chosen to live in an area containing running water and electricity, I get the bombardment of media contained therein, as much as I would like to avoid it at times.   

     Recently, there has been reports of a Wisconsin based group sending letters to Mississippi schools that demand the cessation of student-lead prayer at sporting events. These reports brought back memories of an incident that our family was involved in last year. Our first grader carried Christian tracks in her book bag to school. She tried to hand them out to her friends during play time and her teacher told her that was not allowed at school and she would have to bring them back home. When she came home and told me what had happened, I did some research. Then I went to the school and asked if I could speak to her teacher who told me, "Yes, that's correct." However, when I showed her the Supreme Court ruling on the matter and the school principal and vice principal were alerted of the situation, her story changed to "No, I told her I could not hand them out."  I bypassed the opportunity to call her on that and tried to stick to the matter of educating the faculty of my daughter's rights.

     I was informed, after the school officials read the ruling, that indeed her tracks were covered under the First Amendment and she is free to hand them out during free time. Also, as a student, she has the right to discuss, debate, and defend her beliefs as long as it is not disruptive. Not only that, she has the freedom to actually proselytize at school. (You know that has become a dirty word now days, but it simply means to convince another of one's faith.) People do it all the time when discussing other matters, only then it's called conversation. For example,"My Honda is really the best car ever made. It gets 28 MPG, it's affordable to maintain, etc." Then another says, "No way, my Toyota is the best!" Then we get out our owner's manuals and Consumer Reports magazines and compare notes.

     Ultimately, the school officials told me that their concern was that if my daughter handed out her materials, people of other faiths would feel compelled to counter back with materials about their beliefs. So, I concluded that the fear was the free exchange of ideas that could make other people uncomfortable and they did not want to make waves with any parents. Well, isn't that what learning is about? The free exchange of  ideas, debates, discussion, and vigorous search for truth. Imagine the courage it took Galileo to withstand the Inquisition, charges of heresy, and a life sentence of house arrest for his controversial claims about the solar system.  I had a teacher once tell me, "I'm here to teach you how to think, not what to think.” Thank you to her.  

      In defense of the school officials, they have [spent] many years performing many jobs that parents should be doing. Teachers should be able to teach academics but are faced with having to teach little Billy that he needs to pull his pants up so his butt crack doesn't show and how to tie his shoes because they don't make cool big boy shoes with Velcro.      My point is this:  It is my job to teach my child about manners, shoe tying, and religion. I'm not scared if some other child tells my kid about his beliefs; religious, scientific or otherwise. At my house, we don't just sit around telling Bible stories about some man eating fish. We teach the historical evidences of our faith and we prepare our children to be ready to give answers to questions about their faith. We welcome open dialogue about religion and other matters that make many people uncomfortable. Can you believe we actually discuss sex with our children? You know, before the teacher gets the chance or before some 16-year-old, “Justin Beiber” wanna-be tries to convince her to put out on prom night... Imagine that! 

 The Department of Education guidelines state: “The Supreme Court has repeatedly held that the First Amendment requires public school officials to be neutral in their treatment of religion; showing neither favoritism toward, nor hostility against, religious expression (such as prayer). Accordingly, the First Amendment forbids religious activity that is sponsored by the government, but protects religious activity that is initiated by private individuals, and the line between government-sponsored and privately initiated religious expression is vital to a proper understanding of the First Amendment’s scope.”

Students do have the rights to distribute religious materials without censorship, they can wear religious icons and they can pray at school, among many other activities. The issue is if the activities cause a disruption during instructional time. I urge you to visit www.ACLJ.org  for resources concerning these matters. I know that it requires some effort and time, but it is worth it. We have already won. We just have to stand up and claim what the United States Supreme Court has ruled. Don't be intimidated, get educated.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Williams