News and Politics | October 31, 2008 | 66 comments

Jesus costume gets child sent home from school

source: http://www.northjersey.com/news/Jesus_costume_gets_child_sent_home_from_school.html

Image
TravG73
An eighth-grader was sent home from school today and told to change out of his costume: They deemed Jesus Christ inappropriate.

“We're a little stupified by this whole thing,” said the boy's mother, Kim Woinski.

Jesus Christ was “one of the greatest men that ever lived," she added. "If he went as Abe Lincoln would they say he couldn't do that?"

Alex Woinski, who already has shoulder-length brown hair, donned a long white robe with a red sash, a fake beard, sandals and a crown of thorns.

“They would have let him wear the costume, but he had to get rid of the crown of thorns and the beard,” Woinski said.

In order to do that, she said, Woinski had to leave work and pick her son up from West Brook Middle School so he could go home and shower.

Woinski said other students who had inappropriate costumes were able to simply turn their shirts inside out or take off any offensive pieces.

Superintendent James Montesano said he didn't know about the incident but said he believes the reason for doing so was most likely not because anyone was offended by the religious nature of the costume but that it may have been disrupting classes.

“As much as we want to have our kids enjoy celebrations, whether it’s through school spirit week or something like this, the fact of the matter is we certainly are here for the central purpose of education,” said Montesano. “If students in any form are wearing things that are bringing too much added attention that disrupts us from an educational environment, then school administrators would make that decision.”

The school year is only 180 days, he added, so it's important that youngsters are able to get the most out of each day of instruction, and a disruption in the classroom could impede that goal.Woinski said her son complied with the requests of teachers and administrators, without complaint, and called his mother to pick him up. He was home for an hour and a half before returning to school.

When she went to pick her son up from school, administrators were unavailable to speak with her regarding the matter. But in an effort to comply with their requests she took her son home, she said.

“It's not like he’s not a good student. The kid’s on the high honor roll,” she said.

Woinski is Catholic while her husband is Jewish. Their son, who had recently celebrated his Bar Mitzvah and has been studying Bible scripture, is interested in Jesus as an historical and religious figure, according to his mother.

He wanted to translate that interest into a Halloween costume.

Alex's older brother, Jason Riggio, said due to long hair and darker skin, Alex's friends already say his brother bears a resemblance to the famous figure, which gave Alex the idea for the costume.

“We have both religions in our house, and he's learning about both. He wasn't poking fun at anybody,” said Woinski. “I think what it was was that he was getting too much attention.”
  1. groups:
    News and Politics,   WTF,   Religion,   Halloween
  2. tags:
    News and Politics,  WTF,  Religion,  Education,  11 more
  3.     
    |

66 comments // Jesus costume gets child sent home from school

  • jubal
    • 0
      jubal  

    • I don't get what the problem was with the beard and the crown of thorns. The whole story smacks of left wing anti Christian backlash to me.

    • 2 years ago
  • mo1y
    • 0
      mo1y  

    • the-Jack has an interesting concept of how Christians view Christ.

      I was raised Roman Catholic. The Church had definate rules about referring to God and Christ.

      When you said Christ's name, you were told to bow your head in respect. I was told that it was a sin to use the Lord's name in vane.

      When writing the name of God or Christ, you had to use a capital letter. Writing the name of God or Christ without a capital letter "G" or "C" was a sin.

      It is in the Ten Commandments. Jack

    • 3 years ago
  • the_Jack
    • 0
      the_Jack  

    • I find it interesting that the original article does not say what the school officials' real motive in calling the costume "disruptive" and sending the boy home were...

      Was it that they were godless secularists so bent on the separation of church and state that they would ban students from school just for wishing each other "Merry Christmas"?

      Or was it that they were protecting their God from what they saw as an irreverent and disrespectful portrayal of Him?

      The school is hiding behind the assertion that the costume was "disruptive" for unspecified reasons.

      Yet most of the people commenting on the article here are certain the motive for sending the boy home was one or the other, and are arguing against what they've decided the school's reasoning was.

      Personally, I say the school was wrong no matter what their reasoning.

    • 3 years ago
  • mo1y
    • 0
      mo1y  

    • It is wrong to have respect for all religion except Christian.

      If you show disrespect to Mohammed it is criminal, but you can piss on a crusifix.

    • 3 years ago
  • jubal
    • 0
      jubal  
    • Image

    • Perhaps if the kid had been wearing an American Flag instead of the red sash they might have let the other things pass.

    • 3 years ago
  • revolutioninamerica
  • bedeboop
    • 0
      bedeboop  

    • I think they went too way far, personally. However, they are responding to what this country says about religion or no religion...you can't blame them. People say not in schools...then are outraged when something like this happens. I think we all need to get it together, not only in a matter like this but many others. People forget, there are no black and whites...but many gray areas too...

    • 3 years ago
  • Lajon53
  • joelsalmon
  • SDLN
    • 0
      SDLN  

    • Maybe if the kid would have flipped over a few tables and yelled "How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!", maybe then he would would have been accepted?

    • 3 years ago
  • DeliaTheArtist
  • jubal
    • 0
      jubal  

    • Did you guys read the article? The boy was given the option to modify his costume, like many others. Was it the schools fault that in order for the boy to comply he had to go home to take a shower?

      Come on, there has to be limits when you are a kid, otherwise your teaching anarchy.

    • 3 years ago
  • bedeboop
    • 0
      bedeboop  
    • jubal:

      “They would have let him wear the costume, but he had to get rid of the crown of thorns and the beard,” Woinski said.

      Trying to understand how something that sounds like it was drawn on (????) would be disruptive. Were real thorns used and glued on to his head???? How it was disruptive is not stated...and the only thing I can think of that would be disruptive, if he was wearing real thorns somehow and going around head butting people...which it doesn't sound like he was doing, IMHO.

    • 3 years ago
  • DeliaTheArtist
  • sillywabbit
    • 0
      sillywabbit  

    • As a lefty, I am appaled at this.
      As a smart ass, I think Jesus is pretty scary; he stood up against an evil empire with peace and humility while the followers of Christ build their empires with war and arrogance.

    • 3 years ago
  • bedeboop
    • 0
      bedeboop  
    • sillywabbit:

      Definitely a case for "practice what you preach", or what Jesus preached, which really hasn't played a part in many of the Christian wars of this world. Only interpretation, bad ones at that.

    • 3 years ago
  • Kanut
    • Kanut [removed]  
    • This comment was removed as a violation of community guidelines.
  • bedeboop
  • ashcatash
    • 0
      ashcatash  

    • Whatever happened to freedom of religion? Or freedom of speech?
      If students can wear shirts with heavy metal rock bands on them or satanic symbols, why can't they wear Jesus clothes?

    • 3 years ago
  • Kanut
    • Kanut [removed]  
    • This comment was removed as a violation of community guidelines.
  • kyackr
  • vericat
    • 0
      vericat  

    • If I got sent home for being in a Jesus Christ costume, I'd come back to school as a giant First Amendment with a knife through my heart.

    • 3 years ago
  • Ihatethemall
  • bedeboop
  • edmubnd
    • 0
      edmubnd  

    • I've seen a halloweener dress as jesus complete with 3 foot wooden cross, long hair and beard (both real), crown, sandals, robe, everything. He looked as "real" as any movie costume has ever tried to make jesus look, except under his robe he was wearing a t-shirt that said:

      "WHAT WOULD I DO?"

      oh, and he was holding a plastic beer cup ...

    • 3 years ago
  • kyackr
    • 0
      kyackr  

    • i've got it.. those in charge at the school did not want any confusing distractions .. due to their anxious wait
      for the second coming?
      what other reason really makes sense ?
      not that it makes sense.. but if you are eager for the second coming you might do a double take.. even embarrass yourself

    • 3 years ago
  • Kanut
    • Kanut [removed]  
    • This comment was removed as a violation of community guidelines.
  • bedeboop
    • 0
      bedeboop  
    • Kanut:

      Nooooo...it is a holiday based on old pagan beliefs going back centuries...

      "By the 800s, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 All Saints' Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. It is widely believed today that the pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before it, the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. Even later, in A.D. 1000, the church would make November 2 All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. Together, the three celebrations, the eve of All Saints', All Saints', and All Souls', were called Hallowmas.". Used to assimilate people in to the new Christian religion....See here: http://www.history.com/minisites/halloween/viewPage?pageId=713

    • 3 years ago
  • chemicalbros
    • 0
      chemicalbros  

    • There probably wasn't any disruptive behavior till they pointed it out. As it was mentioned by someone else they can be an axe murderer, whore etc... but Jesus is off limits.

      WOW! No wonder the world is going to hell in a hand basket.

    • 3 years ago
  • DeliaTheArtist
    • 0
      DeliaTheArtist  
    • Image

    • "BETTER TO KEEP RELIGION OUT OF HALLOWEEN." - What? Halloween is all about religion, in fact, many of them! (Just like every other major holiday!)

    • 3 years ago
  • uppityprogressive
    • 0
      uppityprogressive  

    • Jesus never said he was God either, if you believe the mythology. The costume idea was great, I'm with you Canuc, send all the kids in jesus club costume.

      Dabne...those comments about the blood and devil costumes being ok but not the light and the way...good observation, and says so much about our culture, that is where our collective head is. Exploitation and murder are ok but liberalism (Jesus was so liberal you might say communist...)not ok, in fact hated.

      Those people who have hijacked this country are the height of hipocracy-they say they are Christians and worship Jesus, but everything about their behavior is the opposite of the teachings of Christ.

      He didn't say be greedy, hire your cronies, destroy your country and your planet, steal from the poor and give to the rich. What a bunch of charletans, we should all dress like Jesus.

    • 3 years ago
  • sillywabbit
    • 0
      sillywabbit  
    • uppityprogressive:

      If not a Communist, perhaps a Socialist or Rastafarian.
      The Romans actually said that he was the King of the Jews. Jesus said that he is whomever they say he is, throwing himself at Pilate's their mercy (John 18:37). The moral of the story is Mercy and Forgiveness - agressively exposing the tyranny of a Church-State. Jewish Religion + Romans Empire = Holy Crap as in "Holy Crap, look over here. People are suffering and you aren't doing anything about it.”. Teach the Bilble in school, the whole thing, with Thomas Jefferson's "The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth" as Cliff's Notes. Then prepare for your children to learn about the Flying Spaghetti Monster shortly thereafter. Why not teach them all religions and let them sort it out for themselves?

    • 3 years ago
  • Neghie
    • 0
      Neghie  

    • Hil-fricking-larious. Really, i find it even funnier that people are so outraged for Jesus. What, you don't think he's see the humor in this. Honestly, you guys make him out to be such a party pooper.

    • 3 years ago
  • nessie00
    • 0
      nessie00  

    • NO ONE SHOULD OR COULD DRESS AS JESUS.. MAINLY BECAUSE WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT HE LOOKED LIKE. BETTER TO KEEP RELIGION OUT OF HALLOWEN. WHY DO THIS ? YOU ARE ASKING FOR TROUBLE BECAUSE JESUS NEVER ASKED TO BE MIMICKED.

    • 3 years ago
  • karrer
  • bedeboop
    • 0
      bedeboop  
    • nessie00:

      Yahhh....and I have never seen an angel yet dressed up as one as a kid as do many other young girls in this country. But, I guess if you have not seen something personally then you should not do it, or read about it, or talk about it, or write about it....Oh yeah, Halloween is a religion based holiday.

    • 3 years ago
  • michaelway
  • Zero_Ryoko
    • 0
      Zero_Ryoko  

    • Though we have a separation of church and state its still just Halloween. Let the kid be creative. His costume isn't inappropriate.

    • 3 years ago
  • dabne
    • 0
      dabne  

    • Halloween is as pathetic as this story. Boys dress up like axe murderers, and walk around with blood all over themselves, girls dress as whores in tight cat suits, and everyone thinks it's cool. But dress as Jesus and NOW YOU'VE GONE TOO FAR! What a lame holiday to begin with. Yeah, the devil is awesome, so is the prostitute and axe murderer, but dress as Jesus and get your ass out of here.

    • 3 years ago
  • nodlew20
    • 0
      nodlew20  

    • whoever sent him should be shot. first of all why criticize a child's creativity and second of all its 2008, i mean come on who really believes in jesus still

    • 3 years ago
  • niksparks
    • 0
      niksparks  

    • How is this different from the Danish cartoon depicting the prophet Muhammad? I am not saying they are the same--or different--by any means. However, I do think this could open up an interesting conversation about religious tolerance and cultural difference. Does anyone have a thought on this?

    • 3 years ago
  • kennyJ
  • DeliaTheArtist
    • 0
      DeliaTheArtist  
    • niksparks:

      Well, it's different because there was no rioting.

      But I agree, it COULD offer an opportunity for learning about and discussing different religions in the school system- but uh, good luck with that.

    • 3 years ago
  • the_Jack
    • 0
      the_Jack  
    • niksparks:

      The difference is that representations of Mohammad are prohibited by the Muslim faith... that prohibition derives from the commandment not to "worship graven images" common to Judaism, Christianity and Islam, though it's been interpreted differently by each faith over time.

      There really isn't anything like a similar taboo in Western culture, which made it even more difficult for non-Muslims in Europe and the Americas to understand why Muslims were so upset by the political cartoon. Not that most of them were aware of why Muslims were so angry -- the common misperception was that Muslims were making a big deal about a political cartoon because its message was offensive. Actually, an illustration depicting Mohammad and his family, or Mohammad beside other religions' leaders such as Buddha, Rama, Isaiah and St. Peter would have been just as offensive.

      I'm not a Muslim myself, mind you. But I have a university degree in religion and made a point of learning about all the religious traditions whose followers I might encounter.

      It's hard to come up with a counter-example of "Christians wouldn't be offended if a Muslim cartoonist drew ____" -- or "____s wouldn't be offended if a middle-school student dressed up as a representative of their faith" -- because each faith's belief systems, traditions and taboos are different.

      It was a good question, though, and one that hasn't been raised enough.

    • 3 years ago
  • lordsbassman
  • kennyJ
    • 0
      kennyJ  

    • So I guess the real question "what" (if anything) is SACRED? Personally a child who wants to look like Jesus for one day- well somehow that seems "not so bad "...

    • 3 years ago
  • seanalyn
    • 0
      seanalyn  

    • I could see if he was doing it disrespectfully (like LOL Jesus or something) but it sounds like the kid had done it totally respectfully.

      also I just want to say this kid is lucky to have parents exposing him to two religions and letting him make his own decisions...as a result the kid seems to be more intelligent and open to religious studies than any middle school child ive encountered.

    • 3 years ago
  • CalgarC
  • cantucwearebrothers
    • 0
      cantucwearebrothers  

    • Next year he'll have to plan it with all of his friends and they can all come as a biblical figure.

      Jesus
      the 12 disciples
      Judas
      Mary Magdalene
      Solomon
      Sampson
      Pontius Pilate
      Mary and Martha

      You get the idea. Good times.

    • 3 years ago
  • DeliaTheArtist
    • 0
      DeliaTheArtist  
    • cantucwearebrothers:

      It's funny you say that; I really wanted my finacee, roommate and I to go as the "father, son and holy ghost"- my finacee is a big dude, he could dress up like 'god', my roommate could be 'jesus' and I'd get a ghost costume with a cross on it or something.

      Ah, but I'm stuck at work. Maybe next year!

    • 3 years ago
  • cantucwearebrothers
  • karrer
  • deeblackangel
  • Datura420
    • 0
      Datura420  

    • Halloween is a goofy day. One of very few occasions when we get to be something we're not. Whether this kid chose this costume out of humor or admiration, it's just a costume. He's not John Lennon; he didn't say he was more popular than Jesus!

    • 3 years ago
  • DeliaTheArtist
    • 0
      DeliaTheArtist  

    • Ridiculous. It's HALLOWEEN. I do not believe them when they say perhaps he was "disrupting class", what a load of BS! How could he have been more of a disruption than any other costume? Very stupid.

    • 3 years ago
  • PoisonTheMonkey
    • 0
      PoisonTheMonkey  

    • I think this was a bad idea for them to do this. He was just dressing up for Halloween. He wasn't trying to push religion on anyone and it wasn't even a religious thing, just a cultural icon thing.

    • 3 years ago
  • Weepowopo
    • 0
      Weepowopo  

    • I dont support the mothers rebuttal to the matter, but I do think it was a cool costume. If a kid were to dress up as Darth Vader a symbol of pure evil it would probably be ok, but Jesus a symbol of absolute good is not appropiate? Thats silly and Im not even religious.

    • 3 years ago
  • malathion
    • 0
      malathion  

    • No Christian should stand for any parent inciting their kid to dress as the lord as a Halloween costume. It's extremely disrespectful.

    • 3 years ago
  • dank420
  • malathion
  • seanalyn
    • 0
      seanalyn  
    • malathion:

      wow you'd encourage your kid to act violently and you would do so yourself? I thought Jesus preached peace and non aggression.

      But then again it doesnt sound like you actually follow the teachings of Christ that closely....except for to radically cling to just few morsels of the book.

    • 3 years ago
  • kennyJ
    • 0
      kennyJ  
    • malathion:

      "no christian should stand for any parent inciting their kid to dress as the lord for a halloween costume"

      Yet here you are inciting YOUR opinion as the same as your Lords- INTERESTING

      I have to ask the obvious question: WHY is a child wanting to learn about JESUS "unChristian" to YOU?

    • 3 years ago
  • DeliaTheArtist
  • uppityprogressive
  • tanyetta
  • sillywabbit
    • 0
      sillywabbit  
    • malathion:

      Lefties, Righties - can we at least come together on this. Whether you believe in Jesus or not, we should all step back from this and realize that it isn't right. Sending a child dressed like Jesus home is a left-wing hypocrisy and it must stop.

      I am not one for school prayer organized by a school or with a state employee involved, but if children or co-workers want to pray before school or work, so be it. That's their right and their freedom. Leave them be.

      Under God in the pledge was just added as commie propaganda, lets admit it.

      Mangers and Christmas trees on government property - if you would allow a Muslim or Jewish or Budhist or Pastafarian such rights - sure.

      10 Commandments posted in public spaces go right next to the tennants of Tai Kwon Do.

      Not allowing a person to marry whomever they choose, that's a right-wing hypocrisy. It comes from a place where they think some people should have more freedom than others.

    • 3 years ago
  • Current_Pixi
  • sillywabbit
  • Current_Pixi
    • 0
      Current_Pixi  
    • malathion:

      Actually, I wasn't even talking to you - I was responding to Malathion, darling.

      FYI, I'm Jewish and therefore we spell the name of G-d without the vowel as it is sacred..... but thats ok, you're obviously too busy getting yourself into a miss-aimed hissy fit to realize that;)

      Ciao.

    • 3 years ago
  • gravityaddicts
  • aressig
    • 0
      aressig  

    • That is pretty funny. What if the kid had dressed up as Buddha? Or Vishnu? I wonder if he would have gotten the same reaction...

    • 3 years ago
more from News and Politics:
from the community

top videos