FCPS schools hosting religious events?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MAGA, amirite? God forbid we celebrate any diversity. The war on Christmas, blah blah blah. Just shut it, privileged brats.

The privileged groups are actually the ones we aren't allowed to criticize.

+1 I'm an atheist and don't want any groups inserting their religion into schools. The school where I work does not celebrate Halloween, all music is completely secular. We have stripped every custom that is vaguely related to religious custon away-except Muslim students are given space to fast and pray. Our principal sends out a Ramadan message. I have no idea how this happened other than fear. They are a large but not the largest minority population in my district.

Oh good heavens they’re given space to fast and pray?!

What’s next a moment of silence to begin the day that was campaigned for by Christians trying to back door school prayer in?


A pledge to god to begin the day?


An academic calendar built around Christian holidays?



Being an atheist doesn’t absolve you of being a bigot. You’re just blind to how much Christianity is ingratiated into our culture that you see it as “non-secular”.


Also, assuming you work at FCPS, the county is quite clear that literally any student is free to have time and space to pray.


Sincerely,

Another atheist

I don't work for FCPS. I'm actually ok with being bigoted if that means I oppose one religious group getting to do whatever they want in a public school. Maybe everyone is free to pray and fast at my school but only Muslims have been explicitly invited to do so. That's wrong.

So you’re upset you didn’t get an invite…


Something tells me this is a recurring grievance in your life.

I'm an atheist, I don't pray

And yet here you are offended on the behalf of others who were never excluded but they simply weren’t “invited”.


You might be an atheist but you’ve clearly picked a religious sect to align yourself with.

I like for all my students to be offered the same opportunities.

Is it possible… and stay with me here, that because Ramadan literally requires daily prayer and fasting for the month that it makes sense to preemptively tell students their options whereas your other students are not in that position?


Radical idea

Lent is 40 days of fasting, or at a minimum, fasting on Fridays and Ash Wednesday.

Correct. However, FCPS often make accommodations for students who are fasting, including providing access to prayer rooms and Meal kits. Per West Potomac HS website:
Ramadan Meal Kits
FCPS is offering fasting meal kits for students who are fasting for Ramadan (February 28-March 28, 2025).  Please see this page for more information and to request the meal kits. 

It appears that no other faith represented in FCPS requests such accommodations for religious reasons, nor are they announced by FCPS if they were.

Radical practice.

Was this for the free lunch kids?

It’s for everyone:
https://www.fcps.edu/services/families-and-caregivers/food-and-nutrition

The point is not who pays for the meals, or who uses the prayer rooms. The issue is that FCPS is officially involved in accommodating for religious practices of one faith (Muslim).

To the PP: Not a radical idea. A radical practice.

Exactly. This should be offered to all students who may be fasting or none. It’s an exclusionary practice

You mean to say free for everyone, including non-Muslim? Because that would be the only way to make it non-exclusionary.

The issue is that a faith that represents a small section in FCPS is being officially accommodated for their religious practices when it comes to prayer and fasting. Why is that?

Probably because they asked! Try asking for accommodations during your next religious thing that requires accommodations, I bet they will give it to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Congratulations for getting the Iftar cancelled! What a noble cause you’ve championed. 👏

I bet you anything a ton of white mommies from DCUM emailed about this - people who have no association with the school whatsoever. They are just jealous that their majority religion that gets winter break and spring break and all sorts of other accommodations given to them FOR GRANTED, aren't acknowledged. Well guess what big mommas? Next year, winter break is going to be renamed to Christmas Break and spring break is going to be renamed to Easter Break because BIG DADDY TRUMP is in charge!! You got what you wanted, fat white witches!!!

[Anonymous]

We advocate for the separation of church and state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MAGA, amirite? God forbid we celebrate any diversity. The war on Christmas, blah blah blah. Just shut it, privileged brats.

The privileged groups are actually the ones we aren't allowed to criticize.

+1 I'm an atheist and don't want any groups inserting their religion into schools. The school where I work does not celebrate Halloween, all music is completely secular. We have stripped every custom that is vaguely related to religious custon away-except Muslim students are given space to fast and pray. Our principal sends out a Ramadan message. I have no idea how this happened other than fear. They are a large but not the largest minority population in my district.

Oh good heavens they’re given space to fast and pray?!

What’s next a moment of silence to begin the day that was campaigned for by Christians trying to back door school prayer in?


A pledge to god to begin the day?


An academic calendar built around Christian holidays?



Being an atheist doesn’t absolve you of being a bigot. You’re just blind to how much Christianity is ingratiated into our culture that you see it as “non-secular”.


Also, assuming you work at FCPS, the county is quite clear that literally any student is free to have time and space to pray.


Sincerely,

Another atheist

I don't work for FCPS. I'm actually ok with being bigoted if that means I oppose one religious group getting to do whatever they want in a public school. Maybe everyone is free to pray and fast at my school but only Muslims have been explicitly invited to do so. That's wrong.

So you’re upset you didn’t get an invite…


Something tells me this is a recurring grievance in your life.

I'm an atheist, I don't pray

And yet here you are offended on the behalf of others who were never excluded but they simply weren’t “invited”.


You might be an atheist but you’ve clearly picked a religious sect to align yourself with.

I like for all my students to be offered the same opportunities.

Is it possible… and stay with me here, that because Ramadan literally requires daily prayer and fasting for the month that it makes sense to preemptively tell students their options whereas your other students are not in that position?


Radical idea

Lent is 40 days of fasting, or at a minimum, fasting on Fridays and Ash Wednesday.

Correct. However, FCPS often make accommodations for students who are fasting, including providing access to prayer rooms and Meal kits. Per West Potomac HS website:
Ramadan Meal Kits
FCPS is offering fasting meal kits for students who are fasting for Ramadan (February 28-March 28, 2025).  Please see this page for more information and to request the meal kits. 

It appears that no other faith represented in FCPS requests such accommodations for religious reasons, nor are they announced by FCPS if they were.

Radical practice.

Was this for the free lunch kids?

It’s for everyone:
https://www.fcps.edu/services/families-and-caregivers/food-and-nutrition

The point is not who pays for the meals, or who uses the prayer rooms. The issue is that FCPS is officially involved in accommodating for religious practices of one faith (Muslim).

To the PP: Not a radical idea. A radical practice.

Exactly. This should be offered to all students who may be fasting or none. It’s an exclusionary practice

You mean to say free for everyone, including non-Muslim? Because that would be the only way to make it non-exclusionary.

The issue is that a faith that represents a small section in FCPS is being officially accommodated for their religious practices when it comes to prayer and fasting. Why is that?

Probably because they asked! Try asking for accommodations during your next religious thing that requires accommodations, I bet they will give it to you.

Let's go back to where this thread began. Frost sent out an email inviting people to an Iftar. That is what people on here challenged.
It was poor judgement on the part of whoever at the school made that decision.

You are free to have an Iftar at the school, but you are not free to send an official invitation through the school email. It is that simple. The same goes for the churches that have services or meetings in the schools.

As for the breaks in December and April, that is when many students and staff are away and the schools would not be able to function without them. This has been tradition for many, many years. I think FCPS is bending over backwards to accommodate other religions, as well, even though there is not the number of absences you would find with the traditional holidays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MAGA, amirite? God forbid we celebrate any diversity. The war on Christmas, blah blah blah. Just shut it, privileged brats.

The privileged groups are actually the ones we aren't allowed to criticize.

+1 I'm an atheist and don't want any groups inserting their religion into schools. The school where I work does not celebrate Halloween, all music is completely secular. We have stripped every custom that is vaguely related to religious custon away-except Muslim students are given space to fast and pray. Our principal sends out a Ramadan message. I have no idea how this happened other than fear. They are a large but not the largest minority population in my district.

Oh good heavens they’re given space to fast and pray?!

What’s next a moment of silence to begin the day that was campaigned for by Christians trying to back door school prayer in?


A pledge to god to begin the day?


An academic calendar built around Christian holidays?



Being an atheist doesn’t absolve you of being a bigot. You’re just blind to how much Christianity is ingratiated into our culture that you see it as “non-secular”.


Also, assuming you work at FCPS, the county is quite clear that literally any student is free to have time and space to pray.


Sincerely,

Another atheist

I don't work for FCPS. I'm actually ok with being bigoted if that means I oppose one religious group getting to do whatever they want in a public school. Maybe everyone is free to pray and fast at my school but only Muslims have been explicitly invited to do so. That's wrong.

So you’re upset you didn’t get an invite…


Something tells me this is a recurring grievance in your life.

I'm an atheist, I don't pray

And yet here you are offended on the behalf of others who were never excluded but they simply weren’t “invited”.


You might be an atheist but you’ve clearly picked a religious sect to align yourself with.

I like for all my students to be offered the same opportunities.

Is it possible… and stay with me here, that because Ramadan literally requires daily prayer and fasting for the month that it makes sense to preemptively tell students their options whereas your other students are not in that position?


Radical idea

Lent is 40 days of fasting, or at a minimum, fasting on Fridays and Ash Wednesday.

Correct. However, FCPS often make accommodations for students who are fasting, including providing access to prayer rooms and Meal kits. Per West Potomac HS website:
Ramadan Meal Kits
FCPS is offering fasting meal kits for students who are fasting for Ramadan (February 28-March 28, 2025).  Please see this page for more information and to request the meal kits. 

It appears that no other faith represented in FCPS requests such accommodations for religious reasons, nor are they announced by FCPS if they were.

Radical practice.

Was this for the free lunch kids?

It’s for everyone:
https://www.fcps.edu/services/families-and-caregivers/food-and-nutrition

The point is not who pays for the meals, or who uses the prayer rooms. The issue is that FCPS is officially involved in accommodating for religious practices of one faith (Muslim).

To the PP: Not a radical idea. A radical practice.

Exactly. This should be offered to all students who may be fasting or none. It’s an exclusionary practice

You mean to say free for everyone, including non-Muslim? Because that would be the only way to make it non-exclusionary.

The issue is that a faith that represents a small section in FCPS is being officially accommodated for their religious practices when it comes to prayer and fasting. Why is that?

Probably because they asked! Try asking for accommodations during your next religious thing that requires accommodations, I bet they will give it to you.

Let's go back to where this thread began. Frost sent out an email inviting people to an Iftar. That is what people on here challenged.
It was poor judgement on the part of whoever at the school made that decision.

You are free to have an Iftar at the school, but you are not free to send an official invitation through the school email. It is that simple. The same goes for the churches that have services or meetings in the schools.

As for the breaks in December and April, that is when many students and staff are away and the schools would not be able to function without them. This has been tradition for many, many years. I think FCPS is bending over backwards to accommodate other religions, as well, even though there is not the number of absences you would find with the traditional holidays.

Amen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MAGA, amirite? God forbid we celebrate any diversity. The war on Christmas, blah blah blah. Just shut it, privileged brats.

The privileged groups are actually the ones we aren't allowed to criticize.

+1 I'm an atheist and don't want any groups inserting their religion into schools. The school where I work does not celebrate Halloween, all music is completely secular. We have stripped every custom that is vaguely related to religious custon away-except Muslim students are given space to fast and pray. Our principal sends out a Ramadan message. I have no idea how this happened other than fear. They are a large but not the largest minority population in my district.

Oh good heavens they’re given space to fast and pray?!

What’s next a moment of silence to begin the day that was campaigned for by Christians trying to back door school prayer in?


A pledge to god to begin the day?


An academic calendar built around Christian holidays?



Being an atheist doesn’t absolve you of being a bigot. You’re just blind to how much Christianity is ingratiated into our culture that you see it as “non-secular”.


Also, assuming you work at FCPS, the county is quite clear that literally any student is free to have time and space to pray.


Sincerely,

Another atheist

I don't work for FCPS. I'm actually ok with being bigoted if that means I oppose one religious group getting to do whatever they want in a public school. Maybe everyone is free to pray and fast at my school but only Muslims have been explicitly invited to do so. That's wrong.

So you’re upset you didn’t get an invite…


Something tells me this is a recurring grievance in your life.

I'm an atheist, I don't pray

And yet here you are offended on the behalf of others who were never excluded but they simply weren’t “invited”.


You might be an atheist but you’ve clearly picked a religious sect to align yourself with.

I like for all my students to be offered the same opportunities.

Is it possible… and stay with me here, that because Ramadan literally requires daily prayer and fasting for the month that it makes sense to preemptively tell students their options whereas your other students are not in that position?


Radical idea

Lent is 40 days of fasting, or at a minimum, fasting on Fridays and Ash Wednesday.

Correct. However, FCPS often make accommodations for students who are fasting, including providing access to prayer rooms and Meal kits. Per West Potomac HS website:
Ramadan Meal Kits
FCPS is offering fasting meal kits for students who are fasting for Ramadan (February 28-March 28, 2025).  Please see this page for more information and to request the meal kits. 

It appears that no other faith represented in FCPS requests such accommodations for religious reasons, nor are they announced by FCPS if they were.

Radical practice.

Was this for the free lunch kids?

It’s for everyone:
https://www.fcps.edu/services/families-and-caregivers/food-and-nutrition

The point is not who pays for the meals, or who uses the prayer rooms. The issue is that FCPS is officially involved in accommodating for religious practices of one faith (Muslim).

To the PP: Not a radical idea. A radical practice.

Exactly. This should be offered to all students who may be fasting or none. It’s an exclusionary practice

You mean to say free for everyone, including non-Muslim? Because that would be the only way to make it non-exclusionary.

The issue is that a faith that represents a small section in FCPS is being officially accommodated for their religious practices when it comes to prayer and fasting. Why is that?

Probably because they asked! Try asking for accommodations during your next religious thing that requires accommodations, I bet they will give it to you.

So Muslims get an explicit invitation but everyone else has to ask? That’s promoting one religion over another. If the schools were being fair they’d send out a message saying “any students needing religious accommodation can use room x”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Congratulations for getting the Iftar cancelled! What a noble cause you’ve championed. 👏

It got cancelled?
Whoever didn’t want to go, didn't have to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Congratulations for getting the Iftar cancelled! What a noble cause you’ve championed. 👏

It got cancelled?
Whoever didn’t want to go, didn't have to go.

That’s not the point. Schools shouldn’t be sponsoring religious events. Employees shouldn’t be fielding emails about religious events on their school email

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MAGA, amirite? God forbid we celebrate any diversity. The war on Christmas, blah blah blah. Just shut it, privileged brats.

The privileged groups are actually the ones we aren't allowed to criticize.

+1 I'm an atheist and don't want any groups inserting their religion into schools. The school where I work does not celebrate Halloween, all music is completely secular. We have stripped every custom that is vaguely related to religious custon away-except Muslim students are given space to fast and pray. Our principal sends out a Ramadan message. I have no idea how this happened other than fear. They are a large but not the largest minority population in my district.

Oh good heavens they’re given space to fast and pray?!

What’s next a moment of silence to begin the day that was campaigned for by Christians trying to back door school prayer in?


A pledge to god to begin the day?


An academic calendar built around Christian holidays?



Being an atheist doesn’t absolve you of being a bigot. You’re just blind to how much Christianity is ingratiated into our culture that you see it as “non-secular”.


Also, assuming you work at FCPS, the county is quite clear that literally any student is free to have time and space to pray.


Sincerely,

Another atheist

I don't work for FCPS. I'm actually ok with being bigoted if that means I oppose one religious group getting to do whatever they want in a public school. Maybe everyone is free to pray and fast at my school but only Muslims have been explicitly invited to do so. That's wrong.

So you’re upset you didn’t get an invite…


Something tells me this is a recurring grievance in your life.

I'm an atheist, I don't pray

And yet here you are offended on the behalf of others who were never excluded but they simply weren’t “invited”.


You might be an atheist but you’ve clearly picked a religious sect to align yourself with.

I like for all my students to be offered the same opportunities.

Is it possible… and stay with me here, that because Ramadan literally requires daily prayer and fasting for the month that it makes sense to preemptively tell students their options whereas your other students are not in that position?


Radical idea

Lent is 40 days of fasting, or at a minimum, fasting on Fridays and Ash Wednesday.

Correct. However, FCPS often make accommodations for students who are fasting, including providing access to prayer rooms and Meal kits. Per West Potomac HS website:
Ramadan Meal Kits
FCPS is offering fasting meal kits for students who are fasting for Ramadan (February 28-March 28, 2025).  Please see this page for more information and to request the meal kits. 

It appears that no other faith represented in FCPS requests such accommodations for religious reasons, nor are they announced by FCPS if they were.

Radical practice.

Was this for the free lunch kids?

It’s for everyone:
https://www.fcps.edu/services/families-and-caregivers/food-and-nutrition

The point is not who pays for the meals, or who uses the prayer rooms. The issue is that FCPS is officially involved in accommodating for religious practices of one faith (Muslim).

To the PP: Not a radical idea. A radical practice.

Exactly. This should be offered to all students who may be fasting or none. It’s an exclusionary practice

You mean to say free for everyone, including non-Muslim? Because that would be the only way to make it non-exclusionary.

The issue is that a faith that represents a small section in FCPS is being officially accommodated for their religious practices when it comes to prayer and fasting. Why is that?

Probably because they asked! Try asking for accommodations during your next religious thing that requires accommodations, I bet they will give it to you.

Let's go back to where this thread began. Frost sent out an email inviting people to an Iftar. That is what people on here challenged.
It was poor judgement on the part of whoever at the school made that decision.

You are free to have an Iftar at the school, but you are not free to send an official invitation through the school email. It is that simple. The same goes for the churches that have services or meetings in the schools.

As for the breaks in December and April, that is when many students and staff are away and the schools would not be able to function without them. This has been tradition for many, many years. I think FCPS is bending over backwards to accommodate other religions, as well, even though there is not the number of absences you would find with the traditional holidays.

The bolded from PP is something that needs to be said again. The principal failed his community throughout this saga and his email about the cancellation was, in my opinion, the biggest failure, because he should have explicitly taken responsibility for his mistakes in allowing this to happen in the first place. Instead, his message further inflamed the situation by making it seem like the only reason the event was cancelled is because of complaints and not because of his poor judgment.

[Anonymous]

Eh, I'm more bothered that in Virginia, it's required to post "In God We Trust" in the entrance to schools.

Seems so ironic to see it in my kid's school posted next to the Bill of Rights.

I think it's time for a new national motto that doesn't violate the 1st amendment. Perhaps something about liberty?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Eh, I'm more bothered that in Virginia, it's required to post "In God We Trust" in the entrance to schools.

Seems so ironic to see it in my kid's school posted next to the Bill of Rights.

I think it's time for a new national motto that doesn't violate the 1st amendment. Perhaps something about liberty?

I’m bothered by both. You don’t have to take sides here. If you believe religion doesn’t have a place in public schools both are wrong.

[Anonymous]

You are bothered by 1st amendm3nt?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are bothered by 1st amendm3nt?

Requiring schools to post "In God We Trust" seems in violation of the 1st amendment. It gets by because it's our "National motto" but it should not be. Because - first amendment.

I don't believe a voluntary religious event, club, whatever, that is inclusive of all, is a violation of 1st amendment. It's not endorsing, it's voluntary.

-Atheist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are bothered by 1st amendm3nt?

Requiring schools to post "In God We Trust" seems in violation of the 1st amendment. It gets by because it's our "National motto" but it should not be. Because - first amendment.

I don't believe a voluntary religious event, club, whatever, that is inclusive of all, is a violation of 1st amendment. It's not endorsing, it's voluntary.

-Atheist.

Are you the PP who said she was bothered by "both?" I interpreted that to mean "In God We Trust" and the First Amendment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are bothered by 1st amendm3nt?

Requiring schools to post "In God We Trust" seems in violation of the 1st amendment. It gets by because it's our "National motto" but it should not be. Because - first amendment.

I don't believe a voluntary religious event, club, whatever, that is inclusive of all, is a violation of 1st amendment. It's not endorsing, it's voluntary.

-Atheist.

Are you the PP who said she was bothered by "both?" I interpreted that to mean "In God We Trust" and the First Amendment.

No, but I think that PP is bothered both by "In God We Trust" and the school hosting any kind of religious event - not bothered by 1a.