GaryP

Today we took about a mile walk with all our Kindrgarten thru 3rd grade students to a Methodist church. The primary purpose was for a violin concert.

The violinist was a local lady and she was excellent. Played some Copland, Brahams, and that Jay Unger piece from Ken Burns' "Civil War".

But this is what I noticed. The pianist and violinist had the kids stand and sing the National Anthem. The flag was right below a beautiful stained glass window depicting Jesus looking heavenward.

Then at the end our music teacher played a little organ music for the kids. You guessed it. It was "Jesus Loves Me".

This is what bothers me about this type of situation. According to case law , this is perfectly legal if the primary purpose is secular.

But what of all these secondary images and activities? Which of these things made a lasting impression on at least a good number of these children?

At first, I thought we needed to go there because the accompanist was going to play the organ. But we have a keyboard at our school. Probably not as nice as the church piano, but I think it could just as well been done at our school or perhaps the Middle school up the street which is closer than the church.


Am I being too sensitive to this?

SLD

It seems to me that there was a secular purpose to this up until the point of the Jesus loves me song. I would have objected to that as crossing a line into proselytization.

I don't think there's anything wrong per se with going to a church during school hours as long as it is for a secular purpose. Many churches might have historical value to them or architectural value that the kids could study without necessarily having to be proselytized. But when a teacher suddenly breaks out into Jesus loves you in the middle of such an event, I have real problems with that and I think the school board would too. Were there any Jewish children in your group? Damn, that's offensive as hell.

SLD

dangin

I think the Jesus Loves Me bit was inappropriate and illegal.

Jewel

Hmmm... I think the "Jesus Loves Me" at the end was likely to be illegal -- and that it was led by a state employee is unexcusable. I think you have every right to be upset by it. I would definately contact the school board. Hopefully they will agree with you and take measures to ensure such things will not happen again.

Shadowy Man

Next week, take them to a synagogue.

And the week after that to a mosque.

keitht

Did they sing the words or just play the music?

Keith

DarkBronzePlant

And the week after that, to an American Atheists meeting.

GaryP

Just the music.

Jewel

That might be their way out . I'd still contact the school board and maybe even the ACLU to see what they would say.


Edited to add:

Also, I would question why it was nessessary to waste time walking a mile to a church instead of having the event at a closer venue or your schools auditorium.

BioBeing

[rant]I hate that song. "Jesus loves me/ this I know,/ because the bible tells me so". Its indoctrinating children to believe the bible as the absolute word without question...[/rant]