wwyd? inappropriate forced religion and patriotism - Page 3

[bigeyes]

Originally Posted by sunnmama

Do they recite the Pledge of Allegiance every day? I guess I would not really be shocked that a song that includes God and patriotism would be included in the program if they recite the Pledge every day.

(I don't support the reciting of the Pledge in public schools, fwiw)

My dcs just informed me that not only do they say the pledge here (complete with the added under God) they also did at their old school in California!

I had no idea, it never came up. Kill me now. :

[sunnmama]

Originally Posted by bigeyes

I had no idea, it never came up. Kill me now. :

Yeah, that is the bigger fish to fry imo. Recited 180 days a year for 13 years.

[oceanbaby]

I would let my kids participate (if they wanted to) AND protest to the school board. There's no reason that other kids need to know that you are taking the issue to the board.

[Jessy1019]

Originally Posted by LizzyQ

I would be furious too, and I would protest AND take it up with the school board. Are there any other parents who agree with you that you can join together with? Even if it is just you, I would talk to the school board, program director, and principle.

Yup. All of that.

"God" does not belong in a public school. Patriotism does not belong in a public school. A public school should be welcoming of EVERYONE, regardless of faith, regardless of patriotism and political values, etc.

I'd raise a stink.

[Imogen]

I would also voice my concerns.



Peace

[amitymama]

Ugh, I hate that song. I would be more offended by the forced patriotism than the God reference. I would make my concerns known to the school but probably only afterwards in the hopes that they'll reconsider for next year. It's probably too late to change it this year and even if they did, word would get around and your kids might be more at risk for bullying (since you said that was a concern).

[FoxintheSnow]

As much as I dislike the song I wouldnt do anything that might alienate my kid from the other kids.

[anubis]

I'd have a much bigger problem with the patriot crap, but both are inappropriate. I'd definitely bring it up with the school. I don't think it should affect the kids as long as it's all handled between adults.

[RubyV]

Oh hell no.

You better believe I would be in the office protesting. That is absolutely not ok.

(and it's such a craptastic song)

[diamond lil]

Are your children bothered by it? Perhaps they see it only as a chance to entertain their parents, sing, and have fun. I doubt any of the children are discussing among themselves, "You know, the socio-political ramifications of what we are doing are totally eroding my sense of independance." Seriously. Ask the kids what they think about it. I'd be a heck of a lot more worried about other more dangerous influences forced upon them than "God Bless America."

[tanya1976]

Just skip the program. Your child isn't mandated to perform in it. It's optional.

[bigeyes]

DSD loves any chance to perform, so I don't think I'll be raising a stink until after the fact. DS hates the song, hates the whole thing, and says he and his friends lip synch anyway. DS thinks it's all a pain, DSD doesn't mind it.

So, as much as I hate the whole thing and can't believe a public school is forcing religion and misguided patriotism, I'm thinking Principal, and School Board after the program is over. I can let DS sit it out and DSD can be in it if she wants. I will try to make it through the cr@ptacular song without :Puke

I can't wait. :

[~PurityLake~]

Originally Posted by diamond lil

Are your children bothered by it? Perhaps they see it only as a chance to entertain their parents, sing, and have fun. I doubt any of the children are discussing among themselves, "You know, the socio-political ramifications of what we are doing are totally eroding my sense of independance." Seriously. Ask the kids what they think about it. I'd be a heck of a lot more worried about other more dangerous influences forced upon them than "God Bless America."

I think all the pp similar to the one I quoted are largely missing the point.
Why would we leave something this large up to what the kid's feel about it, when we obviously know they cannot fully fathom the significance of this issue?

This is not something that should be left up to kids to decide.
Big Eyes, I still think it's something that must be addressed.
It is offensive all the way around.
As it is at least the FIFTH time this song has been sung this year, how can that not affect the children?
Brainwashing, that's what it is.

[mclisa]

Originally Posted by bigeyes

Sigh

DId I mention that they have performed this song on at least 4 other occasions in the year that we have been here?

.

maybe you have a crappy music teacher that doesn't know any other song?


And I would not be disrespectful during the song. Not because of "God" or "support the troops". Those kids worked hard learning the song and you should be respectful of their performance. It's about them, not about YOU.

[anniedare]

Well, if it is about them, their right to an education is compromised if they are compelled into participating in religious and patriotic norming against their parents' wishes. Perhaps after it's over, you could haul out some ACLU documentation about cases in your state concerning religion/pledge/etc. in the public schools and let them know that your child is feeling alienated by their program, that you realize it's not mandatory and thus "legal," however, you expect a public school to welcome all its students regardless. Perhaps ask the principal some tough questions about whether they're prepared to do this and how, and get some answers about making changes in the future. I'm guessing at least some of those concerts weren't optional, and it IS quite illegal to force children to say the pledge -- I'd assume the same over "God Bless the USA." Inclusion is even more important if she's being bullied, imo, and the school is modeling realllly poor acceptance skills.

[girlie1125]

Originally Posted by captain crunchy

lol @ the option of "as long as it isn't Christmas Shoes"

I loooathe that song so much that I was going to do a lyric by lyric critical analysis of it in TAO as its own thread...but then thought that might be kind of weird... I mean, my toes CURL when that song comes on (and not in good way either). In the most horrible, horrible way.

I feel similarly about the song "God Bless The USA". It gives me goosebumps (again, in the horrible, horrific way, not a good way).

Nevermind religion in schools (which is a serious topic) I would protest that song solely based on the fact that it is so incredibly cheesy, offensive (to music in general for starters) and embarrassment-inducing that I feel I have to scrub it off me in a hot shower every time I hear it.

That goes for Christmas Shoes too.

Count me in the CaptainCrunchy fan club!!!

I start listening to holiday music the SECOND it begins (this year, a week before Thanksgiving) but I will run across the room to turn the radio OFF if I hear the first two notes of that sh!tfest of a song.

[Ecstatic]

I wouldn't like it. But, it's a public school. They're going to push the agenda of the government. And there will be God involved - this is the only country that has God on their money. I haven't seen much of a seperation between church and state at all in this country.

So, while I'd be upset and wouldn't like it ... I probably wouldn't bother to say anything mainly because it would fall on deaf ears. But, then, I'm the type to avoid public schools in the first place because, as an anarchist, I don't support the government at all. Thus, my opinion may be biased.

[Ravin]

I think I would complain, but only in the context of "did you have to pick this craptastic (love that word) pop song? What's wrong with a traditional patriotic hymn? Maybe one that's not so overtly religious? How about the national anthem (it does have more than one verse)? Oh, wait, there's a lot in that about standing between home and war's desolation, not exactly "go out there and invade someone else ra-ra".

Hmmm...how about..."When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again?" All about supporting the troops, not so much about supporting the war.

[prairiemommy]

Originally Posted by girlie1125

Count me in the CaptainCrunchy fan club!!!

I start listening to holiday music the SECOND it begins (this year, a week before Thanksgiving) but I will run across the room to turn the radio OFF if I hear the first two notes of that sh!tfest of a song.

Okay, so this totally made me :

I've never heard that song before so I had to go look it up. It was a story that I got in my inbox one year many moons ago - like when my DD was a baby. So did some turkey just use some internet chain letter thing to write a song or did an even bigger turkey c&p the words of such a sucky song and mass mail it to people?

Chicken or egg?

[bigeyes]

Originally Posted by prairiemommy

Okay, so this totally made me :

I've never heard that song before so I had to go look it up. It was a story that I got in my inbox one year many moons ago - like when my DD was a baby. So did some turkey just use some internet chain letter thing to write a song or did an even bigger turkey c&p the words of such a sucky song and mass mail it to people?

Chicken or egg?

Chicken. This is the time of year I'm glad we don't have radio reception at our house.

If Captain Crunchy starts a thread about lousy Christmas songs, I am sooo there!