Principal prayed over FCAT testing

BROOKSVILLE — It had been a hard Friday at Brooksville Elementary School, with lots of misbehavior that didn’t bode well for the start of FCAT testing the following week.

So the principal and a few staff members at Brooksville Elementary School decided to appeal to a higher power.

They prayed and blessed their students’ desks with prayer oil.

While the Christian prayers and anointing took place after school hours on the night of Friday, Feb. 2, the oil was still on desks the following Monday when teachers opened their classrooms.

Some felt the extra help crossed a line.

“We thought it was vandalism. It was greasy. It was oily,” said fourth-grade teacher Chris Becker, who resigned later that week to take a teaching job in Citrus County. “One of my colleagues said she was told by one of the secretaries it was prayer oil,” he said. “I was very offended by that because I’m not a Christian.”

Principal Mary LeDoux said she found nothing wrong with what she and “four or five” colleagues did, but said staff members agreed to hold future prayer meetings off campus after she had a conversation with Superintendent Wendy Tellone.

For the full story, click here.

--Tom Marshall, Times staff writer

Comments

[Mike]

Seriously you Jesus freaks need to get off of it already, not everyone wants to be "converted". Hell there are some of us that don't believe in god, but believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster. And those that say this is a "good"...yeah sorry Charlie you don't force your beliefs on others...even the fragile mind of a child.

[Bob]

Watch the videos and shed your superstitions.

http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/all-videos.htm

[Glenn Dewar]

The proplem here is that "evangelical" right wing literalists insist on involving everyone else in their religious practices.

One of the earlier posters mentioned Santaria. What if it was chicken blood all over the desks, would Mary LeDoux have found that acceptable?

Or would the "right" to pray over other people's children suddenly have been horrifying to her?

Oh and before the poster that mentioned "acceptable" religions pipes up, what if it was Bhuddist Oil? Again, the bible thumpers would wail indignity if anyone tried to involve their children in a non-christian religious practice.

Personally, I do not find "evengelical Christianity" an accepatble religion. They do not follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and they insist on ridiculous and contradictory interpretations of the Bible.

The difference is, I believe they have the right to practice their foolishness unmolested by everyone else's "prayer oil". If only they would extend the same courtesy to the rest of us.

[Leon]

What a dumb thing to do...!

This was a highly inappropriate action on the part of the school administration. There's nothing wrong with professing one's faith as a private citizen, but in your official capacity as a public-school official, performing religious rituals is way out of line. And they should have known better.

And public-responsibility concerns aside, aren't students supposed to *earn* their grades? Are the teachers not teaching effectively? And if not, it seems there are other issues that need to be addressed at this school.

[Scooter]

As a Priestess in the Church of the Holy Frisbee, I demand equal time in the school to anoint those desks with the Sacrament of the Holy Tequila.

[La Diablo]

Hmmm... magical potions...medieval rituals... begging the assistance of a mythical sky tyrant...school principal... 'four or five staff members' (teachers??)...

No wonder Little Johnny can't read. Those who have been are hired to oversee his education barely possess enough wit to tie their own shoes in the morning.

[Mr. Gunn]

You can believe whatever you want, but when it comes to making decisions that affect other people, you'd better base your decisions on consensus reality.

Good thing no one went into anaphylactic shock, because I don't think the power of christ would have kept their airway from closing up.

/Did they at least use some of the Holy Oil to cook some divine pasta for His Noodliness?

[Charles]

It begs a couple of questions;

First, did it work? Did The Lord see fit to grant all of these kids perfect test scores?

And second, If the principal resorts to praying for assistance to get her kids through a test, what does that say about her job performance?

I don't want her teaching my kids purely based on the fact that she isn't confident in her and her staff's teaching abilities alone to get the kids through testing.

[MikeG]

It's sad that magical thinking has taken root in the very institutions that are supposed to educate our young. Are the teachers so incompetent that they needed a spell for their students to succeed? I would be rather insulted were I one of the teachers in this school, or one of the students...

[Rey Fox]

Offensive or not, the issue is clear in my mind: people who are entrusted to help children take control of their lives and make good decisions are resorting to magical thinking in order to try and improve things. That's what's ridiculous about this, and that's what casts doubt on the competency of all involved. And they didn't even bother to clean up after themselves.

[craig]

Mystyped the motto FROM many, one.

[craig]

"Why do we (Christians) not have the same religous freedoms afforded other people?"

I agree.
The vast majority of Americans identify as Christians.

In the 1950s, Christians got our nice, secular national motto E Pluribus Unum (One many, one) with "In God We Trust."

In the 1950s, Christians got 'under God" inserted into the pledge of allegiance.

Every elected leader of this country, the strongest position in America and now the world, has been a Christian. EVERY ONE OF THEM.

Christian prayers are said in our halls of congress.

I long for the day when Christians have the same freedom of religion as other groups - namely, the freedom to believe what they want to believe, congregate and share that in their churches, and not have others impose their beliefs on them.

That is, LESS than they have now - one "right" being taken away - the right they now have to impose their beliefs on everyone else.

Christians in America complaining that they don't have religious freedom?

In the country whose President George Herbert Walker Bush once said that non-Christians shouldn't even be considered citizens?

Nonsense. You are not oppressed, get over yourself.

Pray all you want, just keep your chants and magical potions away from me. In return, I promise I won't come knocking on your door or leave a note on your desk telling you what a fool you are.

Public evidence of prayer in a public school is offensive because it is indicative of the principal's disrespect for the students and their beliefs.

Each person has the right to their own beliefs, and responsibility for those beliefs rests with the child and her parents, not with the public schools.

The principal clearly does not respect beliefs different than her own, and feels the need to impose her beliefs on all teachers and students with prayer, because she does not trust others to believe (and therefore pray) correctly. I am certain she did not do this with disrespect in mind, just as I am sure that this is not the first of such misplaced prayer rites.

Her prayers for others are part of her own beliefs and she does have the right to them, but the ceremonies involved need to be either private or performed in a church, not imposed upon desks and therefore students like some sort of magic pixie dust.

[Mr. Religion]

The act performed was acceptable to most people due to the fact that Christianity is an aceptable religion. The truth of the matter is the fact that this act in a school opens up other less accepted religions to come in as well. Would you all be ok with it if it were a voodoo ritual performed? What about a Muslim prayer over the students' desks? Or perhaps some Satanic ritual performed? The bottom line is that while a Christian prayer was performed in the classroom and is accepted because that is the accepted religion for the majority. However, it opens a door for other religions and beliefs to make their way into the schools and I'm quite sure it wouldn't be as accepted as the prayer oil and blessing that did occur.

[Believer]

Many of you people write intelligently but your words have NO SUBSTANCE. The emphasize here should be that they prayed for the children to do well on their tests, not on the oil!!! The holy oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit's presence as recorded in Matthew 25:3-4. When they prayed for the children, they anointed the desk as a symbol that the Holy Spirit would be with them as they took their tests. I AM A CHILD OF GOD WHO BELIEVES THAT THE ANOINTING BREAKS EVERY YOKE! David said, "HE ANOINTED MY HEAD WITH OIL, MY CUP RUNETH OVER!" The Holy Spirit was with David and he was victorious!!! So will they be! Way to go, Mrs. LeDoux!!!!

[Believer]

Many of you people write intelligently but your words have NO SUBSTANCE. The emphasize here should be that they prayed for the children to do well on their tests, not on the oil!!! The holy oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit's presence as recorded in Matthew 25:3-4. When they prayed for the children, they anointed the desk as a symbol that the Holy Spirit would be with them as they took their tests. I AM A CHILD OF GOD WHO BELIEVES THAT THE ANOINTING BREAKS EVERY YOKE! David said, "HE ANOINTED MY HEAD WITH OIL, MY CUP RUNETH OVER!" The Holy Spirit was with David and he was victorious!!! So will they be! Way to go, Mrs. LeDoux!!!!

[Teacher that was there.]

This is an act of the principal alone. A quick coverup has been deployed.She is a freak.

[Paul Nazar]

This sounds a bit strange. I am Catholic and no oil is used to rub on desks.However, Consecrated Oils are part of the Baptisimal rite, rite of confirmation and the last sacrements Are you sure that this woman is not practicing Santeria? How about we all agree that in the morning before class that the pledge of allegiance is allowed,Remember the Pledge? One nation under God etc, etc, etc.Then I no, How about over the intercom the phrase "We will no pause for a moment of silent prayer". That way if you don't want to pray (God forbid) You may then choose to have a moment of "silent meditation" or if you don't want to have either, stand there and shut up and let the rest of us pray or meditate. By the way where did Mrs. LaDeux obtain her "OIL" and is there any specific religion she claims to be associated with? or did she get this oil from the same place Jack got his magic beans? I think if you look up Santeria, which is a combination of Voodoo and corrupted Catholicism you will find her "Ritual" unacceptable to Christians, Jews, and any other non-pagan religion.

[schauer]

Oh Lord - Please help this students on this evil test! I need the raise! Amen

[Child of a KING]

Go GOD! Go Mrs. LeDoux and the staff for FREELY PRACTICING their constitutional rights to: assemble, speak freely and practice the religious convictions of THEIR CHOICE!! Hey, if ya'll don't like living here in the United States of America where "IN GOD WE TRUST" then GO SOMEWHERE ELSE and please go QUICKLY! Your loathing of the practices that WE as Christian as ARE AFFORDED through OUR GOD given rights (upon which this GREAT NATION was founded) as CITIZEN of the UNITED STATES makes me ill, BUT I will continue to pray ask OUR GOD to prick your heart so that you may know HIM as we do. If you do not agree with the religious freedoms we as AMERICANS are afforded, you obviously DO NOT enjoy or have any concept of what being an AMERICAN is, so PLEASE leave now. Leave behind your job, health care benefits, pension and Social Security and MEDICARE that you are afforded at age 65. Leave behind the police and fire protection that you receive. Leave behind the FREE APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION that you and your family have received. Leave behind the judicial system where you are INNOCENT until you are proven guilty. LEAVE BEHIND ALL of the freedoms and protections that this ONE NATION UNDER GOD affords you. EVEN ILLEGAL ALIENS are protected under the CONSTUTION of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA. ALTERNATIVELY, you IF you choose to stay, PLEASE do so quietly. Frankly, I am TIRED of BEING BULLIED, having my religious FREEDOMS squelched, and having to justify MY GOD given rights as a U.S. citizen, so go pitch a tent in IRAQ!

[Mr. Concerned]

The currency of the United States reveals a statement, "In God we trust". The pledge of allegiance says..."one nation under God". Where is God in the schools? That's where we need Him the most! The children of today are groping for a better way of life which should begin with their education. If they fail here, what will happen to them?

This Principal should be honored for the step she has taken to ask God to help her students to score high on their exams. I am shocked that you allowed a little oil to scare you! You should be more afraid of the wrath of God, for trying to discourage something as great as praying for our children, our future leaders.
Keep on praying for that's where your success lies!

[H.Abell]

What kind of oil was it use? What weight 30? Caster oil? Remember Ashcroft years ago? He use Crisco oil. The kind you cook with. Poured it over his head. Did the kids pray to make A's? Did it work?Did they pray that the kids they didn't like would make F's? This could be great, don't study and make A's.

[Student]

You are talking about disease and world hunger, while God is trying to use the teachers of Brooksville Elementary to raise up doctors who will find cures for disease and world hunger!

[Doug Srofe]

If we had more prayer we would have less problems. This country was based on Christian priciples. What is there to be offended about anyway? Someone prayed for the benefit of our children. Regardless of your religious viewpoint, how can you argue with the motive? Although I am not a Muslim, if a Muslim had said that same prayer, it would be for the same reason; and I would be appreciative. Again, why would you even attempt to argue with that? People pull the "I am offended" card way too often. Maybe if these "offended people" discovered God and prayer they would find they wouldn't be so offended so often. And as far as some of these teachers being offended...I would not want them anywhere near my children if I could help it.

[C Knight]

Accolades to Mrs. Mary LeDoux!!!
I applaud her and wish that there were more principals like her, willing to take a stand for what is right.
The bible clearly states that, "WE CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENGTHENETH US!" Philippians 4:13 The key words here are "THROUGH CHRIST"!
Mrs. Mary LeDoux realizes that it takes more than "Highly Qualified" teachers to help the students at her school succeed; it takes the help of the ALMIGHTY GOD!
I CAN HARDLY WAIT TO READ ABOUT HER STUDENTS' FCAT scores. I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God Is Going To Show Up "Big Time" and "Blow Their Minds"!!!
Again I say, Accolades to Mrs. Mary LeDoux!!!

[kathy zell]

Disease and world hunger are brought on by man not God. Why is it whenever Christians do anything it is offensive to people? Why do we not have the same religous freedoms afforded other people? The people of this country should brush up on their American History, ALL documents that founded our country have God all over and all in them, should we ban the Declaration of Independence also?

[mike maharrey]

“One of my colleagues said she was told by one of the secretaries it was prayer oil,” he said. “I was very offended by that because I’m not a Christian.”

What in the world is offensive about it? If i went around offended by everything in the world i didn't happen to agree with, i wouldn't be able to function. There was no attempt to proselytize, no "imposition" of anyones beliefs on anyone else. People need to get off the whole "this offends me thing".

[Bill]

Why would "God" give his blessing for the FCAT? Doesn't he have better things to do like cure diseases and end world hunger?

[Steve]

As a teacher who teaches the US Constitution for a living, what part of the Constitution was broken by this act and what case law by the US Supreme Court prohibits this from happening?

[Donald Gibson]

Absolutely ridiculous that this is even an issue. We all need prayer, especially our children!