Religious Freedom Day a puzzler for schools

Minneapolis Star Tribune ^ | January 11, 2008 | JEFF STRICKLER

[rhema]

President Bush has declared Wednesday as Religious Freedom Day, calling upon Americans to "observe this day through appropriate events and activities in homes, schools and places of worship." That's not likely to be a problem in homes and places of worship, but things could get tense at schools.

"Educators run from this," said Eric Beuhrer, president of the California-based Gateways to Better Education.

< snip >

The organization's website, www.gtbe.org, includes a list of "student liberties." Anyone interested in a longer version can go to ReligiousFreedomDay.com and download the entire "U.S. Department of Education's Guidelines on Religious Expression in Public Schools."

[rhema]

Ping

[miliantnutcase]

BYOPR, Bring your own prayer rug day!

[Popman]

Very pathetic that schools are dumbfounded on how to teach what "Religious Freedom" is.

They can start by using the ACLU as #1 example of how "Religious Freedom" is being denied in public schools

[Roccus]

Does anyone know the reason for the Jan. 16 date instead of Dec. 27?

[rhema]

Religious Freedom Day Guidebook

[sportutegrl]

The kiddies won’t be in school on December 27. Winter break.

[rhema]

Does anyone know the reason for the Jan. 16 date instead of Dec. 27?

Sample School Board Resolution for Religious Freedom Day

Resolution for Religious Freedom Day

Whereas, the right to religious freedom is a foundation block of America’s historical roots, and

Whereas, our Founding Fathers knew the importance of freedom of religion for a stable democracy, and our Constitution protects individuals' rights to worship as they choose, and

Whereas, January 16th celebrates the anniversary of the 1786 Virginia Statute on Religious Freedom that restrained the practice of taxing people to pay for the support of the local clergy, and protected the civil rights of people to express their religious beliefs without suffering discrimination. This statue serves as the model for protecting religious freedom as evidence in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, and

Whereas, each year the President of the United States declares January 16th to be “Religious Freedom Day,” and calls upon Americans to “observe this day through appropriate events and activities in homes, schools, and places of worship,” and

Whereas, Section 9524 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act ("ESEA") of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, requires as a condition of receiving ESEA funds, that a local educational agency ("LEA") must certify in writing to its State educational agency ("SEA") that it has no policy that prevents, or otherwise denies participation in, constitutionally protected prayer in public schools, and

Whereas, the [--- school district name --- ] declares that it does not find or promote policies that prevents, or otherwise denies participation in, constitutionally protected prayer in public schools as set forth in ESEA, Section 9524 guidance, and

Whereas, the U.S. Department of Education has developed guidelines clarifying the freedom of religious expression in public schools and requested that schools inform educators, students, and parents of these liberties,

Therefore, be it resolved that, the [--- school district name --- ] acknowledges January 16, [year], as Religious Freedom Day in the United States of America, and

Further, the [--- school district name --- ] encourages all Americans to reflect on the great blessing of religious liberty; preserve this freedom for future generations; and commemorate this day with appropriate events and activities in their schools, places of worship, neighborhoods, and homes.

Further, the board of education calls on the schools of [--- school district name --- ] to commemorate this day and promote clarity and respect by providing its staff and students with information on freedom of religious expression in our schools

[headsonpikes]

“Whereas and wherefore...”

This is how lawyers replace natural rights with b*llsh*t.

[Roccus]

OK, I’ll buy that. I just thought that the Flushing Remonstrance, which pre-dated the Virginia statute by more than 125 yrs. was more of a ground breaker. But hey, what do I know.

[CatQuilt]

ping

[rhema]

OK, I’ll buy that. I just thought that the Flushing Remonstrance, which pre-dated the Virginia statute by more than 125 yrs. was more of a ground breaker. But hey, what do I know.

It may well have precedence, but as another poster noted, the kids' observance of the occasion wouldn't amount to much if they're not in school to observe it.

[Onelifetogive]

"Educators run from this," said Eric Beuhrer, president of the California-based Gateways to Better Education.

It would be funny if it wasn't so pathetic. They can't celebrate religious freedom because they don't know what the government will permit...