You want to know how crazy we’ve become? We’re so crazy that when a kid sneezes, teachers feel they have to ask the Superintendent of schools whether they’re allowed to say “Bless you.”
Come on. That’s got to be at least reason number 5,673 why parents might want to consider a Catholic school or homeschooling.
Thankfully, the Superintendent approved the use of “Bless you” as long as they don’t really mean it but just the fact that this was a serious question is a sign that we are so far down the path of insanity that we can’t even see sane from here. And get this, teachers are saying they’re unsure what they’re allowed to do in their off hours.
Weasel Zippers had the story:
“It is confusing,” said Debbie Lewis, a paraprofessional at S.S. Dixon Primary School. “We are under the impression you cannot say ‘bless you’ or ‘God bless you,’ which is a natural reaction.”
With a new school year set to begin Aug. 23, some employees and the public remain unsure about what religious expressions are allowed under a consent decree that prohibits employees from promoting their religious beliefs to students in class, or during or in conjunction with a school event.
Saying, “God bless you,” after a sneeze, by the way, is OK, according to the district. Such a brief statement is not likely to be seen as promoting someone’s religious beliefs, a key point when considering what the decree does and does not allow.
Still, in some circles, confusion remains.
“Teachers are even confused about what they can do on their own time and after hours,” said Robert Smith, owner of Robert Smith Insurance Agency in Milton.
So if a child sneezes in school and a teacher says “bless you” it’s cool because they don’t really mean anything about God actually blessing the child, it’s just a reflex.
August 16, 2010 at 5:59 pm
“Teachers are even confused about what they can do on their own time and after hours,”
That's the scary part of the story, IMO. So if a public school teacher attends weekly Mass, perhaps has an hour of Eucharistic Adoration, or helps out at CCD – would those be considered "conflicts of interest"?
August 16, 2010 at 6:31 pm
LarryD, that teacher will be accepted only if they show proof of subscribing to "America" magazine, support the LCWR and claim a blood relationship to Fr. McBrien of Notre Dame.
August 16, 2010 at 7:10 pm
@Subvet LOL!
It seems the more "educated" educators become, the less common sense they actually have. This is one of the "for crying out loud" stories…
As the 'Professor' in TLTWATW "don't they teach logic in schools nowadays?" Good question!!!
August 16, 2010 at 7:39 pm
Either that (no common sense) or a CYA mode because of the current anti-Christian administration and culture.
(The goods news is that history has shown that the Church has thrived specially during times of persecution. So, should I say, "Bring it on.")
August 16, 2010 at 9:37 pm
I have a Byzantine (reproduction, of course) ikon of the Theotokos behind my classroom; is that okay?
— Mack
August 16, 2010 at 11:11 pm
@Rick: Amen! Bring it on!
August 17, 2010 at 11:31 am
I can actually understand teachers having confusion about what's allowed in their off hours. I found that I couldn't in good conscience apply to teach or substitute at a few private Christian (non-Catholic) schools because I would've been required to sign a form stating that I'd never drink or smoke in public. While I don't smoke, I do enjoy a nice drink with dinner. I know this is speaking of a public school, so it's a bit different, but I can still understand the confusion.
August 18, 2010 at 12:28 am
The first time the government educated me they gave me a rifle, and the Sgts and Lts had to let me go to Mass. Some even made me pray.
One guy from Dixie looked at me and said that I loved this %&$(*. I told him that I had 12 years in a Catholic school, so it was ok.
August 21, 2010 at 3:19 am
My university students generally accept the notion that we are all human and believe in a greater power than ourselves. They believe we generally want to be truthful and helpful. they believe bravery is preferable to cowardice. They believe in good rather than evil, even if they can't agree what good is some of the time. they agree on many things. This article is only one among many suggesting we are more different than the same. Read C.S. Lewis's Abolition of Man, and then we can talk.