Gary schools sued over religious rights

[davidinalameda]

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050613/NEWS01/50613014

A woman who pulled her 13-year-old son out of classes so he could attend a five-day religious festival is suing school officials for refusing to count those days as an excused absence.

The Indiana Civil Liberties Union sued the Tri-Creek School Corp. last month, arguing that the district’s policy infringes on the right of Ruth Scheidt’s son to worship.

Both Scheidt and her son, who attends Lowell Middle School, are members of the United Church of God in Munster. The Christian-based faith does not celebrate Christmas or Easter, but instead observes a weeklong event called Festival of the Holy Days.

[ret5hd]

1. is that kind of like festiva on seinfeld?

[davidinalameda]

2. does it matter

if some church wants to celebrate a week, who is anyone to say no

the schools need to chill on this

[ret5hd]

4. was that an "airing of grievances"?

[edbermac]

3. Hey man, I'm a Rastafarian...

We celebrate our holidays by smoking a shitload of GANJA!! What do you think of that Ruth?

[sakabatou]

5. You know...

The parent could have called the child in sick, or something like that.

[davidinalameda]

6. why

it's a valid excuse for missing school

a person shouldn't have to lie about their religious beliefs and practices

[sakabatou]

7. Well... its not a holiday...

but still, she should have gone to the school board as the first measure, not the courts.

[davidinalameda]

8. the school made it very clear that the boy would be counted absent

and the boy was counted absent

and many "holidays" are based on mainstream Judeo-Christian worship

winter break--hello, Christmas break

spring break, Easter

these people are being punished for holding non-traditional beliefs