Stepping outside small town box

Being a senior here at BVU, I thought I could rid myself of any high school drama. Usually the drama comes out via Facebook or other social networks. This time high school drama came in the way of the Des Moines Register.

In my high school, the industrial arts teacher was suspended for not letting a student build a Wiccan alter during class. This teacher had previously denied a student from making a cross during class in the past.

I guess I should give you a small background on my hometown. It is a small community around less than 1,200 members, mostly white, and mostly of the Christian faith. We have around eight churches in our community. None of these churches go outside the Christian or Catholic beliefs.

The student’s beliefs of Wiccan focus on worshipping the environment. Contrary to a majority of the people’s beliefs in my hometown, it has nothing to do with worshipping the devil.

Anyway, the teacher was suspended for not letting the student make this alter. His thoughts? According to the Des Moines Register the teacher is quoted as saying, ““I am just trying to be moral. I don’t know how we can profess to be Christians and let this go on.”

What is even worse is that 70 plus students in my old high school signed a petition to bring the teacher back. The superintendent said something that struck me to be true, his quote from the Des Moines Register, “I think it’s fear based on some of the old ideas people had about witchcraft.  It’s fear and a lack of knowledge about the unknown.”

I guess who is to say what religion is right or better. Being a Christian does not make you higher or mightier than all others.

Open a book. Learn about something else. If you do not take the time to learn about others you are completely worthless in and for society.

The students and community members need to learn something outside of Christianity. The world is full of amazing ideas and endless possibilities. My town is missing out on all of this!

My high school principal and superintendent got it right. You cannot deny a student’s right to express religion through school work. If you do, see you later!

I know people will not like that idea, but according to state and federal laws, one cannot discriminate a student for expressing his or her beliefs in school assignments. Some might think that Christianity is not let into schools, and well, maybe not through the Pledge of Allegiance or celebration of holidays. Students do have the right to express their religion through their class work (i.e., writing a paper). If they want to do this, go ahead. Nobody should stop them.

Should the teacher have been suspended? Of course. He and the federal laws should get together and have a meeting.

Students out there, express your religion. Open the minds of others.

The fear of the unknown has swept through my small town, and I think it will be bringing lots of new ideas to the town. But really, it probably just closed the minds of my hometown even more.