Madeline? Reading to K class. Need opinions!

[Anonymous]

It is my turn to read to my daughter's (K) class. She wants Madeline. I'm wondering if the ending of, "Good night, little girls! Thank the lord you are well! And now go to sleep..." is appropriate for public school? (They DO recite "under God" during the Pledge, FWIW.)

And please, the part, "...he rushed out to the phone and he dialed DANton-ten-six..." DANton sounds like Dayton, correct? I hate to sound dumb in front of the teacher!

First World problems, I know. But thanks!

[Anonymous]

I have read Madeline to my students and I am also an atheist. I just read it and didn't give it much thought.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure it's fine. And I'm a super pro-secular atheist. After all, our school system is so screwed up they do the pledge of allegiance with "under god" in it.

[Anonymous]

Isn't the book set in a convent? With nuns, etc? So the whole setting is religious. I know that's not the point of the book, but the "lord" reference is certainly not out of place.

It would be different if you were leading a prayer or something, but I think religion can still be mentioned in public schools, just not "established".

Danton should (I'm pretty sure) be pronounced DAHN-ton.

[Anonymous]

Madeline is a classic children's book. It's not trying to convert children or make them "pledge" anything to anyone. Don't over think it. It's a clever and amusing book.

[Anonymous]

I'm a former K teacher. When parents come in, I want them to read books their kids love, that take into account that kids attention spans are shorter in groups. Madeline is perfect.

I don't teach religion, but I teach about it. We talk about the word Pastor when we talk about MLK. We'll admire a picture of a church when it comes up in a book. I have no problem with the line in this context.

Also, despite having read the book many times, I can't remember the phone numbers, so if you read it as Dayton or Danton, even if it's not how I'd pronounce it, I wouldn't remember the spelling so I wouldn't have any idea if you were right or wrong.

Have fun!

[Anonymous]

I skip the "lord" part when I read it to my own kid. I wouldn't care if you read it in my kids class.

[Anonymous]

It's fine. You are seriously overthinking this imo. Madeleine is a wonderful book.