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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 20145
[Pagan]
Date Posted:
10/24/2008
3:35:02 pm EDT
Wvox Stats
Views: 3,279
RSS: 14,688
Comments: 6
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The Truth About Witches
Author: Kimberley Pietz Source: Union Leader (NH)
Title: THE TRUTH ABOUT WITCHES
Pinkerton senior Jerica Haynes may not be able to give the presentation she prepared about the religion of Wicca during Diversity Week this year, but she is still hopeful she can dispel some myths about what it means to be a modern-day practicing witch.
Diversity Week has been celebrated all week long at Pinkerton. Presentations on different religions, cultures and countries have aimed to bring students a greater understanding about the world around them. The first Diversity Week was held several years ago following a racial issue between a Latino and Caucasian student on campus, said Beth Hudson, a language teacher and member of the diversity committee.
Hudson, who is Haynes' American Sign Language teacher, asked her to create a presentation about Wicca for her peers to be presented during the specialized week. Haynes said she has always been open about her religion and agreed to participate.
After working on the presentation for a month, Haynes was told last week that she would not be able to deliver it because parents had complained to school officials.
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Community Thoughts: There are 6 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| ... | Oct 24th. at 9:28:19 pm EDT
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Draken (Bronx, New York) - Email Me - Web
Looks like the xians have gotten together to rattle their sabers against a Wiccan. As I've previously stated, they'll harass us since they can't kill us.
The girl's family should have lawyered up by now.
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| No Diversity Here.... | Oct 24th. at 6:18:35 pm EDT
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bigcat (peoria, Illinois) - Email Me
I guess the term "diversity" doesn't mean quite the same thing to all people. To some, it means it, only if the subjects are considered "safe"-meaning "approved".
Since it was not truly mandatory to sit and listen the only problem seems to be an equally age old one. Prejudice and ignorance.
Perhaps they should abolish Diversity week, since they have no real desire to be diverse-or to even entertain the notion that not everyone marches to the same step that they do. That way it would be a little more honest.
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| Derry Needs Education | Oct 24th. at 6:13:01 pm EDT
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Gardenias Book Store (Derry, New Hampshire) - Email Me
I sent a complaint to all Deans at Pinkerton
and The Union Leader. I truly hope this girls family sues. I am a Derry Nh Tax payer and I find this truly offensive, To Jerika I congratulate you for staying true to our religion. If there is anything we can do to help Please let us know. Donna Marie HPs The Gwiddon De Bedwin Stryd Owner Gardenias Book Store
603-432-3977
Find More info -- HERE
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| Here We Go Again | Oct 24th. at 5:25:49 pm EDT
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Rik Potter Butler, HP (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) - Email Me - Web
It is unfortunate that the weak-minded school officials allowed these parents to dictate which topics could be shared and which ones could not. Did the other students have to do their presentations in front of the committee first? What if non-Christian parents, or athiest parents, complained about the other religious presentations? Would they be dis-allowed as well? Why does it matter if someone complains?? When things like this happen, we need to bring Witchcraft and Wicca out into the open more than ever, so people can be educated about what it is and what it is not. I would encourage this girl to take legal action against the school, and to publish her presentation in the local newspaper. We cannot allow our voices to be hushed by religious conservatives.
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| Discrimination Suit Ahoy | Oct 24th. at 4:31:56 pm EDT
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Harmony (Saint Petersburg, Florida) - Email Me
If I were Ms. Haynes' mother, I'd have already had my attorney contact the school's attorney.
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| Some Diversity Week | Oct 24th. at 4:09:37 pm EDT
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Mysteries Child (Garfield, Arkansas) - Email Me
Sounds like they ought to call it, "Preferred Minority Week."
Diversity education projects are meant to reach people exactly like the parents in question here-- or at least their children-- with the idea that, while you do not have to embrace a given belief/lifestyle/whatever as your own, or even accept it as "OK," you do have to afford it reasonable tolerance (here defineded as the right to exist, to do so openly, and to speak its truth about itself, without fear of disproportionate institutional repression or crippling reprisal) .
I am not demanding that these parents-- or their children-- think in a certain way. I am asking only what I argue they also have a right to request-- that is, that they listen.
If efforts at honoring diversity are preempted from reaching the very people who most need them, they are of so little consequence as to be less than even symbolic.
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