When I was an elementary school student, many colorful sheets of paper explaining social events, school board meetings, changes in faculty and other noteworthy tidbits would come by my desk, and I would have the privilege of taking them home. The rainbow of paper was quite harmless to both students and parents alike, but it seems the process of transporting information home to mom and dad is not as peaceful as it used to be.
Recently, about 2,000 Madison public elementary school students were given take-home fliers promoting a Back to Sunday School"" rally that read, ""Plant the seeds of faith in Jesus in your child at our Sunday school."" This religious advertisement has sparked conflict with regard to what type of advertisement is appropriate to send home with students. Some feel, as I do, that even if the flier did depict a non-profit event, schools should be sending out less information unrelated to school. Others are more concerned with the flier's conveyance of that touchy subject - religion. The Freedom from Religion Foundation has attacked the school district, with the co-president declaring that the superintendent should have realized how ""offensive"" the fliers truly were.
I do not think Madison elementary school students should be taking home community information alongside school information, but it escapes me how the religious flier could be considered ""offensive."" Although I am a Christian myself, I understand the topic of religion can make some people uncomfortable. This is a perfectly acceptable, human way to feel. I have seen the article online, however, and it is completely non-threatening. While it is understandable that some English teachers may be scared by how awkwardly the main message is written, nowhere on the flier does it say something tactless like ""Your religion is inferior to ours!"" or ""You are raising heathen demon children if they skip this event!"" On the contrary, the opportunity to attend the classes merely presents itself as a straightforward suggestion. Unless the smiley-faced apples or the salutatory mouse were cause for offense, I see nothing else to dub such religious endorsement as outrage-worthy. Religion should not be the problem here, but rather schools sending home junk mail.
To avoid an influx of unwanted spam information, public schools should not mix their own promotional notices with those of other organizations. This means not only would the religious material not sent home, but also the material dealing with soccer camps, dance classes or phrenology lessons. Local activities should certainly be available for children and their parents to look through, but this should be done on a more casual basis. There could be something like a ""Community Activities Night"" to showcase what the community can offer the kids, or maybe a bulletin board displaying local events. These ideas are not flawless, but it should not be hard for school boards or administrators to come up with their own creative ways to promote school and community events separately.
It may be that school and community activity fliers were destined to be sent home together. We may someday learn that this is the best school-to-household communication system and that the world need not segregate its fliers. If this day comes, you will not see me whining, as I will accept what was inevitable all along.
Kory Douglass is a freshman that is undecided. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
