Seventh grader’s Bible taken away while reading during free time at school

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The incident simply didn't happen. See below.
The following statement is issued by the superintendent of Marshall Public School:

We would like to thank those who have expressed an interest in the well-being of kids of Marshall schools. Recently there was a misunderstanding about a child being banned from reading the Bible or bringing one to school. In our investigation into the matter and after speaking to the child and his father, no individual was named as banning or discouraging any reading material. If it had been the case of an employee placing barriers on the student's rights, we would have visited with the individual and apologized to the family. We are happy to report that the child is, and has been, happily in school and his father very supportive of the district.
During school time when there is a choice in reading material, students are allowed to read whatever they wish, as long as it is age appropriate. This includes religious material. According to law, schools cannot promote religion, but we certainly cannot ban the practice and observance of students' beliefs. That would be a violation of civil rights and we believe, not ethical. Marshall Public Schools is a child-centered district that encourages expression and thought for all students. We also protect these rights for the adults in our organization.
As mentioned, we have visited with the child and his father and the relationship between them and the district is a good one. We look at this situation as an opportunity to grow, learn, and inform our community on school law, individual rights, and advocacy for kids. I will be conducting a workshop on school law on February 24th at 5:30 p.m. in the central office at the address below. All parents, community members, and other individuals are certainly encouraged to attend.
Again, thanks to all for the interest shown and involvement in Marshall Public Schools. We continue to welcome the opportunity to partner with individuals who promote the welfare of children. We wish the best to you and your family. Dr. Carol Maher

M. Carol Maher, PhD
Superintendent
Marshall Public Schools
 
christianteacher said:
The incident simply didn't happen. See below.
The following statement is issued by the superintendent of Marshall Public School:

We would like to thank those who have expressed an interest in the well-being of kids of Marshall schools. Recently there was a misunderstanding about a child being banned from reading the Bible or bringing one to school. In our investigation into the matter and after speaking to the child and his father, no individual was named as banning or discouraging any reading material. If it had been the case of an employee placing barriers on the student's rights, we would have visited with the individual and apologized to the family. We are happy to report that the child is, and has been, happily in school and his father very supportive of the district.
During school time when there is a choice in reading material, students are allowed to read whatever they wish, as long as it is age appropriate. This includes religious material. According to law, schools cannot promote religion, but we certainly cannot ban the practice and observance of students' beliefs. That would be a violation of civil rights and we believe, not ethical. Marshall Public Schools is a child-centered district that encourages expression and thought for all students. We also protect these rights for the adults in our organization.
As mentioned, we have visited with the child and his father and the relationship between them and the district is a good one. We look at this situation as an opportunity to grow, learn, and inform our community on school law, individual rights, and advocacy for kids. I will be conducting a workshop on school law on February 24th at 5:30 p.m. in the central office at the address below. All parents, community members, and other individuals are certainly encouraged to attend.
Again, thanks to all for the interest shown and involvement in Marshall Public Schools. We continue to welcome the opportunity to partner with individuals who promote the welfare of children. We wish the best to you and your family. Dr. Carol Maher

M. Carol Maher, PhD
Superintendent
Marshall Public Schools
Click to expand...
Have a link to that anywhere?
 
christianteacher said:
The incident simply didn't happen. See below.
The following statement is issued by the superintendent of Marshall Public School:

We would like to thank those who have expressed an interest in the well-being of kids of Marshall schools. Recently there was a misunderstanding about a child being banned from reading the Bible or bringing one to school. In our investigation into the matter and after speaking to the child and his father, no individual was named as banning or discouraging any reading material. If it had been the case of an employee placing barriers on the student's rights, we would have visited with the individual and apologized to the family. We are happy to report that the child is, and has been, happily in school and his father very supportive of the district.
During school time when there is a choice in reading material, students are allowed to read whatever they wish, as long as it is age appropriate. This includes religious material. According to law, schools cannot promote religion, but we certainly cannot ban the practice and observance of students' beliefs. That would be a violation of civil rights and we believe, not ethical. Marshall Public Schools is a child-centered district that encourages expression and thought for all students. We also protect these rights for the adults in our organization.
As mentioned, we have visited with the child and his father and the relationship between them and the district is a good one. We look at this situation as an opportunity to grow, learn, and inform our community on school law, individual rights, and advocacy for kids. I will be conducting a workshop on school law on February 24th at 5:30 p.m. in the central office at the address below. All parents, community members, and other individuals are certainly encouraged to attend.
Again, thanks to all for the interest shown and involvement in Marshall Public Schools. We continue to welcome the opportunity to partner with individuals who promote the welfare of children. We wish the best to you and your family. Dr. Carol Maher

M. Carol Maher, PhD
Superintendent
Marshall Public Schools
Click to expand...
If that letter is real, I'm trying to parse the sentence in bold, then compare it to the claim that this event didn't happen.
Sometimes shifty legal words are used to give them wiggle room.
no individual was named as banning
Click to expand...

All that says is that no individual was named.
In the world of slick legal talk and wiggle room, that doesn't mean the event didn't happen.
It just means someone wasn't named.
Why not just clearly say..."This event didn't happen."

Also twice it says...
We are happy to report that the child is, and has been, happily in school and his father very supportive of the district.
Click to expand...

As mentioned, we have visited with the child and his father and the relationship between them and the district is a good one.
Click to expand...

The child being happily in school, and the parent's being in a good relationship now, doesn't mean the event didn't happen.
All it means is that maybe they cleared the air and everyone is happy now.
 
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One thing that I find strange about the story is that the dad admitted that he hadn't talked to the teacher or administrators yet but instead went straight to the media about it.

Justin says he hasn’t been able to talk to the teacher in question or the principal because of the Christmas break, but he plans to talk to them when school reopens on Tuesday.
Click to expand...
 
christianteacher said:
The incident simply didn't happen. See below.
The following statement is issued by the superintendent of Marshall Public School:

We would like to thank those who have expressed an interest in the well-being of kids of Marshall schools. Recently there was a misunderstanding about a child being banned from reading the Bible or bringing one to school. In our investigation into the matter and after speaking to the child and his father, no individual was named as banning or discouraging any reading material. If it had been the case of an employee placing barriers on the student's rights, we would have visited with the individual and apologized to the family. We are happy to report that the child is, and has been, happily in school and his father very supportive of the district.
During school time when there is a choice in reading material, students are allowed to read whatever they wish, as long as it is age appropriate. This includes religious material. According to law, schools cannot promote religion, but we certainly cannot ban the practice and observance of students' beliefs. That would be a violation of civil rights and we believe, not ethical. Marshall Public Schools is a child-centered district that encourages expression and thought for all students. We also protect these rights for the adults in our organization.
As mentioned, we have visited with the child and his father and the relationship between them and the district is a good one. We look at this situation as an opportunity to grow, learn, and inform our community on school law, individual rights, and advocacy for kids. I will be conducting a workshop on school law on February 24th at 5:30 p.m. in the central office at the address below. All parents, community members, and other individuals are certainly encouraged to attend.
Again, thanks to all for the interest shown and involvement in Marshall Public Schools. We continue to welcome the opportunity to partner with individuals who promote the welfare of children. We wish the best to you and your family. Dr. Carol Maher

M. Carol Maher, PhD
Superintendent
Marshall Public Schools
Click to expand...
I tried searching Google for this letter. The first sentence was pasted in. Nothing showed up.
Then I went to the Marashall Public School website, and didn't see anything.
Their Facebook page has nothing.

You'd think with such a highly visible event, this letter would be plastered all over the place.
Not even a trace.

I will be conducting a workshop on school law on February 24th at 5:30 p.m. in the central office at the address below
Click to expand...

Marshall Public Schools

I searched the school calendar for February for that.
Nada.

Also the media sources give no indication in their stories of a correction or retraction.

Was the above letter sent out through email?
 
Her district page has an email. I emailed and asked if she wrote it, and how it was released.
We'll see if she replies.
 
christianteacher said:
The incident simply didn't happen. See below.
The following statement is issued by the superintendent of Marshall Public School:

We would like to thank those who have expressed an interest in the well-being of kids of Marshall schools. Recently there was a misunderstanding about a child being banned from reading the Bible or bringing one to school. In our investigation into the matter and after speaking to the child and his father, no individual was named as banning or discouraging any reading material. If it had been the case of an employee placing barriers on the student's rights, we would have visited with the individual and apologized to the family. We are happy to report that the child is, and has been, happily in school and his father very supportive of the district.
During school time when there is a choice in reading material, students are allowed to read whatever they wish, as long as it is age appropriate. This includes religious material. According to law, schools cannot promote religion, but we certainly cannot ban the practice and observance of students' beliefs. That would be a violation of civil rights and we believe, not ethical. Marshall Public Schools is a child-centered district that encourages expression and thought for all students. We also protect these rights for the adults in our organization.
As mentioned, we have visited with the child and his father and the relationship between them and the district is a good one. We look at this situation as an opportunity to grow, learn, and inform our community on school law, individual rights, and advocacy for kids. I will be conducting a workshop on school law on February 24th at 5:30 p.m. in the central office at the address below. All parents, community members, and other individuals are certainly encouraged to attend.
Again, thanks to all for the interest shown and involvement in Marshall Public Schools. We continue to welcome the opportunity to partner with individuals who promote the welfare of children. We wish the best to you and your family. Dr. Carol Maher

M. Carol Maher, PhD
Superintendent
Marshall Public Schools
Click to expand...

Joined today? One post? It's a bit suspect, without factoring in everything else.
 
Tintin said:
Joined today? One post? It's a bit suspect, without factoring in everything else.
Click to expand...
The only place this letter shows up online in a Google search is CC.
You'd think they'd release it to the media, they'd publish, do a correction or retraction of the story.
Usually the Blogosphere gets ahold of things and chatters.
Certainly an atheist blog would have gotten ahold of this to debunk the story by now.

Nopes...nada.
 
If this letter is real, CC can get major cred as the first place a major national news story was debunked.
 
Got an email back.
CC is the first to break this story from what I can tell from Google results...

Hello: Yes, I did write this release and it was sent via email to all employees and Board members of the district. It was also released to radio, newspaper, and television outlets. I have since held two interviews with representatives of these media outlets. Thank you very much for your interest. Carol Maher

M. Carol Maher, PhD
Superintendent
Marshall Public Schools
Click to expand...
 
Tintin said:
Wow. You already received a reply? Great work, Still!
Click to expand...
Yeah I contacted her back, and suggested posting it in social media, a blog, and on their website.
Major media is obviously slow or not interested in publishing the correction.
The blogger-o-sphere will gladly publish and comment and spread this around.
Bloggers always want content, and always LOVE to be "first" in reporting.
Given how far this story has spread it's only proper that the correction spread as far.
 
GodIsSalvation said:
So basically from this response they are claiming no such incident ever happened?
Click to expand...
Haha, that's what I'm trying to figure out.
In the normal world that isn't my hyper-parsing mind, her letter would mean this event did not happen.
Earlier I said..

no individual was named as banning
Click to expand...
All that says is that no individual was named.
In the world of slick legal talk and wiggle room, that doesn't mean the event didn't happen.
It just means someone wasn't named.
Why not just clearly say..."This event didn't happen."
Click to expand...

I just sent her this in an email. Hopefully I'm not being too petty and skeptical.

One more thing. Hopefully.

I have a bad, or maybe good habit, of hyper-parsing statements.


Does the statement below mean no child was told they couldn't read the Bible?
Meaning this event did not happen at all? No wiggle room.
Or does it simply mean no one was named, but the event did happen?


"no individual was named as banning or discouraging any reading material."


Thanks again for your time.
Click to expand...

Not sure if she'll reply or roll her eyes.
 
1still_waters said:
Haha, that's what I'm trying to figure out.
In the normal world that isn't my hyper-parsing mind, her letter would mean this event did not happen.
Earlier I said..




I just sent her this in an email. Hopefully I'm not being too petty and skeptical.



Not sure if she'll reply or roll her eyes.
Click to expand...

Yea I understood your reasoning. Though my point isn't so much on the teacher, for clearly the teacher banned the child because of his religion, merely s/he has not been named. Note how the superintendent says that the incident was misunderstood as well, which implies some incident did actually occur.

The solution provided is equally hilarious in that she says in so many meaningless words that they are going to do a lot of meaningless talking, but not take any real action against the offender.
 
GodIsSalvation said:
So basically from this response they are claiming no such incident ever happened?
Click to expand...

HA! My hyper-parsing detected a non-answer.
She just replied back...

My email to her.

One more thing. Hopefully.I have a bad, or maybe good habit, of hyper-parsing statements.


Does the statement below mean no child was told they couldn't read the Bible?
Meaning this event did not happen at all? No wiggle room.
Or does it simply mean no one was named, but the event did happen?



"no individual was named as banning or discouraging any reading material."


Thanks again for your time.
Click to expand...

Her reply to the email.
Thanks for the reply. The family involved said the memories had been lost. I really don't know what that means, but I want to support the young man, so we're leaving it at that. I do know that he is very happy and Dad has been a great parent with whom to work. Also, as one who teaches school law classes at the University of Missouri, social justice is a theme that runs through everything an organization I lead does. I would not allow anyone to tell a child they couldn't express threirreligious beliefs. Besides, it's against the law. Thanks again. CM

M. Carol Maher, PhD
Superintendent
Marshall Public Schools
Click to expand...

-----------
Reference previous post...
http://christianchat.com/christian-...ng-during-free-time-school-2.html#post1843532



If that letter is real, I'm trying to parse the sentence in bold, then compare it to the claim that this event didn't happen.
Sometimes shifty legal words are used to give them wiggle room.

no individual was named as banning


All that says is that no individual was named.
In the world of slick legal talk and wiggle room, that doesn't mean the event didn't happen.
It just means someone wasn't named.
Why not just clearly say..."This event didn't happen."

Also twice it says...

We are happy to report that the child is, and has been, happily in school and his father very supportive of the district.






As mentioned, we have visited with the child and his father and the relationship between them and the district is a good one.


The child being happily in school, and the parent's being in a good relationship now, doesn't mean the event didn't happen.
All it means is that maybe they cleared the air and everyone is happy now.
 
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Note also the woman subtley shows you exactly how they're going to try play this off so that they can throw the victim (the child) under the bus. The key clue is her "age appropriate" comment. Which seems to imply they will attempt to call the Bible inappropriate for the boy's age. Which is rather hilarious as Middle School is when you read Huckleberry Finn which is famous for being chock full of racial epithets, or Edgar Allan Poe which is just macabre.
 
You should ask her out stilly. Your memories could ''become lost''as well if it doesn't go well.
 
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