Wellesley, Massachusetts Public School Students Learn to Pray to Allah

[GostHacked]

I don`t know what was on the permission slip the parents signed?

Neither do I. But it seems more of a problem with the teachers allowing them to participate against parents wishes (if they actualy know what was going on in the first place).

But keeping in line with the OPs line of thinking (poster has history of this kind of thing) It's Islam's fault.

[bloodyminded]

Neither do I. But it seems more of a problem with the teachers allowing them to participate against parents wishes (if they actualy know what was going on in the first place).

But keeping in line with the OPs line of thinking (poster has history of this kind of thing) It's Islam's fault.

Of course it is. As was the earthquake in Haiti and Revenue Canada's overcharging me $900 last spring.

(I got the money back...presumably thanks to Christianity, or maybe Our Troops.)

[Shady]

Neither do I. But it seems more of a problem with the teachers allowing them to participate against parents wishes (if they actualy know what was going on in the first place).

But keeping in line with the OPs line of thinking (poster has history of this kind of thing) It's Islam's fault.

Once again, I never said it was Islam's fault. In fact, I specifically cited the public school at the very beginning. You're just hyper-sensitive. Your so programmed to defend all things Islam that you conjure up Islamic critiques even one none exists. It's pathetic.

[GostHacked]

Once again, I never said it was Islam's fault. In fact, I specifically cited the public school at the very beginning. You're just hyper-sensitive. Your so programmed to defend all things Islam that you conjure up Islamic critiques even one none exists. It's pathetic.

It's a knee jerk reaction considering your post history. IF you changed somehow, I don't think anyone noticed. Or cared to notice. I sure had not noticed.

[Shady]

It's a knee jerk reaction considering your post history. IF you changed somehow, I don't think anyone noticed. Or cared to notice. I sure had not noticed.

In general I find most of your reactions to be knee jerk. Especially your constant defense of misogyny, anti-gay, anti-human rights practices because they're being perpetrated by people you think are victims. Muslims. If it was any other group, you'd be up in arms. Again, it's pathetic.

[GostHacked]

In general I find most of your reactions to be knee jerk. Especially your constant defense of misogyny, anti-gay, anti-human rights practices because they're being perpetrated by people you think are victims. Muslims. If it was any other group, you'd be up in arms. Again, it's pathetic.

Playing victim seems to work for the Jews. If you want to talk about pathetic. And you can't point out where I support anti-gay, anti-woman, anti-human actions in any way, (aside from wanting to nuke all the middle east) in any of my posts. Keep trying though.

[DogOnPorch]

Playing victim seems to work for the Jews. If you want to talk about pathetic. And you can't point out where I support anti-gay, anti-woman, anti-human actions in any way, (aside from wanting to nuke all the middle east) in any of my posts. Keep trying though.

Out of curiosity, how are the Jews playing the victim card? Seeing that it is pathetic, it must be in a rather bad way.

Edited September 19, 2010 by DogOnPorch

[kimmy]

I don`t know what was on the permission slip the parents signed?

The video in the original post says that the permission slip states that students would observe the mid-day prayer but makes no mention of participating.

That's fine....but the students weren't forced to participate.

The video claims that the boys were "asked" to stay in the prayer area while the girls and women were herded away.

One of the chaperones claims the boys who prayed did so of their own accord:

"They weren't asked to pray. They weren't refused from going in ... to observe. You could go in and observe and some kids did sit down. There were some boys who sat behind the men and kind of copied them, but it wasn't like they had to," said Marijane Tuohy.

I don't think it's reasonable to expect children in that situation to assert their right to say no with confidence. For children I think causing offense to their hosts would have probably been a stronger influence than the philosophical considerations. Like when you go to a hockey game and everybody around you stands for the anthem... if you don't stand too, you stick out, and kids don't like to stick out. I suspect that they probably participated in the prayer because they felt more comfortable participating than they would have by standing there just watching.

I don't know if there were any male chaperones or teachers on this trip. If the boys were separated from all of the chaparones, I think that's where negligence occurred.

I also personally don't think it's that big a deal. I understand that religious people probably feel differently, but to me actually participating in the prayer is a meaningless gesture. Was participating in the prayer itself such an awesome experience that those boys are going to convert? I doubt it.

Overall I think it's great that the girls got to find out first-hand how they fit in under Islam. I suspect that the experience will be one they remember.

-k

[Machjo]

The video in the original post says that the permission slip states that students would observe the mid-day prayer but makes no mention of participating.

The video claims that the boys were "asked" to stay in the prayer area while the girls and women were herded away.

One of the chaperones claims the boys who prayed did so of their own accord:

I don't think it's reasonable to expect children in that situation to assert their right to say no with confidence. For children I think causing offense to their hosts would have probably been a stronger influence than the philosophical considerations. Like when you go to a hockey game and everybody around you stands for the anthem... if you don't stand too, you stick out, and kids don't like to stick out. I suspect that they probably participated in the prayer because they felt more comfortable participating than they would have by standing there just watching.

I don't know if there were any male chaperones or teachers on this trip. If the boys were separated from all of the chaparones, I think that's where negligence occurred.

I also personally don't think it's that big a deal. I understand that religious people probably feel differently, but to me actually participating in the prayer is a meaningless gesture. Was participating in the prayer itself such an awesome experience that those boys are going to convert? I doubt it.

Overall I think it's great that the girls got to find out first-hand how they fit in under Islam. I suspect that the experience will be one they remember.

-k

I used to be an atheist, and not just a passive one. Even as an atheist I would have felt uncomfortable muttering words I did not believe in.

Again, I'm not necessarily against those students participating in the prayers. However, only if either they were of the legal age of maturity or if they had explicit parental consent to participate. Otherwise, no.

Now, let's say the student insists on participating in the prayers in spite of the teacher informing him that it's not the wish of the parents, then perhaps I could see a case for the teacher allowing the student on the grounds that he would have been violating the student's freedom of religion by prohibiting him from participating. Though even then the teacher should still at least inform the student that he does not have parental consent, so as to at least clear responsibility from himself. He should also ensure that the student is n fact doing so of his own initiative.

In most cases though, I would feel uncomfortable taking students to any place of worship without first planning the trip.

[jbg]

Seems relatively innocent to me. My guess is the people who find problems with this will be the ones that look the hardest, and want to find them.

And would you consider the recitation of a Christian prayer in a public school acceptable? I sure as heck don't.

Edited September 21, 2010 by jbg

[dre]

And would you consider the recitation of a Christian prayer in a public school acceptable? I sure as heck don't.

I dont really want any actual religious indoctrination or rituals in schools but I dont mind kids learning about religion. In this case the kids appear to have taken field trips to the sky-god worship buildings, of various Abrahamic denominations. Its its a one time learning experience that ties into part of the curriculum I dont see a problem with it.

If ANYTHING the problem is that the PARENTS arent mature enough for it.

[Michael Hardner]

And would you consider the recitation of a Christian prayer in a public school acceptable? I sure as heck don't.

Would the reaction to this happening likely be a 10-minute long professionally produced video distributed on the internet ?

[M.Dancer]

Would the reaction to this happening likely be a 10-minute long professionally produced video distributed on the internet ?

If it was a pentacostal session, complete with glossolalia and snakes, then yes.

[Michael Hardner]

If it was a pentacostal session, complete with glossolalia and snakes, then yes.

Only because there's an inherent cinematic value in snake footage.

Shots of people praying, set to spooky music isn't filmic enough, and - to the point - doesn't shock them enough to warrant the YouTube treatment.

[Machjo]

Neither do I. But it seems more of a problem with the teachers allowing them to participate against parents wishes (if they actualy know what was going on in the first place).

But keeping in line with the OPs line of thinking (poster has history of this kind of thing) It's Islam's fault.

Why of course