THE "SOME CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT
  by Julianza Shavin-Katz

The government is bullish on leaving no child behind. In a recent meeting, we suggested that one of our children be held back due to a four-year reading delay for further reading assistance, but the school was adamant that being left behind would be dire indeed.

But what about children "left behind" at holiday time? When I was in kindergarten in a school that was one-third non-Christian, we learned "Away in a Manger;" thirty years later, my eldest returned from preschool singing "Jesus Loves Me." Just after Thanksgiving, a teacher decorated with pine tree cutouts "for no reason." Then we had to request that another child be excused from Christmas movies. Our high school's rooftop is yearly adorned with reindeer and sleigh.


Each time we've objected to religious trappings in public school, there's been a stock answer: "Oh, please come in and share your own traditions...children should not feel left out!" Our stock reply is "no religion, even watered down from manger to Santa, belongs in public school." These celebrations are for religious institutions.

Is it in the "spirit of the season" to expect a child to bear being ridiculed for difference? My child is different…not accommodated because he's wheelchair-bound, but different because his family is a minority. I could play devil's (pardon the expression) advocate and say that maybe such ostracizing actually prepares minority children for later life. But that argument doesn't (unlike the devil?) fly. Do we allow racial slurs? Of course not!

Children are susceptible to teasing, and cope less well than adults with feeling on the outside. And teenagers have problems aplenty fitting in. Some youngsters will be minorities anyway, differently talented or challenged, etc. Why saddle any children with more challenge, especially when it is unnecessary?

This is not an issue of education. In fact, it is an issue that shouldn't even be one. History has proved the terrible dangers of that notorious mixed marriage, religion and government. The concern is not just that the entire school is festooned for only one religion while lip service is given to other traditions. There is a larger concern: the message that religion is somehow related to public education. That lesson is false!

Recently, someone told me how a person had died for our sins. I said, "Yes, I know many believe this - but not all." "Oh," she protested, "You don't have to believe it for it to be true, and for everyone." You may believe the earth is flat, although science says it is round. You can say it's flat, often and loudly, but that doesn't make it so. Opinion or belief often differs from fact. Likewise, you can believe in burning bushes, a seven-day creation, virgin births (there are many of these among religions), resurrection of the physical dead to afterlife, the tooth fairy, etc. Of these, my daughter believes in the tooth fairy, but I won't (even if invited) preach tooth fairy lore or songs in school. Neither should expressing religious beliefs be labeled "school activities."

So, if you really don't want to leave any child behind, then keep public schools secular! Otherwise you're sending a message that history has shown to be unwise, dangerous and even deadly. Why involve schools in such an endeavor? We should teach three "R"s. But it's not in any way justifiable to include religion as a fourth.

Send us an Email

Or write to us at:
Freethinkers of Colorado Springs
P.O. Box 62946
Colorado Springs, CO 80962-2946
Phone: 719-594-4506