Riot act read to school censoring 1st grader's poem

WorldNetDaily ^ | December 4, 2012 | Bob Unruh

[wesagain]

"Girl's verse commemorating grandfather's military service included the word "God"

A school district in North Carolina has been given a deadline to affirm that it will not censor a student’s speech, or a legal team assembled by the Alliance Defending Freedom will seek a “remedy” to the problem.

The issue arose several days ago when the school district told a first-grade student that a poem commemorating her grandfathers’ military service could not include the word “God,” because one member of the community didn’t like it.

But in a letter sent from ADF to the McDowell County Schools in Marion, N.C., the lawyers pointed out that the censorship “was a violation of her First Amendment rights.”

“A first-grader at the school was told that she had to remove references to ‘God’ in a poem she wrote to honor her grandfathers’ service to our country during the Vietnam War,” the letter said. “In her poem, she had included the lines ‘He prayed to God for peace, he prayed to God for strength,’ to describe the historical actions of her grandfathers during the war. However, after a community member complained about the inclusion of the student’s poem in a Veteran’s Day Ceremony, the school forced her to remove the lines.”

ADF told the school it’s .....

[wesagain]

It should be worth noting that two of the greatest supporters of the "indoctrination centers" also known as the public school system were atheists Adolph Hitler and the worthless POS named John Dewey.

The Truth about American Education Hero John Dewey

[massgopguy]

“One member didn’t like it.” The Athenians had the “ostracism” for just such members.

[ilovesarah2012]

http://www.hickoryrecord.com/mcdowell_news/news/article_4565e818-3d9c-11e2-a9af-001a4bcf6878.html

Pastors, public speak out on West Marion’s ‘God’ issue

The story from the local paper in Marion.

[verga]

It should be worth noting that two of the greatest supporters of the "indoctrination centers" also known as the public school system were atheists Adolph Hitler and the worthless POS named John Dewey.

Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and John Adams were also strong advocates and supporters.

[alexander_busek]

“A first-grader at the school was told that she had to remove references to ‘God’ in a poem she wrote to honor her grandfathers’ service to our country during the Vietnam War,” the letter said. “In her poem, she had included the lines ‘He prayed to God for peace, he prayed to God for strength,’ to describe the historical actions of her grandfathers during the war. However, after a community member complained about the inclusion of the student’s poem in a Veteran’s Day Ceremony, the school forced her to remove the lines.”

Jane Fonda? Is that you?

Didn't the character Syme in Orwell's 1984 have a similar problem, lamenting how few state-approved rhymes there were which could be used to substitute for the state-sanctioned "God" in their bowlderized versions of classic poems?

Regards,

[Fiji Hill]

He prayed to God for peace, he prayed to God for strength,

For a first-grader, she writes well.

[OneWingedShark]

>>It should be worth noting that two of the greatest supporters of the “indoctrination centers” also known as the public school system were atheists Adolph Hitler and the worthless POS named John Dewey.
>
>Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and John Adams were also strong advocates and supporters.

There is a world of difference between the two, even if they both could be termed ‘public education,’ and that difference is illustrated here: the one cannot stand any dissenting or differing, while the other affords liberty and freedom to think as you will.

[righttackle44]

‘He prayed to God for peace, he prayed to God for strength,’

This first grader has more wisdom than all the Liberal-Socialists in America--in the world for that matter. I pray God continues to give her peace and strength.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

However, after a community member complained about the inclusion of the student’s poem in a Veteran’s Day Ceremony, the school forced her to remove the lines.”

These frakkin' cowards need to be named and identified. If they are bold enough to speak out against something that offends them they should have the courage of their convictions and not hide behind administrative anonymity.

I'd be willing to bet these types of stories would disappear and become a rarity.

Either that or they should be told, "Your objection is noted. Now go and get 51% of the community to agree with you and speak out with you. Then we will consider your suggestions. Not before."

[muir_redwoods]

If I had unlimited funds and the time to pursue legal action I would respond to these sorts of moves by demanding the removal of the Word “dog” from all scholastic material. I was bitten by a dog once and feel the word is harmful to young minds.

If these nitwits can remove the word “God” I can demand the same letters be removed for my comfort.

[Fresh Wind]

A first grader is writing poems? I have my doubts about that.

[wesagain]

These “un-named” types are very brave against 6 year olds.

[kabumpo]

I recall my entire first grade class writing poems. Not all of them were good, but some were.

[SECURE AMERICA]

I would never subject a child to the indoctrination at the Government schools..

[GeronL]

So... let’s pretend there is a separation of church and state.....

they are trying to say that this child is a state or a church?

[verga]

There is a world of difference between the two, even if they both could be termed ‘public education,’ and that difference is illustrated here: the one cannot stand any dissenting or differing, while the other affords liberty and freedom to think as you will.

It is too bad that people refuse to get involved and get back to the way it used to be.

[GeronL]

a conservative majority can’t get the smut out of the curriculum but one “community member” gets a heckler’s veto of a little childs speech?

does this make any sense??

[wesagain]

Good for you.....I believe they are the “Whores of Babylon”.....get thee out of them!

[BwanaNdege]

I could see this happening in Durham or Cary, but Marion? Give me a break!

I guess it is definite: the NEA political correctness has penetrated the quiet little communities of the Bible Belt.

I work in McDowell County, but live elsewhere, and our kids are all grown & married. Otherwise, I’d be asking for a meeting with Dr. Gerri Martin & Mrs. Desarae Kirkpatrick.