Should a Private School be forced to remove its portrait of Obama?

[Johnv]

I ran into an interesting situation yesterday, and wanted to run it by you guys.

As some of you know, I'm a part-time music teacher at a local Christian school (in addition to my fulltime IT job). This week was the first week of school. In the school office are portraits of the President, Vice President, Governor, and City Mayor. The portraits have been there for over 20 years, and are changed after every election to show the current persons in those seats.

On the second day of school, a parent came into the office and demanded we remove the portrait of Barak Obama. This is a new parent to the school, who, in just a few days, has complained about everything from the location of the lunch facility to the cost of school supplies (he even complained about the $4 material fee I charge for students in my music class). Some teachers were saying we should remove the portraits, and I said absolutely not. We shouldn't be strong-armed into picking and choosing whose portraits go up based on whether a parent likes or dislikes who's in office. The principle, being a fair man, has chosen to give the matter thought, listen to input, and will make his decision next week.

So, friends, what do you think? Is this just a parent being a whiner, or is there some sort of moral issue here?

 

[FlyForFun]

Whiner. Ignore.

 

[Magnetic Poles]

Whiner. Ignore.

Agreed. What next? Take the plaques down at the post office showing who was POTUS when the building was built. More partisan nonsense.

 

[OldRegular]

I ran into an interesting situation yesterday, and wanted to run it by you guys.

As some of you know, I'm a part-time music teacher at a local Christian school (in addition to my fulltime IT job). This week was the first week of school. In the school office are portraits of the President, Vice President, Governor, and City Mayor. The portraits have been there for over 20 years, and are changed after every election to show the current persons in those seats.

On the second day of school, a parent came into the office and demanded we remove the portrait of Barak Obama. This is a new parent to the school, who, in just a few days, has complained about everything from the location of the lunch facility to the cost of school supplies (he even complained about the $4 material fee I charge for students in my music class). Some teachers were saying we should remove the portraits, and I said absolutely not. We shouldn't be strong-armed into picking and choosing whose portraits go up based on whether a parent likes or dislikes who's in office. The principle, being a fair man, has chosen to give the matter thought, listen to input, and will make his decision next week.

So, friends, what do you think? Is this just a parent being a whiner, or is there some sort of moral issue here?

There is a moral issue given that Obama is a rabid abortionist and this is a Christian School. That being said, if its the custom its the custom!

 

[Timsings]

Whiner. Ignore.

Agree.

Tim Reynolds

 

[rdwhite]

I would refund their money and let them become someone else's problem.

As Christians we are supposed to pray for our elected officials, and what better way to remind ourselves to pray for them than to have their pictures hanging on the wall. I think it is very appropriate.

 

[Revmitchell]

Maybe she has done a lot of complaining. Or maybe those who oppose her are simply stacking up complaints against her. If she pays tuition her complaint is valid.

 

[webdog]

Whiner (or weiner may be more appropriate)

 

[FlyForFun]

If she pays tuition her complaint is valid.

Hmmm...

As a former Christian School teacher and Adminsitrator, let me say this is somewhat dangerous ground.

From time to time a parent would make clear that since they pay, they direct.

It doesn't work that way in business, in church, and it shouldn't be that way in a Christian school.

The school should have a charter and a board. The document and the board should provide direction and guidance, and the staff should execute to that guidance and direction.

Of course the board should be answerable to the tuition-paying constituency, but not in a direct, "My complaint equals immediate action" way, otherwise, it's anarchy.

 

[Johnv]

OP topic aside, a parent's complaint isn't valid simply because s/he pays tuition. It depends on the nature of the complaint. As for opposing this person, their student is new to the school this year. There hasn't been enough time for people to oppose them.

BTW, Flyforfun, yes, we have a charter and a board. The school has been around for over 40 years. But this isn't a board issue (they dont' dictate issues of displays or decor). It's an administrative issue that's the purvue of the principal.

 

[Revmitchell]

OP topic aside, a parent's complaint isn't valid simply because s/he pays tuition. It depends on the nature of the complaint.

Depends on whether you want to keep your customers.

 

[webdog]

Some customers are not worth keeping, and will end up costing you in the long run.

 

[FlyForFun]

BTW, Flyforfun, yes, we have a charter and a board. The school has been around for over 40 years. But this isn't a board issue (they dont' dictate issues of displays or decor). It's an administrative issue that's the purvue of the principal.

Then the principal should make the call.

What happens too often is parent runs to buddy board member. If the board stands firm and backs the principal, things are good.

If not -- run.

 

[just-want-peace]

For what it's worth, BO is the pOTUS!! End of story; like it or not! And if all current political leaders are on the wall, no reason for him not to be either UNLESS (as in your case) the principal decides otherwise.

IOW this family (woman?) should be told not to let the door hit them in their nether regions as they exit the premises - in a nice tactful, Christian, manner of course :smilewinkgrin: - if they cannot abide the head's decision.

 

[Bro. Curtis]

This is ridiculous. It's a private school, and he is president.

 

[Johnv]

IOW this family (woman?) should be told not to let the door hit them in their nether regions as they exit the premises - in a nice tactful, Christian, manner of course :smilewinkgrin:

I believe the Christian way to say that is:

"Don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya."

 

[Twizzler]

I really like this particular problem as it opens up a huge can of worms. We as Christians are directed to obey those set over us (Matt 22:21) - Render unto Casesar, etc... We are to give the 'office' of President the respect it deserves but when exactly are we supposed to realize that something's not right and take action or speak out against our gov't?

There have been many regimes in the past where we all agree that it was good and right to stand AGAINST them and there were many within those times that called any who wanted to stand against the gov't radicals and nut-job whiners. When, exactly, does a whining-nut-job become a hero of mankind?

Another interesting point would be, if our President was a devout satan-worshiper do you think the school principal would have any trouble in removing the President's portrait? I would tend to guess that the portrait would be removed in a heart-beat. In the end it's all a matter of how gray does gray need to become before we consider it black? Do we somehow support abortion because we have a democrat's portrait hanging in our Christian School? Are we condoning gay marriage when we speak well of our leftist President? What message are we sending to our kids when we preach against something and then lift the person who is championing these evils up onto a pedestal? We're teaching TOLERANCE and showing them how to accept small changes, which will eventually lead to utter ruin.

I'm a believer in change... i.e. change in new technologies, new medical procedures, new ways to provide food and goods to people, but not change in our core values and beliefs. Unfortunately the liberals are using our lack of tolerance against us by touting unfair claims against us and getting the younger generation to 'see' their side. In time the errosion will be complete and it will be too late.

So... take down the portrait and be called a facist or leave it up and be tolerant. In the end it doesn't really matter one way or the other in the grand scheme of the world, but it sure does matter for those that are in the school.

tw

 

[carpro]

I ran into an interesting situation yesterday, and wanted to run it by you guys.

As some of you know, I'm a part-time music teacher at a local Christian school (in addition to my fulltime IT job). This week was the first week of school. In the school office are portraits of the President, Vice President, Governor, and City Mayor. The portraits have been there for over 20 years, and are changed after every election to show the current persons in those seats.

On the second day of school, a parent came into the office and demanded we remove the portrait of Barak Obama. This is a new parent to the school, who, in just a few days, has complained about everything from the location of the lunch facility to the cost of school supplies (he even complained about the $4 material fee I charge for students in my music class). Some teachers were saying we should remove the portraits, and I said absolutely not. We shouldn't be strong-armed into picking and choosing whose portraits go up based on whether a parent likes or dislikes who's in office. The principle, being a fair man, has chosen to give the matter thought, listen to input, and will make his decision next week.

So, friends, what do you think? Is this just a parent being a whiner, or is there some sort of moral issue here?

He should have immediatley told the woman to shut up and sue if she thought she had a case.

Why tapdance around an idiot?

 

[carpro]

some customers are not worth keeping, and will end up costing you in the long run.

amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[FlyForFun]

He should have immediatley told the woman to shut up and sue if she thought she had a case.

Why tapdance around an idiot?

Because some people have class.

:smilewinkgrin: