Ohio School District Accused of Discriminating Against Religious -- Except Muslims
by Jim Brown
November 2, 2006
(AgapePress) - - A school district in the Cincinnati, Ohio, area is being accused of discriminating against Christian students while giving special treatment to Muslims and homosexuals. Some residents of the city of Mason are outraged that Kevin Bright, district superintendent for Mason City School District, recently provided a prayer and fasting room for two Muslim students during Ramadan.
Complaining Mason residents have observed that no special room was set up for Christians or students of other religious persuasions for prayer during lunch. They also note that Easter break is now called "spring break," and certain kinds of Christmas displays are banned from the city schools' campuses.
Mason School Board member Jennifer Miller says the school district's diversity panel is working to appease both Muslims and homosexuals in the school district lately. However, she notes, "Christianity was not represented on that panel. They do not tolerate any type of religious or Christian activity."
In fact, Miller observes, far from simply avoiding any promotion of Christian faith expression or Christian activity, the panel and other school officials "discourage that from happening on our campuses." She says there seems to be a concerted effort afoot in the district to expand tolerance for everything except Christian values.
Sharon Poe, a member of the group Citizens for Accountability and Responsibility in Education (CARE), believes students of other faiths who attend the school in Mason should be given access to the room that was provided for the Muslim students' use. For instance, she says she would like to see Christian students allowed to use the space for celebrating Christmas.
"They can maybe bring in their Nativity scenes, and their crosses and their Bibles and hold a Christmas party -- not a holiday party," Poe suggests. "I'd also [encourage school officials] to allow the Jewish community to use the room, if they so desire, for their high holy days and light their menorah," she says.
Nativity scenes are banned under current Mason City School District policy, Poe notes. Also, she says the district schools avoid use of the religious term, Easter, in association with that seasonal religious holiday.
Jim Brown, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
