Chicago Public Schools set up Muslim Prayer Rooms

Chicago Sun Times ^ | November 29, 2001 | Rosalind Rossi

[cookcounty]

Muslim students hail prayer policy

November 29, 2001

BY ROSALIND ROSSI EDUCATION REPORTER

Chicago Public Schools were given an official green light Wednesday to set aside a vacant room for students to pray during school hours, a policy welcomed by Muslim students whose daily prayers overlap with school hours.

The "Policy on Accommodations for Student Religious Practices'' approved unanimously by Chicago School Board members is similar to one practiced in Los Angeles, but it goes further than one observed in New York City, where schools are barred from designating a room for student prayer.

Some Chicago schools, such as Von Steuben High, already set aside space for Muslim students to observe one of their five daily prayers, but other schools have been calling recently with questions about what is allowable, Chicago Board of Education attorneys said.

[cookcounty]

Funny how the need to be PC has transformed the way the liberals look at prayer in school.

[Husker24]

Is there a Christian prayer room, nope didnt think so.

[parentsgonenuts]

Funny how Christians aren't include in that policy. But, God is a bad word and isn't allowed anywhere near a school, along with morals, and advanced classes (sarcasm).

[all4one]

In many schools around the country it is a fight to get a moment of silence.

The P.C. crowd would never protest a Muslim prayer room in schools. But, in Maryland they will keep Santa Claus from lighting the town Christmas tree.

[ChemistCat]

The next step is to permit Muslim students to proselytize, giving them space and access to copiers and a nice liberal paper allowance.

[SirChas]

I keep clicking my heels together but still no Kansas.

[TopQuark]

Has anyone seen the text of that decision?

I am really curious whether they specified the religion (Muslim) there. That alone could be grounds for a suit.

Why would you not do the same for Christians, Jews, Buddhists..?

[Kryptonite]

This is the link to the story. The link above is dead.

[chatham]

As a Roman Catholic and as a christian I am personally insulted that the government would allow such a double standard to flourish.

Christians have not been able to pray in public schools and have been stopped by the law.

If this story is true it appears the government is prejudiced against Christians and this practice should be stopped.

[Kryptonite]

From the article it appears as though the policy is not specific to any particular religion, but in practice it appears that different areas, times, and clubs are religion-specific. I personally don't know what to make of it yet, but one thing that I can conclude is that it is sad that the catalyst for cracking the door on respecting religion in public schools was not respect for Christianity; rather, it appears as though the school gestapo opened its mind and policies for students of other faiths.

[TopQuark]

That's what worries me: this seems to be just a strange twist of PC.

[Righty1]

Quick translation is that we are kissing muslim butt, but Christians, Jews, and Hindus may also use it. I know my translation is correct as I visit a UM site full of aclu types and if they had their way they would make it for everyone except Christians.

[Amore]

And here I was just thinking this might be one suit the ACLU could bring where the ACLU could come in on the side of Christianity . . . .

[DonQ]

The provision of a room inside the school, during official school hours, is constitutionally prohibited to Christians, Jews, and almost anyone else, this going back to the McCollum decision around 1947, not even the more recent school prayer decisions of 1962 & 1963.

But, of course, a population segment that comprises a lot of voters, some of them capable of generous donations and others capable of planting bombs, does trump the Constitution ... at least in Chicago's history.

[sweetliberty]

NOT AGAIN!!!!! Why the h**l are these people getting more rights than regular Americans. And this is supposed to fostering tolerance???? The more of this kind of BS I read and the more of these issues I see come up that should never even have become issues, the more I want to say to h**l with all of them and tolerance be d****d. Give us our country back!!

[Kryptonite]

One thing that I can conclude is that it is sad that the catalyst for cracking the door on respecting religion in Chicago public schools was not respect for Christianity; rather, it appears as though the public school gestapo opened its mind and policies for students of other faiths. A similar thing happened recently in NYC, where the public school system attempted to create Muslim-specific exceptions for prayer on school premises. That effort was withdrawn when the double-standard was attacked.

I think in the long run, these types of accomodations will be good for the public schools, but I fear that the Christian students will be targets for the minority and pc elite, and it's sad that gains for Christians could not have been achieved without radical Islamic fundamentalists attacking our country. The public schools never gave a hoot about offending Christians, and I highly doubt that they do now. Yet, in their horror over offending Muslims, they are creating precedent which will benefit other students of faith, and Christians, as the majority, will tend to benefit the most over time. So, while I think the course of events is a sad commentary on the state of affairs, I patiently await this sort of policy to be broached in my sleepy community, although a part of me doubts that this will ever get off the ground in areas which do not share similar demographics.

[Let's Roll]

Not NO, but HELL NO! This really pisses me off. More special treatment for this disgusting religion.

[Kryptonite]

You know, your comments made me think about the response the ACLU types will give if these types of programs are abandoned. They will blame it on the Christians, for "pushing too hard and too fast" or something like that, when in reality, all the Christians will be asking for is the same accomodations they should have been granted in the first place.

[dennisw]

btttttttttttt

[Salvation]

Chicago Public Schools set up Muslim Prayer Rooms

WHAT? Yes, I screamed that!

So where do they set up the table for a Catholic Mass?

[shaggy eel]

,,, it may get worse! Don't bank any tax refund cheques just yet, they may have to be returned to finance prayer rugs.

[americanusa]

i tried to find an email address so we could freep the hell out of them like we did in NY. no luck could someone help me find the email address(es) Lets show them the power of the internet. THANKS

[cidrasm]

NOT AGAIN!!!!! Why the h**l are these people getting more rights than regular Americans.

Needing more information, I read the entire article and found that while a bit attention was paid to muslims, the actual policy was NOT targetted to muslims only. It appears that ANY religion can benefit from this.

[Concentrate]

Hey, cook, your link didn't work for me. Does it work for anyone else?

[A. Pole]

That's what worries me: this seems to be just a strange twist of PC.

The last issue of Chronicles Magazine has some explanations.

Check this: Islam and the Academy and other articles.

[newzjunkey]

What everyone's COMPLETELY missing, tripping over each other to flaunt righteous indignation, is that a Catholic mass is *not* a religious requirement during school hours. Christians can pray anytime, anywhere. And so on...

Unlike the "moment of silence" prohibitions or the other 'crimes' of the State listed in this thread, you delibrately overlook the obvious and critical distinction that students aren't required to attend these so-called "prayer rooms".

Seems to me this "double standard" talk is the usual knee-jerk whine, perhaps tinted with a little anti-Islamic sentiment as well. Suck it up or convert.

[meyer]

Paging the ACLU, are you there? Religion + School = ?

Oh yeah, I forgot; they only dislike Christians.

[cidrasm]

Hey, cook, your link didn't work for me. Does it work for anyone else?

Nope. Try Chicago Sun Times

[ladyinred]

I am disgusted about this. They have screamed for years that schools are no place for prayers, yet now they give the Muslims a special place to pray? What is wrong with this picture?

[Concentrate]

"The enemy of my enemy is now my friend"

Democrats and devout Moslems make very strange bedfellows.

[Aeronaut]

Okay, buzzword time. "I am offended by muslum prayer in school." Now it is expeditiously barred from happening, right?

[Zorobabel]

Anti-Islamic? YOU BET I AM!

[GuillermoX]

Breaks my heart to see stuff like this. I fear the Muslims will take over, eventually.

[Lent]

Stupid leftists. NOW it's ok to have a prayer room. I bet the chiken-littles were scared some Muslim might issue a fatwa against them if they didn't allow it.

[GuillermoX]

I've said this before, I'll say it again: The Left is NOT opposed to Religion, they are opposed to Jesus.

[timestax]

So where do they set up the table for a Catholic Mass? 20 posted on 11/29/01 7:46 PM Pacific by Salvation SO, Where do they transplant a tree for the people that worship trees!!

[timestax]

So where do they set up the table for a Catholic Mass? 20 posted on 11/29/01 7:46 PM Pacific by Salvation

SO, Where do they transplant a tree for the people that worship trees!!

[Colonel_Flagg]

What everyone's COMPLETELY missing, tripping over each other to flaunt righteous indignation, is that a Catholic mass is *not* a religious requirement during school hours. Christians can pray anytime, anywhere. And so on...

No, they can't. They can't pray anytime, anywhere while in school because they are barred from doing so by the courts in the name of "separation of church and state".

Scripturally, Christians are called to "pray without ceasing" (1 Th 5:17). Theoretically, and in actual practice, they are being barred from doing so.

Meanwhile, Muslims are not only allowed to pray, they are allowed special private space to do what Christians cannot. Hence, what you call "righteous indignation" -- and rightfully so.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Unbelievable. This is totally outrageous.

[P-Marlowe]

This will most likely be declared unconstitutional as it favors one religion over another. The only way to be fair is to set aside a single "prayer room" and allow children of all faiths to go in there and pray.

Of course once they find out that Christians are the dominant religion in America and as soon as the Christians take advantage of that fact, they will simply shelve the whole thing.

[Sen Jack S. Fogbound]

I don't think this is constitutional. This is favoring one religion over another by government agency!

[sweetliberty]

"Some Chicago schools, such as Von Steuben High, already set aside space for Muslim students to observe one of their five daily prayers"

Call me touchy, but I have a real gut reaction to this kind of thing. See also:

NYC Okays Prayer In School; For Muslims

Islamic Teaching In 1,000 Public Schools

The Truth About Islam

Anti-Islam Church Sign In Idaho

Evangelist Graham In Hot Water Over Comments

If, after reviewing some of these threads, you still think there is not a problem, then I don't know what to tell you. BTW, did you know that Osama bin Laden made the top 6 for Time Magazine's "Man of the Year?" I think we have a problem!

[Goetz_von_Berlichingen]

The Chicago school board as implicitly announced that Allah is not God. This is a warped version of Miracle on 34th Street where the USPS inadvertently testifies that Kris Kringle is, in fact, Santa Claus.

Since prayer to the Judeo-Christian God has been forbidden again and again by numerous government agencies and their surrogates, yet special accommodation is almost always extended to Moslems, then said agencies are offering their opinion that Allah is not to be conflated with God.

He is one of those culturally and politically acceptable dieties, like Quetzlcoatl or Gaia -- more of an affirmation of multi-culturalism than an actual theological concept.

[xm177e2]

The real issue in my mind is not whether the Muslims get to skip class, it's whether teachers are obligated to make up teaching what the Muslims missed.

[uvular]

Where are the parents of children in CPS?? They should be contacting ACLU now!

[cidrasm]

I was only commenting on this story. The Von Stueben school did what they did prior to the Chicago School District passing their policy. As for the other articles you posted links to, I do have the a$$ with providing access to muslims while other religions have been denied. You either allow all or you deny all.

[RobbyS]

You forget that Christian observances have often been curbed to fit the demands of secular life, and this process continues. More and more these have been pushed into the evenings and weekends. Daily chapel has often been a ritual part of the school day. Likewise religious instruction. Now such things cannot be done "inside of schools hours" because the state monopolizes this time and monopolizes public educational funding so as to burden unduly those parents who would send their children to relgious schools.

[concerned about politics]

The public schools are not only breading Marxists, but now moon and Earth worshipers, but not Christians?
Shut them down. Push for school choice.
We'd better do something now, before it's too late, if it isn't already!
This will actually get more American kids to follow this anti-God religion. It's the only one that gets them out of classes!

[Salvation]

I searched for Chicago Park Schools but only came up with 16 elementary and 2 high schools. No adminstration site was listed. Bah!

[MississippiMan]

I've said this before, I'll say it again: The Left is NOT opposed to Religion, they are opposed to Jesus.

You are exactly correct and it's so blatantly obvious that it's laughable. Now take a prayerful moment and understand why the evil left is scared only of Jesus. (Yes, liberalism is evil, no matter how it's cloaked.)

What's infuriating is the fact that we the people have allowed our country to be taken over by evil.

MM