I am beginning to think that I am unusual in that I don't sign any contract before I read it completely.
Here's what the article says about what Silvas signed in order to enroll her daughter:
Silvas, in effect, pledged to be the type of parent that the school thinks would support their type of religious instruction. But it turns out Silvas' values are -- obviously -- different than those who run the school and enforce the policy. Therefore, after paying hundreds of dollars each month for the privilege to have her daughter instructed by Capital Christian Center, she is now choosing to reject the school's philosophy -- even after offers to financially assist her in a sinless way that would be compliant with her contract.
As a requirement for admission, parents of prospective students must sign a "commitment" to support the philosophy of the school. That philosophy, in part, reads: "Emphasis is placed on learning about God and the truths of God's Word in relationship to man and his world; recognizing that the way to God comes through personal faith in Jesus Christ; and Christian maturity comes by application of the truths of the Bible in all areas of life." In signing the document, parents agree to maintain a "partnership" with the school "regarding the standards and criteria of a Christian learning structure that involves the entire family."
The school isn't expelling her child as much as she is walking away with her daughter from the school in order to continue at her lucrative and loose profession. There's no fraud here. The school never said, "We'll educate anybody's child for $400 a month." There would be no controversy here if Silvas wasn't stirring it up (think the school called the TV stations?), and regardless of her not mentioning litigation, I have to wonder what her true motives are. On top of that, it shouldn't be too long before Hefner, Guccione, or Flynt comes-a-callin' with offers that will pay for her daughter's college education -- or, at the very least, she'll be booked on Fox Celebrity Boxing.
yeah, but it also says the sins of the father shall be visited on the sons....isnt the Bible so wonderfully nebulous?
Right. Absolutely right. Who hears the message and is born again / taught the word is not our choice. But just as with the covenant, men see fit to take matters into their own hands and try to cut their own path. That is the road to destruction. When the pastor can't see it, it's really bad.
The daughter has done nothing wrong and should not be expelled from school. Ezekiel 18:20 "The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son"Exactly. Some people would rather take any opportunity to be moralistic prigs than follow either the principles of their declared faith or common sense.
Would they expel the child of a criminal? I doubt it.
-Eric
In general terms yes, however, this is not a case of a child actualy being punished for the mom's behavior, though socialists might view it as such. This is a case of mutualy treading jurisdictions of world views and cults. Since such are difficult if not impossible to resolve, and that government has even less of a right to intervene on those jurisdictions it does not own, by default, the school's property and wishes should be respected, despite the possibility of the reprehensibility of this act.
There are always difficult situations. The school is not punishing the daughter, it is pushing the mother to a crisis so she can change her life - kind of like helping an alcoholic hit bottom.
What if a parent commits murder - should the state not incarcerate the parent because doing so would cause the child to be pulled out of her local school with only one month left to go?
The school has bent over backwards to be able to keep the child. The mother seems to actually want an issue with which to smear the school. She has no interest in following G-d. She may have planned for something like this to happen from the beginning.
It is unfortunate that the child will suffer for a season, but that is in G-d's hands and He will redeem the suffering.
Shalom.