| Author | Message | ||
     Soda Citizen Username: Soda Post Number: 2084 Registered: 5-2001  |
I'm proud to be a citizen of of the Republic of MOL. -s.  | ||
| Straw's world Citizen Username: Strawberry Post Number: 4094 Registered: 10-2001 |
The People's Republic of MOL. Might as well call it what it is. | ||
| Debby Citizen Username: Debby Post Number: 1394 Registered: 5-2001 |
"My kids' classes this year are learning about Channukah, Christmas, and Ramadan. " I always wondered about that when I lived in town. Isn't Ramadan (a holy month marked by all-day fasts) really analogous to Lent? It's hardly a celebration like Christmas or Chanukah. I suppose some years it falls around the same time as the others, but it is not similar in any other way. Perhaps Id al-fitr would be more appropriate? | ||
| Lydia Citizen Username: Lydial Post Number: 788 Registered: 5-2001 |
Festivus anyone? BTW - I'm not ashamed to live in Maplewood/SO, I like their moxie. The BOE's motives are well-intentioned but I think it's throwing the (itty-bitty) baby (from Bethlehem) out with the bath water. | ||
| Innisowen Citizen Username: Innisowen Post Number: 304 Registered: 3-2004 |
It seems as though the education bureaucrats (who probably could never be credited with one iota of an original thought) have decided to adhere to the letter of the law and local regulations, even if the literal interpretation were never intended. It puts Maplewood/South Orange into a laughingstock, but that will be forgotten when the next well-intentioned ED bureaucrat does the same thing in Oregon, California, Washington State or elsewhere. | ||
| fringe Citizen Username: Fringe Post Number: 650 Registered: 5-2001 |
Why should South Orangians be embarrassed, I don't see/hear the name of that town very often in the news stories at issue. | ||
| extuscan Citizen Username: Extuscan Post Number: 381 Registered: 6-2001 |
themp: you said: "Weather Underground meeting in the public library has been cancelled, by the way" Oh baby you don't know how close to home you cut it with that one! Mark Rudd went to COLUMBIA HIGH SCHOOL! Or maybe you did know that, but everyone else needed to be let in on your joke. John | ||
| bobk Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 6945 Registered: 5-2001 |
Ex, is he in the Hall of Fame?  | ||
| extuscan Citizen Username: Extuscan Post Number: 382 Registered: 6-2001 |
I have this hunch you don't believe me! Look it up yourself... | ||
| Tom Reingold Citizen Username: Noglider Post Number: 4697 Registered: 1-2003  |
If enough people talk about the music ban as if it's an attempt to wipe religion out of schools, I might flop over to the other side and start favoring the ban. Students do not have a right to promote religion in schools. I oppose the ban not because I want to promote or preserve religion. I oppose it because it is a disservice to music education. I believe there is a way to teach religious music without it being a religious celebration. Those who don't see how to do that have a thing or two to learn about music and about education. The right to be free from religion trumps the right to have your religion in school. I'm not embarrassed to live here. At least not yet. To people with a shallow view of this debate, we look silly. I think lots of good points have been raised, from many viewpoints. I can't care enough to help those who have shallow views from afar. | ||
| Soda Citizen Username: Soda Post Number: 2089 Registered: 5-2001 |
He lived on the S/W corner of Maplewood & Jefferson, I believe. -s. BTW: Tucker: South Orangians? South Orangites? South Oranginos? South Orangese? | ||
| cjc Citizen Username: Cjc Post Number: 2890 Registered: 8-2003 |
I'm not embarrassed. I find telling people where I live now is a great ice-breaker. | ||
| mtierney Citizen Username: Mtierney Post Number: 686 Registered: 3-2001 |
Before Midtown Direct and the arrival of hordes of the well-heeled, Maplewood had a Center on Maplewod Avenue and thus was referred to as Maplewood Center. Maplewood folks are still, I believe, referred to as Maplewoodians. People living in South Orange were always called Villagers. But, now we have a village in Maplewood and a village in South Orange! Who was it that said "it takes a village?" the Chamber of Comerce, of course.  | ||
| musicme Citizen Username: Musicme Post Number: 904 Registered: 5-2001  |
Nobody expects The Spanish Inquisition! | ||
| bottomline Citizen Username: Bottomline Post Number: 138 Registered: 8-2003 |
I've had friends and acquaintances from all around NY and NJ ask me about this situation, usually with mild derision in their voices. I’m not embarrassed to live in Maplewood but I am embarrassed to have a board and administration that put forth such a mindless policy. | ||
| Michael Janay Citizen Username: Childprotect Post Number: 1360 Registered: 1-2003  |
Why couldn't we not offend anyone by having a concert where ALL faths are represented in song. Songs from all over the world, from all different faiths (like those represented in the school). I know it sounds impossible, after all there are so many different faiths, holidays, and views. But I truly believe that no one will be offended if a serious effort is made to be inclusive, not to just tack on Dreidel dreidel dreidel. There are beautiful songs from all over the world that celebrate different festivals, cultures, and religions. Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Festivus, Atheism, Wicca, paganism, etc. Lets celebrate diversity and not offend anyone by exposing our kids and community to MORE songs, more culture, more diversity. Not by banning them. | ||
| Ily Citizen Username: Ily Post Number: 142 Registered: 7-2004  |
Michael, I'm frustrated by your suggestion because it seems so simple: containing compromise, inclusivness and good will. Due to lazyness, ignorance, intolerance, close mindedness, and who knows what else, the BOE has closed the subject. Are these are the qualitites we want in the people responsible for teaching our children? | ||
| Montagnard Citizen Username: Montagnard Post Number: 1349 Registered: 6-2003  |
I don't feel embarassed, but I certainly look forward to the next School Board election. | ||
| tjohn Citizen Username: Tjohn Post Number: 2781 Registered: 12-2001  |
Michael is right. The school board is wrong. I can see where you wouldn't want to force students to sing songs of other faiths in the mandatory classroom setting. But why can't a voluntary choir or ensemble chose from the full range of music from many cultures and faiths. | ||
| bobk Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 6975 Registered: 5-2001 |
Michael, what you suggest is what the schools did for many years. |
