NJ Board of Education Approves Pagan Holidays for School Year

[wolfgirl90]

http://www.examiner.com/x-26373-Domestic-Witchery-Examiner~y2010m3d17-New-Jersey-State-Board-of-Education-approves-PaganWiccan-holidays-for-the-20102011-school-year

The New Jersey State Board of Education has approved a list of religious holidays that can be used by students as excused absences for the next school year. On this list are the eight Pagan/Wiccan holidays. New Jersey is the first state to give approval to Pagan holidays.

While I don't live in New Jersey (and have since graduated from school), as a Wiccan, I think this is very interesting. Not sure what precedent this might set for the states, but who knows.

What do you think of the BoE's decision to add Pagan holidays to their list?

[-GAZKUL-]

nice now that is a lotta days i can get off school by pretending to be pagan

nice sig by the way

[Skylar1]

Why can't Secular Atheists get their own holiday.. =[

[Eris]

Why can't Secular Atheists get their own holiday.. =[

They could, but then they generally speaking dismiss ritualistic celebration as hokum.

[Forgotten Show]

I dislike this decision for the same reasons I dislike granting any religious holidays.


Bad Memory

[-GAZKUL-]

shame its just NJ

[BurntHouse]

I heard a story that a school board was being accused of censoring religious freedoms by the christian contingient. THe schoolboard was like "meh, ok" and allowed the christians to have their religious subjects in school.... until a Pegan article was released in the school paper to which christian extremists cried foul.

Funny how people demand freedom of speech, but only for themselves. I wonder how this situation will play out, lol

[Wio]

I dislike this decision for the same reasons I dislike granting any religious holidays.


Bad Memory

Why did you put "religious" there? I can't think of any national holidays that are strictly religious off the top of my head.

I'm not a fan of holidays in general. They're arbitrary.

[DOOM!]

Those Majick mongers get on my nerves just as well as jews and christologists. They shouldn't get their kicks; neither the other religions! We should all, instead, get more of those Union Strike days off every year, for as often as possible, though, for work/school sucks to be at every day.

[Forgotten Show]

I can think of holidays that are given because of their religious importance, the biggest of which being Christmas break. That, however, has become so institutionalized that it's a hardwired part of the school system and serves as a/the break between school terms. Regardless, it is not the place of the school board to declare approve one religion's holiday or another; their job is to provide for public education, not catering to one or many religion's holidays.


Bad Memory

[SoLongFromSolaine]

While I am not a pagan I think the article was veyr interesting and also believe kids should be able to miss school to celebrate a holiday in their religion.

nice now that is a lotta days i can get off school by pretending to be pagan

Seriously? Pretending to be something your not just to get out of school is in my opinion quite lame!

[Wio]

I can think of holidays that are given because of their religious importance, the biggest of which being Christmas break. That, however, has become so institutionalized that it's a hardwired part of the school system and serves as a/the break between school terms. Regardless, it is not the place of the school board to declare approve one religion's holiday or another; their job is to provide for public education, not catering to one or many religion's holidays.


Bad Memory

"Christmas Break" has always had secular grounds though, so it's not strictly religious. Actually I've always heard it called "Winter Break" in my schools. Regardless, it encompasses New Years and was conveniently planned so that a bunch of other holidays, religious or not, could be lumped into it.

So come on, give me a really religious holiday here.

Seriously? Pretending to be something your not just to get out of school is in my opinion quite lame!

I think it's quite practical. The public school system is so cram packed of propaganda and bull crap. I did a lot of my studying outside of school.

[Forgotten Show]

I never stated specific religious holidays were given. I stated that I do not support pagan holidays from school for the same reasons I do not support other religious holidays from school.


Bad Memory

[Cobra Commander]

Fine by me, so long as it's not abused. I was thrilled to have so many Jews attending my college - I got all the Jewish holidays off.

[wolfgirl90]

"Christmas Break" has always had secular grounds though, so it's not strictly religious. Actually I've always heard it called "Winter Break" in my schools. Regardless, it encompasses New Years and was conveniently planned so that a bunch of other holidays, religious or not, could be lumped into it.

You know, its kinda funny. Some Pagan holidays, like Samhain (Halloween) and Imbolc (February 2), are celebrated by everyone anyway.

And for a few others, like Midsummer/Litha (Summer Solstice) and Lughnasadh (August 1), most kids are going to have those days off anyway.

[zansa]

Did you heard that? forget atheism, turn into pagan and you'll have off days.

[Eris]

Did you heard that? forget atheism, turn into pagan and you'll have off days.

Well, technically, anyone who doesn't acknowledge Jehovah is pagan. That is, if you're not Christian, Muslim or Jew -- or a member of some off-shoot of those religions, you're a pagan.

[zansa]

=(_________________)!

I learned something new today :3

[Skylar1]

They could, but then they generally speaking dismiss ritualistic celebration as hokum.

While I agree with that statement, a holiday doesn't have to be a ritualistic celebration. It could simply be an acknowledgement; something like "Secular-Atheisim Affirmation Day", wouldn't have to need any celebration or rituals at all. Just a day of indication.

[DemonicAngel95]

I just read the article and I think it was very interesting and that all states should try as well!! A friend of minen happens to be a pagan and getting out of school for her holidays would make her very happy!!!!! And a happy Tessa is a good Tessa!!!

[Aizmov]

No!
Never!

Pagan holidays are wrong!

[wolfgirl90]

Well, technically, anyone who doesn't acknowledge Jehovah is pagan. That is, if you're not Christian, Muslim or Jew -- or a member of some off-shoot of those religions, you're a pagan.

That's one definition, yes (technically).

Although now, it also specifically refers to those who practice historic polytheism, folk/indigenous religions and Neopaganism (such as Wicca).

[Condey]

No!
Never!

Pagan holidays are wrong!

Remember to support your answers in space provided if you want full marks.

Just wondering, I don't necessarily disagree.