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