Field trip did not follow district rules

I am writing in objection and outrage at the recent Williamsville Mill Middle sixth grade field trip to the Islamic Mosque and Hindu Cultural Center. This appears as a thinly veiled attempt at an agenda to steer our children from the faith they were brought up with. Children were treated to religious preaching, not an overview of a culture. It sends our kids a message approving and promoting these religions, their philosophies, and by association, their politics. I'm sure I don't have to get into what some Eastern religious think of "non-believers."

The public relation comments from district personnel supporting the trip were nothing but politically correct babble about "cultural understanding." This trip had nothing to do with culture, and everything to do with faith and religion. My children have been students of the district for many years, and I don't remember any field trips similar to this. When was the policy implemented to give one day notice to parents, eliminating time to obtain details about it? Do you really expect anyone to believe that appointments could not be scheduled with Christian churches or Jewish synagogues (it's been nine months since the start of the school year)?

Since you have seen fit to remove all other reference to religious traditions and observances in school, the district's motives and judgment in allowing this trip must be brought into question. Is this part of a broader agenda? You can not have it both ways; we already have to try and explain to kids why traditional songs cannot be played in concerts, and school breaks have to be renamed. The one-sided religious overtones of this issue demand an examination of policies such as this.

Donald W. Fleming

Sable Run East Amherst