"Wiccan isn't a religion, it's a witch practice and that has no part of religion. People won't like me saying this but it's a fact."

I'd love to see some proof of your "fact" lyndee.

How about doing some research on yout "facts" before you go making a fool out of yourself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicca

http://www.witchvox.com/

justsaynotomath,
You have a Master's in education and you home school your kids. I have to ask this since your username is "justsaynotomath": Do you teach your kids math? Just wondering...

there is only 1. Move on in life and quit complaining. We have enough so called holidays. Dont need anymore. This is america if you dont like it move to that country and celibrate it there!

With all these issuse about holy days and make up days, oh yeah don't forget the teachers contract talks.(which I think that you people that make it your life to teach our children should be thanked.) Who is figuring out the ways to help our kids learn and want to be at school. It just makes me wonder. Are we losing the main goal here, to give the kids the tools they need to continue to grow and learn to make it in the real world.

I am an atheist. With that said, I take no offense to making sure that everyone with religious beliefs is allowed to have their holy days considered by the school district for days off. One of our country's greatest virtues is freedom of religious expression, and I think everyone should be treated equally and fairly.

lyndee5-get your facts straight. Wicca is a religion recognized in this country and elsewhere. Wiccans are not satanists, or devil worshipers.
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cartrader-evolution, not creator.
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The question posed was intended to ask which religious holidays should be observed in Janesville schools. I agree with twerp13.

Might there be less than 1 creator? Maybe 1/3? Maybe there is 1 composed of many separate and unique but interlocking parts?

Hmm?

Get a life people it's 1 God 1 Nation it's that simple. Do people really think there is more than 1 creator.

Wiccan isn't a religion, it's a witch practice and that has no part of religion. People won't like me saying this but it's a fact.

Its fun when debates like this make people use the name of their god to spite others like Wlgalfor17 did in that post. GOD must really appreciate that.

As someone else said, it is not about teaching religion in the schools, it is about which days they should have off for religious holidays. Let's be fair about it and eliminated all days off that are religious in nature. If parents want to call their child in absent so they can observe such days then so be it.

Besides I think the kids have too many days off during the school year as it is. I know how hard it is to get them to listen just before a big greak, and even after they come back, many have to review material that was forgotten. Just have them off for the Federal holidays and be done with it. Maybe then our kids can get out of school by May 31st.

Just a thought.

i think i have tons of tolerance as anyone who has conversations with the religious right has to !
i just want the god lovers to speak the facts. facts are what is at risk here when the religious right states their beliefs as fact instead of story telling. myths have a way of becoming the norm when no one questions them. why be so upset with doubt ? Jesus had doubt but when i doubt he existed and that makes me wrong ? once again this was posted by "justsaynottomath".

husbandofmath,
Seems like you have no tolerance for religious Americans. They have every right to express their beliefs whether it's in a public school or anywhere else. And no one is forcing their religious beliefs on you. They have a right to express their beliefs, you have the right to choose whether or not you want to listen to them, and if you choose to listen you still have the choice of whether or not you accept what they say.

leave and find a better place ? god on money is such crap and you have a huge ego to think it's your god that is being referred to ! oh and by the way nothing is more American then standing up for what you think. so i think it's you that should leave since you have no tolerance for Americans that are not just like you. next you will tell me bunnies lay eggs.

I remember when most of us were glad to say the pledge at school or even a small prayer if we wanted. Now,GOD forbid if our children even mention this word. GOD forbid if they want to pray for a safe return for the men and woman who are wearing targets on their backs while trying to rebuild a third world country. This country is in GOD we trust if you dont like it stop using the money that this word is printed on and please do us all a favor and leave our country and try to find a better place to live.

Remember religion came about to control the masses. It looks like it did it's job in Janesville.

There shouldn't be any religious day in any school. If you have to take the Christmas holiday out, then so be it. Kids shouldn't be in school after 31 May anyway.

I don't think that the school district is proposing a religious cirriculum- they are attempting to decide when children should be out of school during the year. Historically, those days have coincided with some Christian holidays. I agree that there should be a separation of church and state... but don't people want their kids off at the end of the year?????

people who think religion should be in school think that because if you remove it whats next ? it's the same argument the NRA gives. look we don't want your religion ! christians should know this better then anyone since they try to convert everyone. this is America and we don't have to be like you. we have the right NOT to practice any religion or practice any religion of our choice. cramming it down our throats will never work in this country. 3rd world is your best bet, no education, no water , no health care, no land, they need you and that's the only reason they convert. this comment was posted by "justsaynotomath".

oops, i am signed in as my husband again. the previous comment was left by "justsaynotomath" not "husbandofmath".

"livinggreen" is not only a grammar Nazi ! "livinggreen " sent me a private email with insult after insult. i guess "livinggreen" has to go outside the blog when no one will listen to blah, blah ,blah...... i don't feel sorry for you because you are a rude and angry person. grow up and get a hobby or something.

Seabee-the comment from my perspective means keep religion out of public schools. People can practive whatever faith they choose on their own time, but please, it's not right to impose these beliefs on others.

Dear Gazette, this is a really poorly written question. You ask which "religionS" should they include, then you way "choose 1."
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Public schools should start teaching all world religions from a religious studies perspective.
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Or, if they don't do that maybe they should stop teaching Greek Mythology. That's pretty offensive to call gods and goddesses myths. Or maybe it's part of the school's secular agenda to make 9th graders start considering that god might be a myth?

I'm curious about the "no religion at school" comments. Do you mean no formal sanction of religion? Or, no mention of it at all? Public education's existence owes quite a bit to religion,christianity in general and protestantism in particular, and to ignore its impact on the education system does a great disservice to all. And before everybody goes off half-cocked on me, think about it.

I voted other as well. I think like others on here that you should be given your own personal religious days to use(or not)as you see fit. Let's keep the seperation of church and state...or we may be adding so many days off for religous obligations, that school would have to go year round just to accomadate them.
Also then maybe without all of these "holidays" we could add extra snow days into the calendar and not have to rush at the end of the school year to make them up on a Sat.

(please no comments on spelling or grammer... it's late and I'm tired)LOL

No religion in school, please.

knowing some home schooled children is a poor example at best. most home schooled children tend to be very smart but this is more because they can get the sleep they need and the help they need with their studies. any child with poor social skills will have problems but social skills have nothing to do with education unless being bullied is a social skill. my children will go to high school and college of their choice not mine and they will be able to make choices because they have been allowed to as children. (this was posted by "justsaynotomath" )

I disagree about the no religion at school; it's an inherent part of society and would be awkwardly artificial to remove it. Nevertheless, I kind've agree that we should have some floating holidays for the odd religions out.

It's so very sad when people would rather criticize public schools rather than work inside them to improve the things of concern. One person CAN make a difference...but only if they try and get involved. No democratic society in history ever survived for very long once they abandoned the community through relinquishing their RESPONSIBILTY to PUBLIC education for all. Whether issues of reading, spelling, religion, the arts or other subjects, we all owe today's children and the children of tomorrow whatever we can do to improve the public schools for children of all beliefs and philosophies without prejudice to any.

justsaynotomath

I will agree that public schools are not up to par, but I found in college that the home schooled kids I knew had a very hard time adjsuting to college because of poor social skills. I hope you are not instilling into them that they are somehow elite because they are home schooled. You can give a child all the education in the world, but that won't guarentee that they become successful.

(Go ahead and rant on my grammar if you want, I have a couple emails in my inbox right now at work from CEO's of Fortune 500 companies that have some imperfect grammar in them. Seems they are pretty successful without it.)

"living green" grammar Nazi ??

Justsaynotomath- Despite having a degree in education, you still don't know your basic grammar? I'm glad I'm not one of your children.

all i know is i was suspended from franklin for wearing an inverted cross and they said it offended people, but when i said the teacher's gold cross offended me, they laughed and kicked me out. No religions should be in school anyway, and if children and staff want to express their religion with jewelry-they need to accept all forms. Not just what they like. I voted all of the above. IF it's an option, there is probably one person of that faith in this town.

Detach it from any religion. Christmas is a federal holiday - so that one can be considred secular. Otherwise let the calendar reflect days that would result in massive absneteeism. Good Friday - in a community as dominated by Christians as Janesville is, would be an exception - mainly because of the sheet number who would request that day off. Easter is on Sundy - so no coflict. Other religious holidays could be excused (up to 5 per year) with no more than a parent note.

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So really we're arguing about only one date. Put out a list of the other dates and encourage staff to minimize conflicts on those dates. Same with Saturday activities for those who have a sabbath on that day instead of Sunday.

If it makes people feel better, I'd even allow school on Good Friday, but realize that there would be a lot of student and teacher absences (more than 50%) on that day.

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By the way - as long as school has tests - there will be prayer and religion at schools!

This isn't about religion *at* school. This is about freedom to practice your religion as much or as little as you see fit in your life. Everyone seems to think it's okay that Christmas and Easter are "automatic" holidays and don't complain when we get breaks from work and school. Now, other religions want the same recognition and people think it's some religious conspiracy to get religion in school?

Either all religions are allowed, or none. It's as simple as that.

My vote isn't valid either, whats this about?

Agreed...ALL or NONE. So many of these polls aren't all black-and-white involving "grey" areas. Nothing wrong with a few "personal" days in schools just as in the workplace. People can then choose to use them as they see fit and for their own personal faith days. Keep religion out of schools and likewise the faithful can keep critical thinking out of their churches. If ANYONE wants to pray in school, it is LEGAL. There is NO organized "war" against Christmas or any other religious holiday. Schools simply can't subvertly involve everyone with sectarian practices. Such practices aren't "voluntary" if students/staff are required by law to be in school.

I've got a better idea husbandofmath: No Public Schools! Make them all private. Then the only ones that parents can blame is themselves because they are the one that chose to send their kids to that particular school.

NO RELIGION AT SCHOOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All or none, otherwise it's discrimination. But now here's a little food for thought: in recent years there's been the debate over saying 'one nation under God' in the pledge of allegience, eliminating prayer from school graduations and events, and such a push for separation of religion from schools why is this even being brought up? Talk about contradiction!

Yeah, same here. What gives?!

I feel they should concider all religions or none. You can not discriminate!

My vote wasn't recorded because it wasn't valid?