Public school children forced to pray to Allah

[Si modo]

The superintendent of the schools sent out an apology to parents on September 16th. The permission slip, at best, misled parents, thus the apology.

Wellesley Public Schools
40 Kingsbury Street, Wellesley, Massachusetts, 02481-4827

Bella T. Wong
Superintendent of Schools

781.446.6210
Ext. 4505
FAX 781.446.6207


Dear Parents:

All sixth graders at the Middle School take a social studies course titled, "Enduring Beliefs and the World Today". A portion of the course focuses on beliefs that are strong today and includes an introduction to Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Hinduism. Each teaching unit is developed similarly for consistency of presentation with the following construct: Stories of Origin and Important People (Early History), Core Beliefs, Holy Writings, Symbols & Objects, Holy Places & Places of Worship, Rituals & Rites of Passage, and Celebrations & Holidays.

The course currently includes a field trip visit to a synagogue and a mosque. Also included is attendance at a gospel music performance and meeting with representatives of the Hindu religion. These activities provide experiences for our students that enhance their understanding of the curriculum. Students only participate in these events with parental permission. Parents are also invited to attend field trips and have served as chaperones for us.

Last May, our students visited a mosque located in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Because it is an active place of worship, it was anticipated that prayer would occur during the students' visit. Due to the number of students in grade six, half ot the students (200) were able to attend one of two scheduled days. On the second scheduled day, a representative of the Mosque told students they were welcome to join in the prayer that was occuring. Five students chose to participate. A parent made a video recording of this. Students are shown to be imitating the act of prayer.

The purpose of the field trip was for studetns to visit and observe a place ofvworship. It was not the intent for students to be able to participate in any of the religious practices. The fact that any students were allowed to do so in this case was an error.

I extend my sincere apologies for the error that occured and regret the offense it may have caused. In the future, teachers will provide more clear guidance to students to better define what is allowed to fulfill the purpose of observation. As always, we continue to be open to feedback on experiences we provide for children. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any additional questions.

Respectfully,

Bella T. Wong

http://static.cbslocal.com/station/wbz/wbz/2010/September/Leter.pdf

The letter was totally called for concerning this apparently unintended, but completely unacceptable, situation the school created.

Agreed. The letter was warranted and should suffice...however, I'm sure that some parents and other leaders will continue to create a stink such that a head or two will roll.

But what is forgotten in this entire drama are the kids. Does anyone know if the kids that prayed are okay? Have they recovered?

Yes, they are handling it well. In fact, I think this sort of required course is a great idea for this, or any, public school system.

I hope no heads roll. It was unintended, but still wrong. Now, all will be more careful.

It should drop at this point, IMO.

 

[masquerade]

btw...the title of this thread is a lie.

No one was forced to pray.

But the women and the girls were told to leave.

 

[Ravi]

A question if I may to all the parents of daughters.

Would YOU be okay with your daughter being segregated and asked to leave the prayer room, knowing the Muslim religion treats woman as second class citizens?

Yes...because it is instructive for children to see how other cultures treat women.

 

[Si modo]

The superintendent of the schools sent out an apology to parents on September 16th. The permission slip, at best, misled parents, thus the apology.
http://static.cbslocal.com/station/wbz/wbz/2010/September/Leter.pdf

The letter was totally called for concerning this apparently unintended, but completely unacceptable, situation the school created.

Agreed. The letter was warranted and should suffice...however, I'm sure that some parents and other leaders will continue to create a stink such that a head or two will roll.

But what is forgotten in this entire drama are the kids. Does anyone know if the kids that prayed are okay? Have they recovered?

I understand that they are the target of the rightwingloonnewsmedia and are being ridiculed and reviled as the spawn of satin.

Nah, the spawn of velvet is much more evil, at least, so I hear.

 

[Sunni Man]

But the women and the girls were told to leave.

How do you know that they were told to leave?

 

[Sunni Man]

A question if I may to all the parents of daughters.

Would YOU be okay with your daughter being segregated and asked to leave the prayer room, knowing the Muslim religion treats woman as second class citizens?

Actualy, in every Mosque that I have ever been to or attended service.

There is both a men's prayer room and a women's prayer room.

Both rooms are carpeted and are equally furnished and nice.

The women are NOT treated as second class anything.

We just believe in separating men and women during prayer time.

 

[masquerade]

A question if I may to all the parents of daughters.

Would YOU be okay with your daughter being segregated and asked to leave the prayer room, knowing the Muslim religion treats woman as second class citizens?

Yes...because it is instructive for children to see how other cultures treat women.

Which in my eyes would lead a child to dislike the Muslim religion, seeing how woman are treated.

 

[uscitizen]

Had the fieldtrip been to Fox News they would have had to pray to Beck?

 

[JakeStarkey]

They would probably have to burn an effigy of Nancy Pelosi, kneel and bounce their heads off the floor in the direction of Rush's South Miami headquarters, and then perform secret blood sacrifices with O'Reilly officiating.

 

[Jack Fate]

But the women and the girls were told to leave.

How do you know that they were told to leave?

Because muslim men and women don't pray together. Men are allowed to beat their wives and then they can't even pray together afterwards. Nice religion.

 

[ConHog]

A question if I may to all the parents of daughters.

Would YOU be okay with your daughter being segregated and asked to leave the prayer room, knowing the Muslim religion treats woman as second class citizens?

Yes...because it is instructive for children to see how other cultures treat women.

Which in my eyes would lead a child to dislike the Muslim religion, seeing how woman are treated.

One would think so, but look at the grown ass women on this site who defend Islam. I have heard stories about women who enjoy abuse though, so perhaps that comes into play here????????

 

[Wicked Jester]

Understanding the middle east is not something adults get let alone 6th graders. I was under the assumption that this was to learn about the culture and not the religion.

Petra? The spice trade? Living like Bedouins in tents in the desert? Egypt? The food? Riding camels? The music? The architecture and art? The languages?

Sure you can study Middle Eastern culture as a 6th grader WITHOUT introducing the religion.

Another subject Syrenn doesn't understand but can't bring herself to just say she doesn't and move on. You can not separate Islam from ME culture. Islam IS middle eastern culture. It's part and parcel. It would be like studying US history without mentioning George Washington. SUre you COULD do it, but you lose all the context

Get over it conhog....and stop lying about me.


As an adult....you cant study ME without ilsam.

AS a 6th grader, in PUBLIC SCHOOL, sure you can study ME without praying to allah. I am sure the mosque did a great job with ME culture, right up to the point of segregating the girls and the boys praying.

Well, you are a WOMAN!......I mean how can ANY woman have ANY intelligence.......Is this where I now step in and call ya' a *****?

 

[del]

A question if I may to all the parents of daughters.

Would YOU be okay with your daughter being segregated and asked to leave the prayer room, knowing the Muslim religion treats woman as second class citizens?

sure. why would it matter? orthodox jews do the same thing, IIRC.

do you think it would scar them for life?

 

[ConHog]

A question if I may to all the parents of daughters.

Would YOU be okay with your daughter being segregated and asked to leave the prayer room, knowing the Muslim religion treats woman as second class citizens?

sure. why would it matter? orthodox jews do the same thing, IIRC.

do you think it would scar them for life?

You're fucked up.

Personally , I want my daughter to grow up knowing that she is not a second class citizen, and she doesn't have to take a back seat to anyone. Including Muslim men.

 

[del]

Yes...because it is instructive for children to see how other cultures treat women.

Which in my eyes would lead a child to dislike the Muslim religion, seeing how woman are treated.

One would think so, but look at the grown ass women on this site who defend Islam. I have heard stories about women who enjoy abuse though, so perhaps that comes into play here????????

does pissing on them count as abuse or just recreation?

 

[xotoxi]

A question if I may to all the parents of daughters.

Would YOU be okay with your daughter being segregated and asked to leave the prayer room, knowing the Muslim religion treats woman as second class citizens?

sure. why would it matter? orthodox jews do the same thing, IIRC.

do you think it would scar them for life?

Jewish and muslim BOYS are scarred for life.

Why not scar the girls too?

 

[del]

A question if I may to all the parents of daughters.

Would YOU be okay with your daughter being segregated and asked to leave the prayer room, knowing the Muslim religion treats woman as second class citizens?

sure. why would it matter? orthodox jews do the same thing, IIRC.

do you think it would scar them for life?

You're fucked up.

Personally , I want my daughter to grow up knowing that she is not a second class citizen, and she doesn't have to take a back seat to anyone. Including Muslim men.

it doesn't surprise me that your offspring wouldn't be strong enough nor intelligent enough to withstand the *horrors* of a mosque visit.

the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, after all.

 

[Ravi]

Which in my eyes would lead a child to dislike the Muslim religion, seeing how woman are treated.

One would think so, but look at the grown ass women on this site who defend Islam. I have heard stories about women who enjoy abuse though, so perhaps that comes into play here????????

does pissing on them count as abuse or just recreation?

you must spread some rep around...yada, yada, yada

 

[ConHog]

sure. why would it matter? orthodox jews do the same thing, IIRC.

do you think it would scar them for life?

You're fucked up.

Personally , I want my daughter to grow up knowing that she is not a second class citizen, and she doesn't have to take a back seat to anyone. Including Muslim men.

it doesn't surprise me that your offspring wouldn't be strong enough nor intelligent enough to withstand the *horrors* of a mosque visit.

the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, after all.

That's real classy coming from a mod on this site, way to lead by example asshole.

 

[del]

You're fucked up.

Personally , I want my daughter to grow up knowing that she is not a second class citizen, and she doesn't have to take a back seat to anyone. Including Muslim men.

it doesn't surprise me that your offspring wouldn't be strong enough nor intelligent enough to withstand the *horrors* of a mosque visit.

the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, after all.

That's real classy coming from a mod on this site, way to lead by example asshole.

tissue?