FCPS schools hosting religious events?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like the event is voluntary and outside of normal school hours. What’s the problem?

Exactly. Also curious who is sponsoring this. If it is a school club or PTA, then why not? Sure wish the OP would include the actual sender and sponsor...

OP here. The sender is [e-mail], with the school/FCPS logo, and has the emails from 2 school administrators at the bottom. So it directly sponsored and promoted by the school. This is not a volunteer or student-led event.

This does not seem legal. FCPS shouldn’t be hosting religious events. This is very different from community use of schools and international night. OP - send your concern to the FCPS auditor or your school board member.

Oh my god.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Strongly disapprove of public resources being used for a religious celebration.

I'm going to complain the next time my kid has to sing a Christmas song and a Hanukkah song at the winter chorus performance. Strongly disapprove of public resources being used for a religious celebration.

[Anonymous]

PEOPLE - YOU are the reason that we can't do ANYTHING in schools anymore. You're the reason Colonial Day got cancelled, you're the reason our school isn't allowed to go to Jamestown anymore, you're the reason kids can't have Halloween parades at school anymore. YOU. ARE. THE. REASON.

Thank you. Thank you so much for ruining school for everyone with your totally unwarranted and unnecessary outrage. If you don't approve of the dinner, just don't go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Strongly disapprove of public resources being used for a religious celebration.

I'm going to complain the next time my kid has to sing a Christmas song and a Hanukkah song at the winter chorus performance. Strongly disapprove of public resources being used for a religious celebration.

Our elementary school chorus has always been religion-neutral, even for the winter chorus. Absolutely no song even remotely related to Christmas. Most chorus songs are from some indigenous people in Africa or South America.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like the event is voluntary and outside of normal school hours. What’s the problem?

Bc it looks like fcps is promoting, advertising, and favoring a specific religious group.

Nothing they wouldn’t do for any other religious group. Do you know how many churches use school buildings on Sunday mornings?

And let’s not get into a debate on whether this is constitutional or not. It is.

Do the other religions get specialized emails sent out from the FCPS rolodex like the Muslims apparently do?
No.

I get emails about spring break and winter break every year.

Yes but these are now referred to as "spring break" and "winter break", not Easter or Christmas. And there are no school-hosted events for either (or Diwali, Lunar new year etc.)

The reason why there are no school hosted events on Christmas, is because the school is closed on Christmas (and Easter, and every Christian sabbath). Are you saying you'd rather they had a school day and some optional even in the evening? Because from my perspective (observant Catholic, if it makes a difference) I'd rather have the day off.

But if you're so jealous of this event, perhaps they could switch winter break till Ramadan, and then have a Christmas cookies with Santa type event? Would that work for you?

[Anonymous]

Iftar is barely in and of itself a religious event. It's just the breaking of fast every night. Seems easy to call it a cultural event.

Any other Frost parents who can confirm OP. Or knows more. I feel like she is purposely leaving something out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like the event is voluntary and outside of normal school hours. What’s the problem?

Bc it looks like fcps is promoting, advertising, and favoring a specific religious group.

Nothing they wouldn’t do for any other religious group. Do you know how many churches use school buildings on Sunday mornings?

And let’s not get into a debate on whether this is constitutional or not. It is.

The school cannot host it or promote it.

The community can, but FCPS cannot.

If FCPS is hosting and promoting it, this violates the law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Years ago at a talent show, our FCPS ES unwittingly allowed a religious dance that celebrated a deity, complete with a narrator explaining significance. I can only imagine the fallout had I sent my church’s lyrical dance troupe to perform to a Christian song. Or having a DC sing Ave Maria. Wouldn’t have even tried.

Are you kidding? Our local elementary school (FCPS) had almost ALL Christmas songs for its Winter concert even though it was after Christmas.

Were they religious songs, or songs like "Jingle Bells?"

There is actually multiple court precedent allowing these songs in educational settings from back when the court was liberal, starting in the 1970s.

Sacred music constitutes a significant majority of western choral and music historical tradition, and ommitting these pieces from school repetoire will deprive students from a comprehensive music education.

https://nafme.org/resource/sacred-music-in-schools/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like the event is voluntary and outside of normal school hours. What’s the problem?

Bc it looks like fcps is promoting, advertising, and favoring a specific religious group.

Nothing they wouldn’t do for any other religious group. Do you know how many churches use school buildings on Sunday mornings?

And let’s not get into a debate on whether this is constitutional or not. It is.

The school cannot host it or promote it.

The community can, but FCPS cannot.

If FCPS is hosting and promoting it, this violates the law.

And FCPS knows this so there is clearly some info that is being withheld.

[Anonymous]

It's an after school optional so who really cares? Go eat some food and learn some culture. Or don't.

[Anonymous]

I've DEFINITELY seen cultural events and markets for Christmas events and holiday shopping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've DEFINITELY seen cultural events and markets for Christmas events and holiday shopping.

Christmas markets are secular and have zero to do with the Christian part of Christmas.

They are European secular culture events.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like the event is voluntary and outside of normal school hours. What’s the problem?

Bc it looks like fcps is promoting, advertising, and favoring a specific religious group.

Nothing they wouldn’t do for any other religious group. Do you know how many churches use school buildings on Sunday mornings?

And let’s not get into a debate on whether this is constitutional or not. It is.

The school cannot host it or promote it.

The community can, but FCPS cannot.

If FCPS is hosting and promoting it, this violates the law.

As PP said - this is not a religious event. It is literally just breaking the fast. It's just a meal. The email OP posted said they would set aside private space for anyone who does want to pray, which means there will NOT be anything religious going on at this event, it's just a cultural celebration. Praying is being relegated to a different spot. Like if you wanted to say grace before your meal, you could do that privately, and then come eat with everyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've DEFINITELY seen cultural events and markets for Christmas events and holiday shopping.

Christmas markets are secular and have zero to do with the Christian part of Christmas.

They are European secular culture events.

Perfect, so you'll agree with what I just posted about the meal being a cultural event.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've DEFINITELY seen cultural events and markets for Christmas events and holiday shopping.

Christmas markets are secular and have zero to do with the Christian part of Christmas.

They are European secular culture events.

From this perspective, so is an iftaar. Although I'm not Muslim, I've been welcomed to and included in on some iftaar celebrations....which in a secular sense can be called "having dinner".