Disturbing Christian material . . . . . . . .

[puglover]

I'm not saying the children should decide, I'm saying the government should. Standardise learning and leave beliefs for Sunday/Saturday.

Absolutely not. Private education is a necessary right. I don't want the government to be the sole administrator of learning and job skills.

 

[Truronian]

That defeats the purpose of a religious school doesn't it?

Only if a purpose of religious schools is to force religion on those who do not want it.

(Disclaimer: I do not really believe this is what they are trying to do)

 

[onejayhawk]

Only if a purpose of religious schools is to force religion on those who do not want it.

(Disclaimer: I do not really believe this is what they are trying to do)

I'm glad for the disclaimer, since the first sentance manages to contradict itself.

J

 

[puglover]

Only if a purpose of religious schools is to force religion on those who do not want it.

(Disclaimer: I do not really believe this is what they are trying to do)

Why would someone who doesn't want to be educated in religion enroll in a religious school?

 

[blackheart]

Why would someone who doesn't want to be educated in religion enroll in a religious school?

Parents enroll their kids in school, kids don't enroll themselves.

 

[Truronian]

I'm glad for the disclaimer, since the first sentance manages to contradict itself.

J

In what way?

Religion was forced upon me in school. It wasn't a big deal (for me) but it did waste a lot of my time, I'd have prefered the option to sit out the religious activities (the main one being assemblies and services).

My disclaimer was to point out that I don't think this religious forcing was an intentional motivation of the school, more a side-effect of a by-gone era.

 

[GinandTonic]

Couple of questions -

Is there not a national curriculum in the states?

Does that curriculium not cover religious/ personal/ social education?

Is there not a compulsion for all schools to teach some understanding of all major religions and ethical standpoints?

Is it not prohibited to denigrade any religion/ creed/ race in an educational establishment?

 

[aneeshm]

I can't believe all the people here claiming that parents are allowed to put children in whatever the heck kind of school they so please.

Clearly children deserve proper education. Schools that teach useless junk or indoctrinate children in horrible ways (such as this one) should never be allowed to teach children.

There's nothing voluntary in it for the child, only the parent.

And the fundamental problem in your idea , dear friend , is : who decides what is a "proper education" ? For the Christians , it is one thing , for the Muslims , it is another , and for you , it is something else .

That is why I hold that even though I might consider this school's actions disturbing ( at least in the material they teach ) , they must still be given the freedom to teach as they wish ( as long as , of course , the children they teach are properly educated in the secular subjects which are mandatory for all students , and can perform normally on standardised tests ) .

Freedom of religion is very precious , and I would not have it compromised .

 

[Capulet]

When I was in kindergarden, I went to a Christian school that required you attend a daily prayer at the church.

Obviously, as a Muslim I didn't want to take part in them - but considering that this was required, my parents and I went along with it. I remained quiet while my other classmates prayed. I didn't complain or asked to be excused - and guess what? There was no problem.

My point is: if you don't want to deal with this stuff, don't go to a Christian school. Otherwise, don't complain. Every private school has their own rules and you've got to deal with it.

 

[cegman]

Did people ignore me. I said that most of the private schools give their kids a better education.

Truonian how old are you 14 or 15? you sound like you are rebeling from your parents at the moment.

 

[ironduck]

They very likely are getting a similar education as the Catholic school kid and the public school kid.

First of all, I'm talking in general terms - that parents should not be allowed to send their children to useless or indoctrinating schools. Schools should all live up to certain standards simply because we're talking about children here, they don't have a choice of where they're going, so they better be guaranteed at the very minimum a reasonably decent school.

As an outsider, who are you to say what's right and wrong for that child? You are not the parent raising that child.

Secondly, this is simply an idiotic statement. If you really think parents should be allowed to do anything they want to with their children I suggest you move into the 21st century. Do you think parents should have the right to abuse their children? Do you think parents should have the right to keep their children from any education altogether? Children have rights! They are human beings! They have the right to a proper education when the country has the means of supplying one for them! This should be bloody obvious.

I would be significantly more concerned about the "government funded" public school inner city kids parent(s) giving a crap about getting a quality education for their kids than the rural Christian school parents. It's like two different worlds.

If your government runs useless schools then you had better start changing your government. Saying that parents should have the right to subject their children to any kind of horrible school because 'the government schools suck too' is an inane argument. Two wrongs do not make a right.

 

[El_Machinae]

I think that there's a bit too much "reading into" of the mission statement. Parents, in general, do what they deem best for their children - I can trust that they're trying to get them an education that will allow them to survive this world.

As long as the parents are knowledgable about the kid's chances of getting into college, then they can make the necessary decisions.

There's no real need to freak out about something like this; kids are resilient and can't be insulated from the world completely. As long as the kids can be integrated into society as adults, everything is fine.

 

[Whomp]

First of all, I'm talking in general terms - that parents should not be allowed to send their children to useless or indoctrinating schools. Schools should all live up to certain standards simply because we're talking about children here, they don't have a choice of where they're going, so they better be guaranteed at the very minimum a reasonably decent school.

Hey I said I would never send my child to these schools. If someone wants to send their child to a Greek Orthodox school with other Greek kids then so be it. I honestly believe that they grow up more naive, sheltered and without some of the skills to think critically however they're not my kids.

Secondly, this is simply an idiotic statement. If you really think parents should be allowed to do anything they want to with their children I suggest you move into the 21st century. Do you think parents should have the right to abuse their children? Do you think parents should have the right to keep their children from any education altogether? Children have rights! They are human beings! They have the right to a proper education when the country has the means of supplying one for them! This should be bloody obvious.

WTH are you talking about? Abuse? Any education altogether? You need to get your head taken firmly out of your arse.
Who said a kid is not getting an education or being abused if they go to a Christian school?

Whether it entails additional Christian teachings is up to the parents and if the parents are footing the bill so be it. The kids still have to pass the standardized tests.

If your government runs useless schools then you had better start changing your government. Saying that parents should have the right to subject their children to any kind of horrible school because 'the government schools suck too' is an inane argument. Two wrongs do not make a right.

Wow.
When did you become an expert on how useless, sucky and horrible U.S. public schools are? The parent(s) of the inner city kids need to carry their end of the bargain so their children receive a quality education.

Seek help dude it seems you have serious anger issues.

 

[onejayhawk]

In what way?

Religion was forced upon me in school. It wasn't a big deal (for me) but it did waste a lot of my time, I'd have prefered the option to sit out the religious activities (the main one being assemblies and services).

My disclaimer was to point out that I don't think this religious forcing was an intentional motivation of the school, more a side-effect of a by-gone era.

Schools also force reading and mathematics on children. It is their purpose. To view a school as anything but an extension of parental/guardian authority is wrongheaded, hence the self contradictory cpmment. If a school teaches a specific religion along with reading, writing and arithmatic, then it is doing its job.

J

 

[Dionysius]

Schools also force reading and mathematics on children. It is their purpose. To view a school as anything but an extension of parental/guardian authority is wrongheaded, hence the self contradictory cpmment. If a school teaches a specific religion along with reading, writing and arithmatic, then it is doing its job.

J

you are comparing religion with mathematics?

 

[Cuchullain]

Schools also force reading and mathematics on children. It is their purpose. To view a school as anything but an extension of parental/guardian authority is wrongheaded, hence the self contradictory cpmment. If a school teaches a specific religion along with reading, writing and arithmatic, then it is doing its job.

Except for one nagging little detail: if it's a public school, then that would be unconstitutional, and therefore illegal. If you want your child to learn about a specific religion, then feel free to send him to private school. The separation of church and state makes religious education in private school a major no-no.

 

[puglover]

you are comparing religion with mathematics?

Is your religion true to you? Are the laws of mathematics truth? Then they do have something in common.

 

[Dionysius]

Is your religion true to you? Are the laws of mathematics truth? Then they do have something in common.

maths=fact. as factual as it gets.
religion=something you think is true.
thank you for your time.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Well, maybe it's not rational, but you have to understand that for a lot of people their religion is as true, and in the same way, as mathematics.

 

[blackheart]

Did people ignore me. I said that most of the private schools give their kids a better education.

Truonian how old are you 14 or 15? you sound like you are rebeling from your parents at the moment.

Private schools don't necessarily mean parochial schools.

EDIT: And it's questionable. Privately-educated students might be more book smart, but then they're only exposed to a narrow group of people.