BC_chick

If Canada had a history of indoctrinating young minds with First Nation spirituality, then maybe I'd see the two on par. I think you're comparing apples and oranges. As I said before, to me this is like going on a student exchange program through the school (its core objective to make students aware of other cultures) and getting all uptight because they visited the Vatican on a field trip and the Vicar blessed your child.

I started off by stating that sentence to empathize with why you'd be upset about something like this even though I don't understand it one bit. But I really don't want to make this about you. I had a lot more to say about the discussion itself which you didn't even address.

I think this is where the legal term 'reasonable' person would apply. I don't blame the school one bit for thinking a reasonable person would not care about something like this. I also don't think it's the school's fault that these people claim they didn't know their child would actually participate in something like that when the letter says exactly what the event is and what the children will be doing. Nor is it the school's fault that the lazy parents didn't call the number on the letter or email the school, and instead waited three days to get their asses down to the school to say "hey that thing you so explained in great detail, I don't like it, when is that so I can keep my kid at home?". I hope they lose massively. Big jerks.

Crap? You say that you were the only person in your tour group who didn't participate. Unless the rest of your group was all of the above, then yes, you're the one obviously with a sensitivity issue.

I can't say I understand why you'd refrain from participating in Buddhist ritual, but it's not my place to try to. I respect that you're obviously very sensitive and I can see why you'd be upset if this was your child. I feel we're going in circles here but while I concede that two days notice is not ideal and I agreed that it legitimizes their argument to a degree, I find it very suspect that the parents base their grievance on the participation when the letter clearly stated that all the children would be involved. If I shared a mindset like yours and my child came home with that letter like that you can bet that I'd be calling the school or emailing immediately to get information. The fact that that the date is not stated is even *more reason* why they should've called to get clarity. They did not go to the school until after the 17th if the ceremony had taken place which means these hyper sensitive parents waited three days to inquire about the date of an event which was explicitly explained to them to be contrary to their what they feel comfortable allowing for their child. That's not the school's fault.

1) If you found the details on the ceremony offensive, call the number or email for more info. 2) If you found the details on the ceremony offensive, call the number or email for more info. 3) That's very nice of them. 4) That's debatable. I think it was cultural.

This is surprising coming from someone so well-traveled as you. You seem like the last person who'd want to prevent your (imaginary) kids from learning about other cultures. As cybercoma said, this isn't exactly indoctrination.

Ha, I spelled it right in the second reference! Counts for something, no? Spell check picks up the correct spelling as wrong as well, so I didn't notice. And I'm happy to hear I could educate. I normally do that alongside ceremonial spiritual cleansing, but for you... it's on the house.

How dare they! I think government should very much stay involved with age of consent every step of the way. Anal sex should remain at 18. Receiving oral sex - 16 years, 9 months. Performing oral sex - 16 years, 10 months. Masturbation - 11 years, 4 months. Masturbating another person - 17 years, 10 months, but if with someone of the same sex, 17 for women (cigender only) and 18 for men (cisgender only). Touching boobies - same as masturbation. French kissing - 11 years. Playing patty cake - are you still really reading this?

That was so annoying. Agreed.

TMI, dude. And no, circumcision is very much a religious ritual, even if your parents were atheists.

Bravo, my sentiments exactly.

I did state where it takes place, paragraph four. I agree that two days notice isn't ideal, but bear in mind that it's the beginning of the school year and given the amount of detail about what would take place and where to call/email, the parents share a great deal of the burden in not inquiring if they were uncomfortable with the ceremony. No coercion. Read the letter and call for more info if you don't like it. Keep your kid at home that day if it bothers you that much, it's not very difficult.

It's cultural.

I found the letter, yes, I thanked you for telling the board where it is and I shared it on the thread. To me, it's makes the case against the parents even more clear. It states in detail what will happen- including the fact that the children will participate. This little piece of evidence makes it clear as pie that they're liars when they said they didn't know their kid was going to participate. It also provides the school's email address and telephone number, making the parents completely complicit for not taking action if they wanted to withdraw their kid from the ceremony.

Thanks, msj, I found the letter. Utter nonsense as I thought. It's clear as day what is going to take place and anyone with questions about the event is free to call or email the school to find out more information. Deplorable. Nobody to blame but themselves.

Good find, that's the missing part of the story I could not find in the article. That does legitimize the parents' complaint somewhat even though I still think 2 days is enough time if they are really that uncomfortable. Like I said, I've always had an email response within a day when asking about anything to do with my child's school.

As I said earlier, the argument that it wasn't clear that it's voluntary is the equivalent of 'the label didn't say don't cut your hand off with a saw'. This is just ignorance on the part of the parents. I also think the comparison to Christianity off-base. This ceremony was cultural which happened to include a ceremony which the parents deemed religious. The equivalent would be going on a student exchange program to Rome and getting uptight why the Vicar at the Vatican blessed their child.

Oh well, now doesn't that contradict what they said earlier that when they inquired it had already happened? What a couple of deplorables, seriously. First, they get their panties in a bunch over something so innocent and then they can't even keep their story straight. ETA - re 'someone is lying' - that's yet another reason why they should've emailed. Not only would they get a prompt response, but they'd have their answer in writing if there are any disputes later. Dummies.

There is nothing indicated about the time lapse between the letter and when they went to the school to find out. Do you know? Was it a week, a day, what do you think is an acceptable amount of time for a parent to inquire about a questionable activity before being complicit by their own inaction? I know that every time I've ever emailed my kid's teachers or school's general email address I get a response within a day. Why didn't they just email as soon as they saw the letter? And spare me with the compulsory participation, absolutely NOTHING in the school system beyond the academic curriculum is mandatory. Their argument is the equivalent of "well the warning on the label didn't say don't cut your hand off with the saw". The whole thing stinks to high heaven for me as a parent of a school-aged child.

I admire your optimism. Given his choice in cabinet and Higbie's reference to Japanese internment as the precedent for Muslim registry, I remain highly dubious.

Parents were informed in the letter that students would participate by holding a cedar branch while smoke from sage was fanned over them to experience "cleansing energy." As someone who has signed many a consent forms for field trips, I have to say these uptight idiots need to zip it. Keep your kids at home if you don't want them participating in something that God forbid, might expand their horizons. If there is anything that makes me uncomfortable as a parent in my kid's school curriculum, that's what I would do.

Maybe, I'm going by what I saw in the victory speech. I've watched many, that's one of my favourite parts of election nights. Even stiff-as-a-board Steven Harper used to light up giving his victory speeches. Trudeau looked like he'd popped some ecstasy pills (maybe he had?). The Obamas were all smiles, and the list goes on. Never have I seen that kind of low-energy, borderline fear, in a winning party.

It's gonna be a state issue he says and 'women can go to another state if they want an abortion'. These are his own words.