Saturday, 17 September 2011
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Clash in the Classroom: Freedom of Religion and Freedom from Religion
My mother works as a physical education teacher in an elementary school. She has had many students with many different needs, but she has one student this year whose needs seem to be a bit more than the school should be required to accommodate.This particular student is, to the best of our knowledge, a member of some extreme sect of Islam -- just based on his mother wearing a traditional hijab where only her eyes show. He cannot shake hands with women, but that's not really a big issue. The problem comes from another of his requirements: he cannot listen to music.
Not American music, or rap music, just music -- all music of any kind. He cannot attend music class at all, but that's only one day in a six day cycle in our district, and it's also not a federally mandated course. Physical education, on the other hand, is.
Anyone who works out knows that music adds a lot to your motivation and energy while exercising. My mother plays music in the gym almost every day.
She asked what she was supposed to do and was told, "We need to accommodate him."
She called me last night to tell me about this and asked rhetorically, "So the other 27 students in class with him can't have the benefit of music while they're playing games? They have to miss out on something the other 400 students in the school get to enjoy because he's in the class?"
Touche, mom.
She asked him what he usually did in school when there was music, and he said he just left the room and sat outside.
My mother proposed that this is even more ridiculous, because he will inevitably hear music all day. Sitting right outside the gym doors, he'll be hearing it loud and clear, so what purpose does that serve? She'll be playing it in the gym during other classes' gym times, and if he walks by he'll hear it.
What about graduation? Can he not march on stage while Pomp and Circumstance is playing?
After we talked about this for a while we both got quiet and she said, "Religion is so sick." Especially in this context I could not agree with her more. I understand not wanting your kids to hear certain kinds of music, or particular artists, but what the hell is so wrong with Beethoven that any god would forbid it?
Music is beautiful and precious. It infiltrates all aspects of our lives. You'll be hard pressed to find more than a few scarce cultures around the world that don't have music. It's in every movie, in every television show, during every commercial, in every mall and dentist's office.
As a musician myself I practically want to cry imaging what I would do if someone told me I could never sing or play piano. Anyway, that's not the point.
At what point does accommodating a person's religion and allowing them to practice it as they see fit interfere too much with others' freedom from religion? By not playing music for his class in gym, his religious values will be protected but those same values will also be forced onto the other kids in the room. How is that fair?
Similar, though obviously more serious, debates happen surprisingly often with medical issues. Many religions forbid certain medical procedures -- Jehovah's witnesses, Christian Scientists, Amish -- and parents have had their children die by refusing them these treatment. Courts have then gone on to rule that these parents were not criminally negligent.
Any parent refusing a life saving medical treatment for their child for any reason other than religion would without a doubt be jailed for such actions. Why should a person's religious beliefs exempt them from such scrutiny?
Other much less serious issues crop up along the same vein. For example, one may not lead a prayer inside a classroom, but one is allowed to hold voluntary prayers on school grounds provided it is not during class time. Religious groups can form in schools, though they cannot receive funding. In my personal opinion, this particular freedom of religion does not at all impede my freedom from it, but that's just me.
Where do you think freedom of religion ends and freedom from religion begin? What would you do if you were the teacher in a situation like this? Have you ever experienced a situation in which one person's religious beliefs impeded on the beliefs of others?
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- From: jenessa1889@xanga
- About Me: I've just finished my bachelors in psychology this spring and I started a ph D. program in neuroscience in August. I try to treat everyone with respect and to be open minded to all ideas. I like to think and debate about things, particularly in philosophy and politics. I ask questions a lot. I love to learn. I love anything artistic. I'm very touchy-feely with the people I'm close too. I'm very liberal, but I understand why some conservative ideals exist, even if I don't agree with them. I'm very against drugs (that includes alcohol), but if that were a requirement for all my friends I wouldn’t have any haha. I love life and I find myself moved to tears on a regular basis by simple little things. Sometimes I randomly think of something funny and I have to try really hard not to burst out laughing so I don’t look crazy. I like using big words.
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Comments (26)
I would probably ask the parents if this is really where they want to raise their child. It doesn't make any sense for them to be there if they can't "be there". Poor kid.
This is, to say the least, a difficult situation. There is literally nowhere the child can go in a public school to avoid all music and to expect an entire school to be silent to accomodate a single student is...well, impossible. The best thing to do in this case may be to have a meeting with the child's parents and explain that it is physically impossible to prevent their child from hearing any music, and see if perhaps some agreement can be reached? Sitting the child outside of a class is going to cause peer issues, as he will be subject to scrutiny and could be the target of bullying because he is so different. Kids tend to focus on differences rather than ignore/embrace them and it doesn't take much for a child to become the target of harassment.
If it were me, I'd rather allow my child access to an element I may not like very much than create an atmosphere of alienation that leads to my child's life being made a hell during his school years. There is far more here to consider than religious issues. Their son's acceptance into his peer group and the ability to make friends are so important.
Would a meeting be possible? A lot can be cleared up if everyone is heard and all possible solutions are considered.
@ZombieMom_Speaks@xanga - i didn't even think of that but you're totally right. there will certainly be some kids who do not take kindly to his differences
I agree with you, but i think its irresponsible to lump ALL religion in with this one issue.
And to answer your question... because we have freedom of religion. Its our FIRST ammendment. I may not agree with all, and i CERTAINLY don't agree with any religion that condones violence. However, you act as if these things are not accomodated. They are. For example: Jehova's Witnesses are accomodated by alternatives to blood products. I know. I'm a nurse.
Wait a minute, PE courses have music now? All I had in my PE courses was yelling coaches.
Not going to judge his religion but isn't there a simple solution to this? Heard of these things called ear plugs?
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho [with music] and the walls came tumbling down. God gave us a need for music. This Islamic group is not following the Bible, but has made an arbitrary choice to forbid music. Its arbitrary choice adversely affects the rest of the students -- who are not Islamic. What will these kids now think about Islam?
I'm Catholic and we don't eat meat on Fridays. I don't force my religious ways on anyone else, and I do not look down on who eat meat on Fridays. Religion should not impose its ways on others when it comes to music or abstaining from meat. We are to reach out to the world by way of example, but not force with power (like legal power) our practices on others. All systems of force and power are not of God.
I am all for the boy being able to go without music. The school should help meet his needs... within reason. The other kids in the school should be able to hear music. This Islamic Sect should publicly say that it is not their intention to deprive others of music.
@TNLNSL_PRN@xanga - Agreed. Religion in general isn't "sick", just some people.
@Red_Apocalypse_Horse@xanga - That was my first thought! Although if he can't hear anything, he'll have trouble hearing the teacher's instructions as well, which is problematic and potentially dangerous.
the solution is quite simple.
if he is not allowed to hear music of any kind, then for the sake of his religion, the parents should simply take a spike and with a mallet and hammer it through both of his ears.
done and done.
actually, if they are so against the trappings of this world that even music offends, why not just opt for a quick trip to paradise now?
their restrictions are too irritating for this world. their best bet is to exit it as soon as possible.
jesus fucking christ that kid is going to grow up to be a nuisance to whatever society he belongs to.
This is a good example of one of the problems will our public school system. Too bad no one at the school could inform the parents that music is used in many classes and they simply cannot accommodate the needs of one student over the benefit of the rest of the school. If they do not like that, they should have the option to pursue an alternative education for their son, whether it be at a religious school or with homeschooling. But of course our schools are not allowed to turn a child away for such a reason.
I agree with the general agreement: the kid should be home schooled. either that, or I wonder if something rhythmic in nature would constitute music to this Muslim group... perhaps instead of song, they can listen to drumming?
@jinchoung@xanga - You sound like an ass. You probably aren't one, but you sure sound like one. You really should show some respect if you want to receive it.
@nodnarbassoon@xanga - i dunno. they'd deprive their child of music... how far of a leap is it to deny all sound? sound is enjoyable. why not take that away too?
everybody's so busy here trying to be reasonable with an unreasonable problem. i think it's better to respond to unreasonableness with full on insanity and maybe hope to shock some sense into ludicrous imbeciles with truly demented restrictions like making music verboten.
either that or just grab their lapels and shake vigorously while screaming continuously into the face "what's wrong with you?"
or getting them in a headlock and attempting to noogie the stupid out.
It's just truly sad that they are so afraid that their child will be "influenced" in any way because of Beethoven or Bach... >_>
On the other hand - Psalm 100 1-5
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
@StatelessPilot - That was my thought, the homeschooling bit (maybe not so much all the rest haha). Last time I checked most parents who want to raise their children in a particular religious environment either put them in a private religious school or homeschool. It is ridiculous to ask a public school to fully and completely accommodate strict religious values. That's like expecting a school to serve vegan food. Pack the lunch if you want your kid to eat vegan.
@Digital_Angel21@xanga - Yeah, I don't think public schools should have to bend over backwards to accommodate that shit either. I remember when I was living in Abilene TX the House of Yahweh had their weird cult-like practices and the city pretty much made the schools bend the rules for them. It was stupid.
I don't understand the big deal about music anyway. I'd go nuts if I didn't have it. Guitar keeps me sane and busy. Lindy keeps me flexible and toned. What's not to like?
@Rob_of_the_Sky@xanga - Yeah, there was never any music in my gym class, either.
Regarding the post, I guess they could come up with some alternative. However, the situation is quite absurd.
there should be no music in his classes and the rest of you should be okay with that.
Why is there music in gym anyway? It's not necessary. Also, why doesn't he just not take gym? I think the school would give him some type of exeption.
@anenigmaofsorts@xanga - if his parents are that fussy, he shouldn't be in public school. It's not upto the school to give him exceptions for everything.
I love how all of you are saying he needs to listen to music or leave. I'm assuming this is public school, right? Well, there may be a reason he can't go to a private school. Whatever the reason, a teacher needs to talk to the parents to get a better understanding of the religion.
This is his culture and everyone is different. It's not as though his needs involve cannibalism or human sacrifice. It's only music, as of right now. Music is great, and has many benefits for everyone, young and old and his denial of music sounds like the denial of dance in "Footloose". However, you shouldn't push your ideas on someone else.
You guys are also worried about how he'd be ridiculed. Well, if you make a big deal about it, of course he will be. If teachers show understanding toward different cultures, then other students will be more likely to be open to them (not a guarantee, but it definitely is more likely).
It should be up to the boy not the parents .
@written_conversations@xanga - I think it's more than a little offensive to call his parents "fussy" for following their religion. And yes, actually it is the school's job to accommodate him.
@anenigmaofsorts@xanga - You can't deprive a whole year group of music which is normally part of the curriculum, (and most classes also use videos which contain music too), just because of one person. If you don't want your child to be around music (which is a personal choice), you should home-school him.