Kathleen,
I'm not so sure it's fair to ask people to
support your efforts without more information. As a public school administrator
myself, I surely would need more information about these "activities" to support
any of them.
1. What, for instance, are you going to do in
the activities listed as "coupons," and "thank you notes"? The fact that there
are books on such subjects in the library really is no help when evaluating an
after school "activity" and its value to students.
2. Is this proposal a single type of
"activity" that will, throughout the year, touch on all of the named subjects,
or are you planning on moving into the WMS after school?
3. The inclusions of the two religious
books obviously treads on an area that is extremely touchy for public
school administrators. You probably knew that from the start. It's likely that
other public school administrators are concerned that you indeed have a hidden
agenda with regard to these last two "subjects." In either event, they must,
because of the case law history, tread very lightly - and it sounds like they
are.
I see no justification to accuse them of
discrimination: it appears they have eliminated both religious texts from the
mix of "sponsored" after school activities and guarenteed you access in
accordance with their obligations under the law to protect free prayer. They
were not selective in this respect.
While it is legal to study religions in public
schools, that study must be carried out in an academically rigorous manner. It
must not promote a particular religious viewpoint. In short, public schools may
offer a study ofmany belief systems, but they may not promote a belief system.
Are you qualified to present this type of material in an academically rigorous
and objective manner? Have you written and presented ISD 861 a plan/curriculum
for this "activity"? If so, have you discussed your qualifications and the
curriculum with ISD officials?
Your proposal doesn't pass my smell test and
it apparently has not passed theirs.
-Leslie Hittner
Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 5:18
PM
Subject: [Winona] DISCRIMINATION IN
ISD-861
[Winona Online Democracy]
Dear Reader,
To clarify my prior letter, I have volunteered to offer
after school activities @WMS on
lefse baking (641.5948)
recipes (641)
coupons (640.73)
thank you notes(650.14)
The Bible (220)
The Qa'ran (297)
the number is the Dewey Decimal for the subject. The Bible and
Qa'ran can not be advertised thru 861 and to offer them, I must rent space
from ISD-861.
Please help your elected representative earn their wage this week by
giving them your opinion on this matter:
Vicki Englich 454-1215
Susan Brown 454-7218
Larry Laber 454-5777
Natalie Siderus 453-0451
Kelly Herold 453-0596
Alisa Peterson
Brian Neill
Thank you for your help in this matter.
Kathleen Fischer Giebel
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