Every morning I ask myself what should I wear and don’t think too hard if what I choose is against the law or not. This recently has become an issue again in two states. I read an article in last weekend’s Forum that discussed the current law in three states (Oregon, Pennsylvania and Nebraska). A law that was created many years ago has held up in current years when the issue has been challenged. Teachers are not allowed to wear any clothing that relates to religion. The article referred to turbans or headdresses. This summer Oregon had changed the law allowing religious clothing to be worn at the workplace except for teachers. Their reasoning is to make sure religion is staying out of school and teachers are not promoting a certain religion to their students. I understand that separating school and religion has been in the books for awhile and is important but would this law stop me from wearing a cross necklace? Do these schools allow students to wear their religious clothing?
I found this article interesting since we were reading about diversity and ethnic groups in our chapter. I feel it is important to recognize different cultures and accept the way students live in their homes; this may include their religious clothing. I feel their clothing is a way of showing their culture but not necessarily promoting it and teachers should have the right to show their religious freedom as students and other professionals.
After reading this article I researched another news topic that I heard about a couple weeks ago. One article discussed how some schools are starting to provide time and space for Muslim students to pray during school. The prayer is supervised by not led by teachers but some wonder (including myself) is this ok or is this allowing religion to be a part of school. I don’t want anyone to think I’m against a student saying their own prayer in school but I find it interesting that within the US we are allowing some students to prayer while at school but in other parts of the US teachers are not allowed to wear their religious clothing. I think decisions should be made to make things even across the board. I have a good friend who teaches ELL in ND and she has students who ask to be dismissed from the room and they are found in a corner of a hallway praying. Is it ok to allow students to miss class to practice their religious beliefs or is this a way for us to accept their culture?
I found a second article that discussed the schools that are allowing prayer. It has similar information but I thought it was interesting that school like the San Diego school was allowed to do this because of their high population of Muslim students.
I know religion and school is a touchy subject but I found this interesting and makes me really think about what I think should be allowed or not. What are your thoughts?
Why restructure? Does it really do anything?
15 years ago
Interesting articles attached!! The interpretation, which you also referenced, is that Muslim students would be provided the space and supervision to pray. One would hope that this is extended to Christian students to have a space and supervision to do the same. My hope would be that this is not done, like you say, during class time, but instead during lunch, study halls, etc. Moreover, it seems that we as educators are urged to respect these cultures (headdress, etc) and I most certainly do, but sometimes wonder if we are equally as accepting of policies including, like you mention, cross necklaces, rosaries, etc.
ReplyDeleteI am happy to accept differences as long as all differences are equal in rights.
This is very interesting. If they are going to open this up to Muslim students they have to open it up to Christian students as well. It is interesting to me due to the fact that we are having so much trouble with Iran that we are not protecting ourselves a little better. According to a former Muslim that I met who had left the Muslim faith, at the core of true Muslim faith is the focus of ridding which refers to America and Israel. Now I know a lot of people say that these are the extremists, but isn't this what the fight is all about when we are fighting against the terrorists, the extremists. If this is the case, why are trying to foster this in America as "multi-culturalism" or "acceptance." This may seem off topic but I think it is relevant and wanted to get peoples opinion. I think we need to search out truth, and whichever is found to be true, then that is what we should teach in our schools.
ReplyDeleteThank you for finding such interesitng articles on this subject. Next let me jump in and say arghhhhhhh! It strikes me like many other instances of racial/religious/gender inequity issues. There are double standards and hypocrysy at play. I just about lost my lunch with the San Deigo school being allowed because of their population of Muslims. WHAT???? What about your average run of the mill school with a vast majority population of Christians? Nothing is allowed simply because of the poplulation numbers for that religion. I totally agree with you that things need to be EVEN across the board. Other wise it seems to me we are reverse discriminating. When will that be a morality issue or even a crime?
ReplyDeleteTrista,
ReplyDeleteIn high school I was in band and before every game we said the Lords Prayer. One parent complained and it stopped. In high school we paused for a moment of prayer and reflection. One parent complained and it stopped. I now teach middle school around the same area I grew up in. We now have a moment of silence, two clubs that are Christian based that are student led and teachers afraid to express their believes in any way. I would never try to force my beliefs on a student but I do think I should be allowed to express myself. I often wear a cross and I drink out of a mug from my church. No one has ever said anything to me about it but I know the subject is very taboo. I think students should be allowed to express their religion in school, but I think teachers should be allowed to as well.
Blaire