http://www.thelocal.at/20141008/austrian-primary-school-bans-yoga
How provincial. Instead of taking their kid out of class, let's ruin it for everyone! :rolleyes:
QuoteAustrian primary school bans yoga
A primary school in the town of Dechantskirchen in Styria has banned yoga from gym classes after a mother of one of the students protested against it for religious reasons.
"All I heard was that according to the Bible yoga should not be allowed and it would lead the children in the wrong direction," yoga teacher Ingrid Karner told the Kleine Zeitung.
She was disappointed as her monthly yoga classes had proved to be a success with both parents and children.
"We introduced children's yoga and concentration exercises into gym classes. I presented the project to the headmistress and the district school inspector in advance and they were both happy with it," Karner said.
"In Germany yoga has long been a part of the curriculum for children," she added.
Headmistress Maria Hofer confirmed that she and other parents had been happy with the inclusion of yoga exercises in gym classes but that since one mother had complained and said that "she did not want her child coming into contact with yoga for religious reasons" it has had to be stopped.
Many parents are outraged that their children can no longer do yoga. "What happened to tolerance and democracy?" Siegfried Kogler said. He added that his daughter's performance at school had improved after doing the yoga exercises.
District school inspector Helga Thomann said that in principle she thought children's yoga was a good idea but said that "anything from the Far East that touches on the esoteric has no place in schools".
She said that drawing and painting Tibetan mandalas had also led to protests from parents.
Historically yoga was an ancient spiritual practice with connections to Hinduism and Buddhism, but there are many different forms of yoga, some of which are more overtly religious than others.
It's never about the kids.
I guess it's just not free market enough.
So Styria claims back the title of most retarded Austrian region to Carinthia?
Alles in Ordnung. :)
Quote from: Syt on October 09, 2014, 04:48:52 AM
http://www.thelocal.at/20141008/austrian-primary-school-bans-yoga
How provincial. Instead of taking their kid out of class, let's ruin it for everyone! :rolleyes:
QuoteAustrian primary school bans yoga
District school inspector Helga Thomann said that in principle she thought children's yoga was a good idea but said that "anything from the Far East that touches on the esoteric has no place in schools".
She said that drawing and painting Tibetan mandalas had also led to protests from parents.
Historically yoga was an ancient spiritual practice with connections to Hinduism and Buddhism, but there are many different forms of yoga, some of which are more overtly religious than others.
Well the question is, was the religious claptrap being taught as part of the stretching exercises?
This being Austria, I bet they can find another way of teaching concentration to kids. Perhaps it would make sense to even organise a camp for that purpose. :hmm:
Quote from: Martinus on October 09, 2014, 05:53:39 AM
This being Austria, I bet they can find another way of teaching concentration to kids. Perhaps it would make sense to even organise a camp for that purpose. :hmm:
:lol:
Quote from: Viking on October 09, 2014, 05:28:33 AM
Quote from: Syt on October 09, 2014, 04:48:52 AM
http://www.thelocal.at/20141008/austrian-primary-school-bans-yoga
How provincial. Instead of taking their kid out of class, let's ruin it for everyone! :rolleyes:
QuoteAustrian primary school bans yoga
District school inspector Helga Thomann said that in principle she thought children's yoga was a good idea but said that "anything from the Far East that touches on the esoteric has no place in schools".
She said that drawing and painting Tibetan mandalas had also led to protests from parents.
Historically yoga was an ancient spiritual practice with connections to Hinduism and Buddhism, but there are many different forms of yoga, some of which are more overtly religious than others.
Well the question is, was the religious claptrap being taught as part of the stretching exercises?
I don't really think that's the question.
In a vacuum, I think this is quite silly.
However if (as Western society) we're going to throw a huge shit-fit every time some semblance of Christian religion appears in school grounds, then I'm kind of okay with this.
Another one of those 15 commandments that was lost to the mists of time - thou shalt not practice healthy exercise before me.
@ Marti, :lol:
Quote from: crazy canuck on October 09, 2014, 08:41:27 AM
Another one of those 15 commandments that was lost to the mists of time - thou shalt not practice healthy exercise before me.
@ Marti, :lol:
If Moses hadn't been such a klutz, we'd know those extra 5 really well.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.brightsideofnews.com%2FData%2F2011_7_4%2FPeople-Work-Play-and-Content-Are-All-on-the-Move%2Fimage01.jpg&hash=37cd3415d869378d4b6ef8b7d378fb63a1d92f49)
Glad you got the reference :cheers:
Quote from: derspiess on October 09, 2014, 08:40:40 AM
However if (as Western society) we're going to throw a huge shit-fit every time some semblance of Christian religion appears in school grounds, then I'm kind of okay with this.
Isn't Austria one of those countries that still have crucifixes in every classroom? :P
Quote from: Sheilbh on October 17, 2014, 04:43:26 PM
Quote from: derspiess on October 09, 2014, 08:40:40 AM
However if (as Western society) we're going to throw a huge shit-fit every time some semblance of Christian religion appears in school grounds, then I'm kind of okay with this.
Isn't Austria one of those countries that still have crucifixes in every classroom? :P
And those are just the ones they use on the students.
;)
When I was a kid we used to turn the crucifixes in class upside down. Silly kids :D
Reading the article it seems clear to me that there was more than just stretching exercises at those yoga classes, which is out of place in a public school. It would have been easier to just drop the whole esoteric mumbo-jumbo than cancelling the classes altogether though, yoga is pretty great and certainly not out of place in a gym class.
Quote from: garbon on October 09, 2014, 08:26:17 AM
Quote from: Viking on October 09, 2014, 05:28:33 AM
Quote from: Syt on October 09, 2014, 04:48:52 AM
http://www.thelocal.at/20141008/austrian-primary-school-bans-yoga
How provincial. Instead of taking their kid out of class, let's ruin it for everyone! :rolleyes:
QuoteAustrian primary school bans yoga
District school inspector Helga Thomann said that in principle she thought children's yoga was a good idea but said that "anything from the Far East that touches on the esoteric has no place in schools".
She said that drawing and painting Tibetan mandalas had also led to protests from parents.
Historically yoga was an ancient spiritual practice with connections to Hinduism and Buddhism, but there are many different forms of yoga, some of which are more overtly religious than others.
Well the question is, was the religious claptrap being taught as part of the stretching exercises?
I don't really think that's the question.
Since the objection to Yoga is religious it is the question. That's what decides if the objection is valid or not.
Does anybody really know what sort of the religious claptrap applies to Yoga? It is Hinduism which is about as intelligible and well known as ancient cuneiform to westerners. Usually it is like 'breathe because Indians call it the life force' well alright then better not stop breathing. As far as religious principles go I don't think that is one to damaging to secularism to pass on.
Quote from: Martinus on October 09, 2014, 05:53:39 AM
This being Austria, I bet they can find another way of teaching concentration to kids. Perhaps it would make sense to even organise a camp for that purpose. :hmm:
:lol: Good one, counselor
I, too, am saddened by missing out when Mart dropped that zinger. If we still did POTM, that'd certainly be worth a nomination. :lol:
Rootin' for the fag? What's a-matter with you people?
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 18, 2014, 01:59:23 AM
Rootin' for the fag? What's a-matter with you people?
:blurgh:
Quote from: Valmy on October 17, 2014, 09:35:05 PM
Does anybody really know what sort of the religious claptrap applies to Yoga? It is Hinduism which is about as intelligible and well known as ancient cuneiform to westerners. Usually it is like 'breathe because Indians call it the life force' well alright then better not stop breathing. As far as religious principles go I don't think that is one to damaging to secularism to pass on.
Well, I guess there is a bit of talk about "releasing your energy" and "bowing to your inner teacher" and the like. Plus I know that fundamentalist Catholics really get their panties in the bunch about yoga. Priests in Poland say it leads to demonic possession - which is obviously bullshit - I practice yoga and I am fine. :ph34r:
Edit: But seriously, the opposition (almost certainly) does not come from secularists but from the catholic church who is losing members rapidly in Europe and fears anything that infringes on their imagined turf, be it yoga or Harry Potter vibrating wands.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 18, 2014, 01:59:23 AM
Rootin' for the fag? What's a-matter with you people?
Don't hate the player; hate the game.
Quote from: Valmy on October 17, 2014, 09:35:05 PM
Does anybody really know what sort of the religious claptrap applies to Yoga? It is Hinduism which is about as intelligible and well known as ancient cuneiform to westerners. Usually it is like 'breathe because Indians call it the life force' well alright then better not stop breathing. As far as religious principles go I don't think that is one to damaging to secularism to pass on.
Well this is the poster child for why both the religious and secular should make sure that public services should be secular.