So my 4th grader got into trouble today

[tortillasoup]

Well when I was in kindergarten I was asked this question and told my classmate that I didn't know... However when I started going around telling them that the Easter bunny and Santa wasn't real, I got in trouble and the teacher forced me to apologize in front of the entire class about attacking other people's beliefs. The following year I talked with my classmates about it again and the ones that had complained previously all acknowledged that I was correct and that he wasn't real... I later found out that my mom had a similar experience when she was in elementary school in the 60s. I guess the general rule of thumb is, if somebody is offended by something, the student is told not to do that any more regardless of who is in the right.

 

[Dr. Zaus]

I guess the general rule of thumb is, if somebody is offended by something, the student it told not to do that any more regardless of who is in the right.

yep: this is the pragmatics of running a school.

 

[John Connor]

Teach her that the correct way to "harass" other kids is by shoving them, stealing their lunches, spitting in their drinks etc. Public schools won't do anything about actual bullying.

So true!

 

[mikeford]

Yes, it's the 1st and 14th with regard to religion. Basically as long as they aren't significantly disturbing the class they can express their religion.

Saying a short prayer=OK.
Leading a sermon=Not OK.
Technically, saying a prayer could "disturb class", but it's protected.

Wearing a cross= OK
Dragging a full sized cross through school=Not OK.
Technically, a cross could violate dress code, but it's protected.

That's my basic understanding, I could be off base here, but I read a number of cases a few years ago on the subject.

Schools have been given wide discretion in deciding what is or is not a disturbance, kind like all of congress's actions come from "regulating interstate commerce".

OTOH assumption of authority they don't have is the life blood of minor tyrants.

 

[steppinthrax]

UPDATE

Just a little update. My wife and I made an appointment to see the teacher. The teacher seemed nice and simply chalked it up to "girl drama". She had indicated that the girl's parents had indicated that my daughter and their daughter started having problems since 1st grade. I questioned the fact that if problems existed that far back why did the parents just now decide to make an issue about it now (4th grade)!!!! In addition there were some inconsistency of what the teacher had indicated and what our daughter indicated.

The teacher indicated that our daughter used the words "christian", which we know for fact is not a common word in the household. I also made a comment to the teacher indicating possible "oversensitivity" from both the parents and this other child. I made a statement indicating if this type of thing causes stress in both child and/or parent in elementary school then what's going to happen in middle/high etc...

I also indicated that our daughter occasionally has bad days when she comes home. We as parents teach our kids to deal with these issues (as they arise). If we were to go to the school for each and every issue we would have appeared in school many times already.

In the next few days we were talking about this other child to some parents. These parents confirmed my theory. This other child cries a lot and is in general oversensitive. I would not be surprised if the parents appear in school all the time for every single issue.

 

[highland145]

Sounds like your kid is a bully.



j/k

 

[alkemyst]

UPDATE

Just a little update. My wife and I made an appointment to see the teacher. The teacher seemed nice and simply chalked it up to "girl drama". She had indicated that the girl's parents had indicated that my daughter and their daughter started having problems since 1st grade. I questioned the fact that if problems existed that far back why did the parents just now decide to make an issue about it now (4th grade)!!!! In addition there were some inconsistency of what the teacher had indicated and what our daughter indicated.

The teacher indicated that our daughter used the words "christian", which we know for fact is not a common word in the household. I also made a comment to the teacher indicating possible "oversensitivity" from both the parents and this other child. I made a statement indicating if this type of thing causes stress in both child and/or parent in elementary school then what's going to happen in middle/high etc...

I also indicated that our daughter occasionally has bad days when she comes home. We as parents teach our kids to deal with these issues (as they arise). If we were to go to the school for each and every issue we would have appeared in school many times already.

In the next few days we were talking about this other child to some parents. These parents confirmed my theory. This other child cries a lot and is in general oversensitive. I would not be surprised if the parents appear in school all the time for every single issue.

Good luck with that, hope you and these parents are keeping this drama from the children.

 

[steppinthrax]

Sounds like your kid is a bully.



j/k

I highly doubt it. This is an isolated case.

 

[highland145]

I highly doubt it. This is an isolated case.

Oh, the "not my baby" defense.

 

[steppinthrax]

Oh, the "not my baby" defense.

If this was the case we would expect it to occur more frequent and it to be an issue for a while. The teacher that we spoke with didn't indicate such. She indicated that her behavior was in general very good. In actuality "nowadays" if bulling occurs there is a form that is filled out and the parents are explicitly told of bulling behavior.

 

[highland145]

Is your meter busted?

 

[alkemyst]

Is your meter busted?

Do you ever wonder why you have to ask this question so much?

You have a million smilies/emoticons to should from, please use them so we know.

 

[highland145]

Do you ever wonder why you have to ask this question so much?

You have a million smilies/emoticons to should from, please use them so we know.

I know, I know. j/k and just aren't enough these days. Sad forums are sad.

 

[Phoenix86]

So basically, the school shouldn't have gotten you involved and blew off the other parents.

Huh. Imagine that.

 

[Ruptga]

So basically, the school shouldn't have gotten you involved and blew off the other parents.

Huh. Imagine that.

But I've been sharpening my pitchfork for the last two weeks, now what am I going to do with it?

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I know, I know. j/k and just aren't enough these days. Sad forums are sad.

How are we supposed to decipher the intent of a tongue-wagging emoticon? That could mean literally anything.

</SARCASM>

 

[highland145]

How are we supposed to decipher the intent of a tongue-wagging emoticon? That could mean literally anything.

</SARCASM>

True. That's not what I mean when I do it to my wife.:biggrin:

 

[ThinClient]

This is why you should not indoctrinate children with religion. It is a form of child abuse.

 

[highland145]

This is why you should not indoctrinate children with religion. It is a form of child abuse.

So let's indoctrinate them with global warming caused by farting cows and gasoline.

WIN?

 

[MrColin]

Yeah, those are topics for men only. Just guide her gently to the kitchen and tell her this is where girls belong.

This. Also make a point of talking openly about the proper places for ladies in front of the teachers and other parents at the meeting. This should both garner sympathy from them toward your daughter and probably discourage unnecessary meetings in the future. win win. Take video if you can please.

 

[Remobz]

So my daughter came home from school with a warning from her guidance counselor. Evidently my daughter asked a student "Do you believe in God?". The parents of that child came to school and complained about it. The guidance counselor told my daughter that this was harassment. So now we have to meet the teacher next week????

I partially agree with this since this is public school and those type of discussions are generally not allowed. However, my daughter was asking innocently (she is in church school as well) and wasn't trying to harass.

At the same time I'm trying to figure out what type of "oversensitive" parents are these.

The decline of America!

 

[Phoenix86]

True. That's not what I mean when I do it to my wife.:biggrin:

Yeah, me either.

 

[Captante]

How are we supposed to decipher the intent of a tongue-wagging emoticon? That could mean literally anything.

</SARCASM>

Should suffice.

 

[steppinthrax]

This is why you should not indoctrinate children with religion. It is a form of child abuse.

We don't,

My wife and I don't understand why our daughter are being accused. I'm an Atheist. My wife does occasionally say she believes in God, but she doesn't go to church. None of us go to church.

 

[CPA]

This is why you should not indoctrinate children with religion. It is a form of child abuse.

That's just silly. Is it child abuse to tell your kid that Santa and the Easter Bunny exist?