robert, i'm glad you explained your feelings on this issue, so i'll attempt to do the same.

i read the post at religious tolerance. personally, i feel that towards the bottom (under "meaning") they are a bit off. i won't go into details but maybe that will help you understand why i'm about to post this.

first of all, the inverted pentagram is a very different symbol than the pentacle. i think that distinction is missing from the discussion in waxahatchie.

yes, i'll agree that the inverted one is generally used by satanic cults. i think you and i both will agree that those types of people are playing a very dangerous game (for different reasons, of course). maybe we agree there. i think we do. anyway, point being that those who wear the inverted pentagram are probably satanists or involved in the black arts. let's say that's true for a moment.

the difference between the inverted pentagram and the upright pentacle are in the meaning. the upright pentacle is generally used by people of wiccan faith, druids, celts, and many other goddess-oriented religions. to those folks, that symbol is as -sacred- as a cross is to a christian.

what i see here in waxahatchie is a case of sheer ignorance on the part of the school administrators.

i agree that the girl's mother doesn't get a say in what's "distracting" or not. but i do not agree with religious discrimination based on ignorance, which clearly is the case here.

regardless of what the administrators believe about the pentacle, the bottom line is that it is a religious symbol. i feel that if they are going to ban it, they need to ban all other religious symbols, such as the christian cross and the star of david. that would be fair. or if they aren't going to ban all religious symbols, the girl should be allowed to wear her pentacle.

i feel that they key to solving this issue is education, but it also raises a few good issues that relate to separation of church and state (more in a moment). if the ignorant admins are educated about what the symbolism of the pentacle really is, then they might come to understand it is a religious statement. the students could be informed of this as well, with the distinction being made between the inverted and the upright. there's a big, HUGE difference in meaning there which should be discussed.

as for the separation issues, this little bruhaha can also be used to support the arguement for keeping faith-based teaching and symbols out of public schools. i'm not saying i agree with that; i'm just mentioning it for the sake of further explanation. if there really was separation, then this mess wouldn't be occurring. nobody would be allowed to display symbols of faith, and nobody would be "distracted" by anyone else's symbols of faith, therefore you don't have this issue.

again, it all goes back to religious tolerance and ignorance. this is a great example of the type of crap i used to deal with almost daily. it's like i couldn't admit to worshipping the goddess without someone calling me a satanist. and it was all out of ignorance. worship of the goddess has NOTHING to do with worshipping the devil or participating in satanic activity. it's a beautiful religion, just like buddhism or true christianity for example. it's pretty sad that we live in a country where only certain religions are tolerated while practioners of alternative religions have to hide their faith out of fear.

This sort of thing is why I support uniforms in public schools. As much as I would have opposed such a thing while I was in school, the kids are there to be educated, period. They are not there to learn about each other's religion. They can do that after school.

At any rate, why can't this girl just wear the offending necklace beneath her shirt? If I were to visit a predominantly anti-Christian society, I would not abandon my religion, nor would I run about trying to preach. I would wear my cross (just like every other day) tucked under my top, or carry it in my purse. Then again, I'm not an Evangalist (or Baptist.)

amy, i'd have to agree with you. regardless of what i said, i agree that school is not the place to teach religion, because i feel spirituality is a personal thing and the best guidance on that subject comes from the family.

i as well find myself supporting school uniforms as i grow older and (somewhat) wiser.

i think that the girl shuld be alowed to wear the necklace. the teacher shuldn't be alowed to suspend somone because of there religion. she has her opinion, but she shuld keep her thoughts to her self instead of seting an excample agents other wiccans.

I found this while looking for events relating to religeous discrimination agains Wiccans for my English final. First I would like to say how helpful all of these comments were. And secondly, that I am very glad that this sort of thing isn't a problem at my school (at least not one that has been talked about or acted upon, which may, in itself be an underlying problem that needs to be solved). I'm glad I found this bit of news...

I found this while looking for events relating to religeous discrimination agains Wiccans for my English final. First I would like to say how helpful all of these comments were. And secondly, that I am very glad that this sort of thing isn't a problem at my school (at least not one that has been talked about or acted upon, which may, in itself be an underlying problem that needs to be solved). I'm glad I found this bit of news...