SAU21 has taken heat for giving teachers a day off of school to attend training provided by the political organization Seacoast Outright. The far leftist organization will now train teachers in SAU21 on how to deal with LGBTQ children in the school. How about just treating all children with respect and dignity, and implementing consequences for those who do not?
Their exclusive and narrow political views will be the topic of conversation during this training, instead of any support for academic excellence.
This was highlighted at the September 8th school board meeting, where one parent brought forth information on how her daughter was told that she needed to erase the whiteboard after she wrote “Merry Christmas” on it. She might offend someone if they see Merry Christmas on the whiteboard.
Then recently, her daughter was told that Christmas carols would no longer be part of the Holiday program this year. The mother decided to talk to the principal about this, and was told that the North Hampton School would have to eliminate the religious songs from the holiday program, but the secular songs could remain. The mother was also told that this decision was made because of the “Separation of Church and State” law. The parent responded by educating the principal that there is no “Separation of Church and State” law that exists. You can watch the mother address the North Hampton school board here at 8:10:
North Hampton School Board Meeting September 8, 2022
Then you can fast forward to 27:23 where I addressed the school board on the history of “Separation of Church and State,” and where it comes from.
The teacher training lacks diverse views on the LGBTQ children because there is nothing about what the religious community believes. The faith community shares a different viewpoint on gender identity; however, that viewpoint is left out of the the training for the teachers. Some parents might want their children affirmed in their natural beauty because they are a child of God but that isn’t part of the training.
In this short video, you can see how an autistic child was manipulated in this affirmation process and how that took a dangerous path.
Now we hear how religious carols will be removed because someone is misusing the idea of “Separation of Church and State.” No where in the U.S. Constitution does it say anything about the separation of church and state. This term was used by Thomas Jefferson in a letter to a baptist church in Connecticut, in 1802 where Jefferson reassured the church that their 1st amendment rights would be protected.
The First Amendment’s Establishment Clause was intended to restrict Congress from: “establishing,” through federal legislation, a national Christian denomination, similar to the Anglican Church of England. A religious Christmas Carol would not be the equivalent to the federal government establishing a religion.
It sure makes you wonder about the people working in and running our public schools. How do they get something this simple wrong?
The public schools can have children singing Christmas carols, recognizing Kwanza and Hanukkah, and even putting up a menorah.
Did you know that the New Hampshire Senate opens each session with a prayer by various religious leaders? It’s not unconstitutional to sing religious carols at Christmas at school.
In the case of Lynch vs. Donnelly, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the right to display religious symbols or displays on public property. This did not violate the establishment clause of the First Amendment.
Chief Justice Warren E. Burger cited Christmas and Thanksgiving as national holidays and noted that the “Government has long recognized — indeed it has subsidized — holidays with religious significance.” That tradition of recognizing the country’s religious roots was distinguished from the First Amendment’s proscription of endorsing and establishing a religion.
On page 465 U. S. 670
To forbid the use of this one passive symbol while hymns and carols are sung and played in public places, including schools, and while Congress and state legislatures open public sessions with prayers, would be an overreaction contrary to this Nation’s history and this Court’s holdings. Pp. 465 U. S. 685-686.
The US Supreme Court said that these religious displays were fine and at the same time, acknowledged that hymns and carols were sung in public places, INCLUDING public schools.
Any decision to remove religious songs sounds is an overreaction per the United States Supreme Court. What about religious symbols? Are those now going to be forbidden? Even though the Supreme Court has already weighed in on this?
Make sure you let Superintendent Meredith Nadeau and Asst. Superintendent David Hobbs know that we expect district administrators to focus on improving the academic outcomes in our schools.
Between the lack of inclusion in the teacher training session with Seacoast Outright and now this, I am beginning to question the commitment to inclusion in this district. These examples look more like hostility towards religious families versus respect for a diverse community. If they are going to preach inclusion, then start showing it.
