Post by pilaf on Oct 4, 2006 13:35:29 GMT -5
full article
And for your convenience:
So basically, the Theocrats are once again attempting to reform our government by blatantly breaking the First Amendment, and injecting what is thinly veiled religious preaching into the school system. They failed with "Intelligent Design" and now they're offering to teach the Bible as a "historical work."
Please..what are we, stupid? The sad thing is the little hicktown students support it. Guess what, darlings? If you don't understand your Constitution, or respect it if you do, you don't even deserve citizenship. Seperation of Church and State exists for a reason. Let's try to respect it.
I'm seriously giving thought to going to University to get a degree in Education, just so I can inject myself into the Tennessee school board and offer a strong liberal, secular progressive presence..you know, a guy who actually respects the law, to counter this wave of blatant disregard that's been taking hold for the past ten years or so.
These fascist reformists are relentless...if we let up for one second, the next thing you know, Christianity will be the official religion of the United States, and mandatory.
And for your convenience:
Tuesday, 10/03/06
Bible class draws student support
Wilson school board plans November vote
By NATALIA MIELCZAREK
Staff Writer
LEBANON — One by one, about 40 Wilson County high school students representing different churches showed up Monday night to support a proposal to offer a Bible elective in the county high schools.
After a local man pitched the idea to the county school board in an informal work session, students spoke up.
"It's a good thing," said Rachel Skaggs, 17, senior at Wilson Central High School and a student school board member. "It's important to gain an understanding of this part of history because it does shape so much today that we have and do. … It's an elective. It's in no way forced upon students."
The proposed class would present the Bible, which several students described as the most important book in the world's history, as a literary and historical source. The board is scheduled to vote on it next month.
It was urged by Terry Redmon, a Wilson County man who said that every well-rounded person should know the historical implications of the Bible. He emphasized several times that the class would not indoctrinate but educate.
One opposing voice Monday night was that of Carol Burger, a Mt. Juliet woman who wasn't able to attend the meeting but warned in a letter about dangers of teaching about the Bible in public schools. Her letter was one of two the board received against the proposed course. In a phone interview, Burger said, "This country is a melting pot of various religions, and it's turning into theocracy. I don't want to live in theocracy. … If parents want their children to learn about the Bible, they should put them in Sunday school."
The curriculum Redmon proposed is promoted by a North Carolina group called National Council on the Bible Curriculum in Public Schools. It uses the Bible as the sole textbook and has been endorsed by a wide range of organizations, including some religiously conservative groups. If approved in Wilson, the course would be the first such class taught in the Nashville area.
After Redmon's presentation, which largely focused on the constitutionality of the curriculum, the school board members followed up with only a few comments. They were eager to hear from the students, they said, to gauge their interest. They learned the interest was significant.
Wilson County Schools Director Jim Duncan addressed the young people in the audience, saying he wanted to make one thing clear. "All of the students here should understand that the board understands their right to worship," he said. "But this particular course will not be an alteration of anything they may have through their church or parents. … I think they do understand it's an academic course."
The topic of church and state separation has been at the forefront of discussion in Wilson County in recent days.
Last week, the county school district and a Mt. Juliet elementary school were named in a lawsuit filed by the Tennessee chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union alleging that religious activities endorsed by the school caused a constitutional violation.
Also last week, one elementary school in the Lebanon Special School District said it will reconsider a longtime practice of many schools in the Midstate, allowing a faith group to drop off Bibles at school for students to pick up.
After Monday night's presentation, Redmon said he thought it went well. "I would have liked for it to be passed tonight, but I understand they need to study it more," he said. "It was a positive reception. I think the students made the difference."
Bible class draws student support
Wilson school board plans November vote
By NATALIA MIELCZAREK
Staff Writer
LEBANON — One by one, about 40 Wilson County high school students representing different churches showed up Monday night to support a proposal to offer a Bible elective in the county high schools.
After a local man pitched the idea to the county school board in an informal work session, students spoke up.
"It's a good thing," said Rachel Skaggs, 17, senior at Wilson Central High School and a student school board member. "It's important to gain an understanding of this part of history because it does shape so much today that we have and do. … It's an elective. It's in no way forced upon students."
The proposed class would present the Bible, which several students described as the most important book in the world's history, as a literary and historical source. The board is scheduled to vote on it next month.
It was urged by Terry Redmon, a Wilson County man who said that every well-rounded person should know the historical implications of the Bible. He emphasized several times that the class would not indoctrinate but educate.
One opposing voice Monday night was that of Carol Burger, a Mt. Juliet woman who wasn't able to attend the meeting but warned in a letter about dangers of teaching about the Bible in public schools. Her letter was one of two the board received against the proposed course. In a phone interview, Burger said, "This country is a melting pot of various religions, and it's turning into theocracy. I don't want to live in theocracy. … If parents want their children to learn about the Bible, they should put them in Sunday school."
The curriculum Redmon proposed is promoted by a North Carolina group called National Council on the Bible Curriculum in Public Schools. It uses the Bible as the sole textbook and has been endorsed by a wide range of organizations, including some religiously conservative groups. If approved in Wilson, the course would be the first such class taught in the Nashville area.
After Redmon's presentation, which largely focused on the constitutionality of the curriculum, the school board members followed up with only a few comments. They were eager to hear from the students, they said, to gauge their interest. They learned the interest was significant.
Wilson County Schools Director Jim Duncan addressed the young people in the audience, saying he wanted to make one thing clear. "All of the students here should understand that the board understands their right to worship," he said. "But this particular course will not be an alteration of anything they may have through their church or parents. … I think they do understand it's an academic course."
The topic of church and state separation has been at the forefront of discussion in Wilson County in recent days.
Last week, the county school district and a Mt. Juliet elementary school were named in a lawsuit filed by the Tennessee chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union alleging that religious activities endorsed by the school caused a constitutional violation.
Also last week, one elementary school in the Lebanon Special School District said it will reconsider a longtime practice of many schools in the Midstate, allowing a faith group to drop off Bibles at school for students to pick up.
After Monday night's presentation, Redmon said he thought it went well. "I would have liked for it to be passed tonight, but I understand they need to study it more," he said. "It was a positive reception. I think the students made the difference."
So basically, the Theocrats are once again attempting to reform our government by blatantly breaking the First Amendment, and injecting what is thinly veiled religious preaching into the school system. They failed with "Intelligent Design" and now they're offering to teach the Bible as a "historical work."
Please..what are we, stupid? The sad thing is the little hicktown students support it. Guess what, darlings? If you don't understand your Constitution, or respect it if you do, you don't even deserve citizenship. Seperation of Church and State exists for a reason. Let's try to respect it.
I'm seriously giving thought to going to University to get a degree in Education, just so I can inject myself into the Tennessee school board and offer a strong liberal, secular progressive presence..you know, a guy who actually respects the law, to counter this wave of blatant disregard that's been taking hold for the past ten years or so.
These fascist reformists are relentless...if we let up for one second, the next thing you know, Christianity will be the official religion of the United States, and mandatory.
wits and this is why you need outsiders who can inspect the curriculum. 
Hell, even a week with information available and teachers and speakers.. That would be more favourable than none at all. I'm not religious, but at least trying is better than nothing. 
, my first skim of the thread and i thought that it was in regard to the nation.
' equals 'happy'...
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