KC-area Catholic school kicks boy out to punish his mom | Opinion
Will Muller, a rising sixth grader at St. John LaLande Catholic School in Blue Springs, has been kicked out — “disenrolled” after much prayer, according to a July 19 letter from the principal, Susan Martin.
This is not because Will, who is 11, was struggling academically or did anything wrong. On the contrary, “he’s an ‘A’ student,” said the mother of a classmate, and liked by everybody. “My son would say he’s the only one who never talks or gets in any trouble.”
According to the letter, he’s being expelled because his parents, Paul and Hollee Muller, have “stated both verbally and in writing you do not agree with nor do you support the teachings of the Catholic Church. After prayerful consideration and discussion among our school administration it is obvious we no longer have a partnership with you, since the values of your family are not in alignment with those of our school. Therefore, the school administration has made the decision to disenroll your child from our school.”
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As a private school, of course, St. John can expel anyone, any time, for any reason or none. Parents at the school sign a “covenant” that they will support church teachings, and Hollee freely admits that while she’s a weekly Mass attending Catholic, she does not agree with everything her faith teaches.
But punishing a child for the dissension of his parents does seem heartless: “He’s in tears,” Hollee said.
It’s only this decision by the school, she says, that has shaken her faith, not in God, but “in whether I do belong in the church.”
Read more at: https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/...nneberger/article277734988.html#storylink=cpy
Will Muller, a rising sixth grader at St. John LaLande Catholic School in Blue Springs, has been kicked out — “disenrolled” after much prayer, according to a July 19 letter from the principal, Susan Martin.
This is not because Will, who is 11, was struggling academically or did anything wrong. On the contrary, “he’s an ‘A’ student,” said the mother of a classmate, and liked by everybody. “My son would say he’s the only one who never talks or gets in any trouble.”
According to the letter, he’s being expelled because his parents, Paul and Hollee Muller, have “stated both verbally and in writing you do not agree with nor do you support the teachings of the Catholic Church. After prayerful consideration and discussion among our school administration it is obvious we no longer have a partnership with you, since the values of your family are not in alignment with those of our school. Therefore, the school administration has made the decision to disenroll your child from our school.”
[clip]
As a private school, of course, St. John can expel anyone, any time, for any reason or none. Parents at the school sign a “covenant” that they will support church teachings, and Hollee freely admits that while she’s a weekly Mass attending Catholic, she does not agree with everything her faith teaches.
But punishing a child for the dissension of his parents does seem heartless: “He’s in tears,” Hollee said.
It’s only this decision by the school, she says, that has shaken her faith, not in God, but “in whether I do belong in the church.”
Read more at: https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/...nneberger/article277734988.html#storylink=cpy
