prayer & tolerance

[Diane Chen <DianeRChen@AOL.COM>]

Dear Members,
   Please consider tolerating all religions. How about actively practicing
what we preach and be accepting of others? I provide a quiet corner in my
library for students who need to say noon prayers. I do not ask them any
questions, do not have any icons or make any special allowances. I simply
allow my students who have religious duties to fulfill them as they must in
an environment where no one is staring at them. They find a corner as needed
and do not bother anyone.  They are not seeking attention, simply practicing
their faith.  I also welcome those students and TEACHERS during noon hour who
are fasting and do not want to be in the cafeterial trying to explain this to
others.  None of this takes any time away from teaching.
    On another note, I am often uncomfortable when I attempt to take my sons
to school in another district and the "religious" group is praying around the
flag pole and blocking the entrance one day a week. It becomes uncomfortable
and difficult to walk into the school. It is also uncomfortable to
participate in group prayer before a field trip knowing that many families
standing around me are not of Christian faith. For both of these examples,
the group is forcing others to participate or to protest visibly and be
subjected to ridicule.
    I see the difference between allowing people to practice their faith
unobtrusively and the school organizing religious events. I hope that I
haven't offended anyone, but giving a student a place in the school to pray
alone seems reasonable if it does not force anyone else to participate.
Thank you.
Diane. R. Chen, Library Information Specialist
Hickman Elementary School
chend@k12tn.net

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