Posted on 12/18/2008 2:36:42 PM PST by Cindy
http://www.lc.org/index.cfm?PID=14102&AlertID=934
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Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.lc.org/index.cfm?PID=14100&PRID=759
December 18, 2008
Sixth-Grader Penalized For Mentioning Jesus in His Christmas Paper at School
www.LC.org
Hattiesburg, MS – Eleven-year-old Andrew White wrote a poem about Christmas but received a deduction for writing about Jesus. His teacher, Latasha Atkins, insisted that mentioning Jesus was not allowed and asked him to write a new poem.
Andrew and his classmates were assigned a creative expression paper for the Winter Writer’s Board as part of his sixth-grade language class at Thames Elementary School in the Hattiesburg Public School District. He could choose among three topics, and he chose to write a poem about “what Christmas means to me.” After turning in his rough draft, Atkins circled the word “Jesus” and deducted one point from his grade. The teacher explained to Andrew that he was not allowed to mention Jesus at school and would need to rewrite the poem for his final draft without using the word “Jesus.” He attempted to rewrite the paper according to the teacher’s instructions.
Andrew’s parents discovered what happened because Andrew was late turning in the final draft and was notified by the teacher. Atkins sent an email to Andrew’s mother explaining the situation. In her email, she specifically stated: “He and another child did a poem about Christ. I know we can't discuss these type [sic] of things in school so I asked the two of them to do another poem of their choice.” Andrew’s parents encouraged him to use his original poem as his final draft.
Andrew’s poem, “A Great Christmas,” reads: “The best Christmas ever is when everyone is there. It is when everyone is laughing here and there. That is the Christmas I want to share. Christmas is about Jesus’ birth. About peace on Earth. This is what Christmas is about. It is when He lay in a manger. And the three wise men come to see. That’s what it means to me.”
Principal Carrie Hornsby sided with Andrew and his parents, changing his grade to a 100 and conceding that there was nothing improper in using Jesus’ name. Hornsby had each teacher send out a letter for all the parents to read regarding religious expression at school. The letter clearly explains that religious expression is permitted under federal guidelines. However, despite promises that these papers would be posted on the Winter Writer’s Board for all to see, Atkins has refused to post any of the papers from the class.
Mathew D. Staver, Founder of Liberty Counsel and Dean of Liberty University School of Law commented: “Some educators need education that the story of Christmas is not banned from public schools. I am relieved that the situation was resolved by the principal but horrified that a sixth-grader was told by his teacher, ‘we can’t discuss these types of things in school.’ I don’t understand why some people don’t get it. Christmas is a state and federal holiday. Schools are closed to celebrate this holiday. Obviously, Christmas is constitutional.”
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Good for the Hattiesburg principal. I went to school there, USM, and hope to return to MS.
I was beginning to think, oh no they’ve gotten to MS as well, but faith was restored by the common sense used by the principal.
Rubbish. Agents of the state, in this case teachers, are constrained by current case law interpreting the non-establishment clause from taking positions on religion that might construed as state support for some religious position. Students are under no such restriction, and indeed attempting to place them under such a restriction violates the free-exercise and either freedom of speech or freedom of press clauses of the First Amendment.
Give the lad his point back, suspend the teacher, and send her for a mandatory civics lesson before letting her back in the classroom.
Why can’t they discuss these type of things in public schools? Most of the premier education institutions in this country began as religious institutions. It didn’t stop them from churning out scientists, doctors, and engineers who built this country. The religious paranoia is stupid. We can’t have a depiction of Christ on a school wall that has been there for years because the ACLU chooses to target it and find offense? We can’t have the ten commands in a court house though the very foundation of western law is based on those commandments.
Teachers are now told they should not even use Christmas in bulletin board displays? I recommend you tour the local public school and take some pictures to see if Christmas is still Christmas in your area.
Give your kids a real gift this Christmas and pull them out of the teacher union controlled schools remember if you pretend it isn’t a problem you may wake up and find your children are not yours at all, that they are the systems children. A corrupt, cowardly, whining, ugly, perverted system that deserves the trash heap of history for its failings.
Note this. The teacher offered a choice of topics and the meaning of Christmas was among them. That teacher is not simply anti-Christian, she is also dumber than wood.
I hope they take it to court because it is NOT illegal to mention Christ or your faith. Geez. I hate this.
I was there this morning, and yes Christmas is still Christmas here. It also was last week when we attended the 4th and 5th grade chorus' Christmas concert, a Colonial Christmas.
Oh, and they had their Christmas parties today, as tomorrow is the last day of school before Christmas vacation.
Contrary to your belief not all public schools, and not all public school districts are the way you describe. Not even the best public schools are perfect, of course that can also be said about private schools. Broadbrushing is just so unattractive.
Hey, I can train wood to grow in a certain way........
Sorry, couldn't resist, your point is well noted.
I disagree. As long as teachers belong to teachers unions that are trying to disassemble the traditions of America they are a problem where they are good or bad. If your school district is so good, do your teachers belong to the same unions that spent their union dues to elect Barack Obama? They may have not yet removed Christmas yet or replaced Christ with a big X but it will happen if we continue to not hold them responsible for the organizations to which they contribute.
95% chance of it being Obama
My wife works at a public elementary school as a nurse. Stopped by to take he out to lunch last week, Christmas tree in the office, manger scene on hall wall. People who read a story like this and just assume this behavior encompasses all public schools are just plain ignorant.
One more thing I didn’t say that “ALL” school districts are like that but enough are and the idea that many teachers feel intimidated thinking they should not put up decorations for Christmas or Halloween and such is a problem that can not be generalized away by saying their are bad schools in general. What I was saying is that we need to be proactive. Sitting by and assuming because our school is just fine that it will not change will guarantee that it will. The good thing is people are fighting back. I would feel better if teachers who feel differently would show a little guts and leave their unions. Conservatives need to quit justifying their allegiances of convenience.
Sorry I’m just very pissed off at public school teachers in general after this last election.
Public school teachers with a masters degree make all of 30 grand... thats right a whopping 30 thousand a year. What kind of people do you think make a career out of it. Pissed at teachers? Give me a fricken break, I have 3rd year electrical apprentices that make more than that.
My county went for John McCain, and the teachers here are not unionized. They may choose to belong to the state “Education Association” but many do not.
Around here we do hold them responsible for what is going on, and they know it. We may not win all our battles with the district administration, but we do win the ones that count.
Probably Obama. Looks like she and he have a lot in common.
STATE OF TENNESSEE v. LATASHA AKINS
State vs. Latasha Atkins - W2003-01178-CCA-R3-CD View
Dyer County - The Defendant, Latasha Atkins, appeals her jury conviction for possession of cocaine with intent to sell, contending the evidence is insufficient to support her conviction. We disagree and affirm the judgment of the trial court.
http://www.tsc.state.tn.us/opinions/tcca/Cc1qtr2004.htm
It also looks like she only graduated from Collins High School in 2000. And then managed to get a CDA via financial help from the Edwards Foundation. http://www.unitedwaynola.org/news_and_events/enews/2008_Vol_3/cda.html
Sound familiar?
Of course, this could be ‘another’ Latasha Adkins.
Thank you.
These kinds of stories just fuel the ignorance you mention. Not to mention participants in these threads who don’t bother understanding that and just perpetuate it out of their own ignorance or personal experience in one place.
When my husband and I were considering moving here one of the first things I looked into were the area school. IOW I did my homework and as a whole I have been very pleased with the school my daughter has attended. That doesn’t mean it is perfect or I have not had my dealings with the superintendent and the school board, but overall I am pleased. We moved here shortly before she started kindergarten and is now in 5th grade. I think I’ve gotten a pretty good feel for what is going on and how things are handled.
Well see that is the problem. Believing one is entitled just because they have such and such a degree is a problem and yes I am pissed at incompetent teachers and teachers who support liberals whether it is through their vote or through their dues. We have soldiers fighting for us and risking their lives some of which who get half that. Also they don’t get half the year off. Anyone who can only make 30,000 a year with a masters degree, well I don’t think anyone should feel sympathy for that person. It is exactly the kind of thinking that idolizes the incompetent. If you make a decision to enter a profession which you know pays a certain average salary then grow the fk up and live with it! There are very good public school teachers but until they stand up and quit towing the line for the unions then I’ll not have any sympathy for them.
I’m tired of the whining and water carrying. Everyone is a victim. Pretending to be patriotic and upstanding and going along with the most vile and stupid behaviors. Shuttling little boys who dared to get bored off to be drugged and controlled for the sake of the state and women who see maleness as a disease. Corrupting the minds of girls to pit them against men and abhor children and family for the sake of corporate success. The time for excuses is over, the time for patting the incompetent on the head and saying “there there we know how hard you try” is over.
Point is, people like you bitch and moan about teachers in PS but dont want to pay anything for a good teacher. 30 thousand a year is not much pay for someone with a degree to teach. As for the getting half the year off with pay...you must be high on something.
Mine did too. I live in Chesterfield. As for Unions the last time I checked 80 percent of the nation’s more than 4 million teachers belong to unions. Now I’m not certain what percentage of Virginia educators belong to them but I’d be surprised to find if a majority did not. Don’t get me wrong I’m not only mad at teachers unions, I’m mad at all unions. There are some good alternatives to the politically driven unions that are growing but we have a long way to go. If we do not erode the influence of unions we will never improve the quality of education and protect our children from liberal social indoctrination.
Give your kids a real gift this Christmas and pull them out of the teacher union controlled schools ....
But to continue....... What I was saying is that we need to be proactive.
Your idea of being proactive and mine are polar opposites. I'm not running away, as you suggest. I'm there and I'm being proactive at the source.
Conservatives need to quit justifying their allegiances of convenience.
What are you talking about? While I am, in general, happy with the school district here, there is absolutely no convenience about it for me. I gave up a great deal in order to have a decent school for my daughter to attend.
Sorry I’m just very pissed off at public school teachers in general after this last election.
Yeah, well I'm just pissed off at people who make generalizations without knowing what they are talking about. So I guess we're even.
Yep, that would be the Christian thing to do.
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