Do you want my answer as a parent or as a religious Jew? As a parent: In general, quiet practice of one's religion without preaching is fine. If I were Mrs. Smith, I would answer is that she is a practicing _________, who is following her religion, just as little Mike follows his. As long as she does not try to teach the child the precepts of her religion and say that her way is right and better, I don't think I'd have a problem with it.
That is not the same as actively preaching or reciting a prayer out loud. As a religious Jew: That depends what the pin is. If it's a religious symbol that is worshipped, that might fall under the category of idolatry. That might be a problem for me or for my son, but that would be my own private problem and I don't think there would be anything illegal about wearing a pin. This is the sort of thing, btw, that every parent has to deal with -- I have questions from my kids about my babysitter/cleaning lady, who is not Jewish. In some ways, it is a perfect opportunity to teach tolerance. Judith >Let's change the religious practice of Mrs. Smith slightly. > >She's a rather quiet woman who is quite happy to just do her job and teach >the children. She never discusses her religion on school grounds. > >But, she does wear a small pin every day on her lapel. This pin is a common >symbol of her religion. > >She also keeps a copy of her religious book in the top drawer of her desk. >She never takes it out of the desk while students are in the room. She only >reads it while eating lunch in private. But students are able to see the >book when she opens the drawer at times when they are standing near the >desk. > >One day, Michael Dinowitz's son (sorry Mike, I don't know the names of your >kids), asks Mrs. Smith what the pin on her lapel is for, what it means. > >Note, please, that I have been very careful not to label Mrs. Smith as a >member of any particular religion. For the purpose of this question, her >religion, whether it be any of the Big Three monotheists, wiccan, Satanism >or secular humanism, is irrelevant. What matters only, are the facts as I've >presented them. > >Here are the questions: > >1) Can Mrs. Smith wear a religious symbol on her lapel while in the >classroom with students present? > >2) Can Mrs. Smith keep a copy of her religious book in her desk? > >3) How should Mrs. Smith answer little Mike Jr.'s question? > >H. > > > ______________________________________________________________________ Your ad could be here. Monies from ads go to support these lists and provide more resources for the community. http://www.fusionauthority.com/ads.cfm Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/index.cfm?sidebar=lists
