Posted on 02/12/2005 2:05:44 AM PST by Kaslin
STAUNTON, Va. — Heather and Logan Ward moved from New York to Virginia's Shenandoah Valley four years ago because they wanted a simpler life.
Like many recent transplants, the Wards were pleased to discover Staunton's grand Victorian architecture, a vibrant downtown and "a lot of open-minded, progressive people."
But when their son entered public kindergarten this past fall, they discovered that pupils leave classrooms for weekly Bible lessons, a tradition in Staunton and other communities in rural Virginia for more than 60 years.
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News."
ping
TRANSLATION: "Open minded only to Liberal ideas, secular humanism, and belief system not tied to Judeo-Christianity."
"Unless we build a wall around our city, we're going to have to deal with the changing demographics," she said. "That's just part of modern life."
Um, hold on here. She moves somewhere else and demands them to change tradition. What a bitch.
Note I'm pretty much an agnostic, but I really hate elitist snobs.
In Israel all pupils study the Bible (the Jewish) for 11 years (from the 2nd grade until the 12th grade) and in the 12th grade they have a "Bagrut" test- a final test, just like Math, History, Hebrew, English and other lessons.
Some folks just have to cause trouble and force their opinions on everyone else. It's a tradition there ( and not a bad one) and it's only 30 minutes. Develop some other 'mini' classes that the rest of the students can choose from and leave folks alone dangit.
The number of hours per week is 2-4 hours.
An interesting ping for Virginia from Israel!
"I teach first- and second-grade Sunday school at church," she said. "I asked them whether Jesus was a Christian and they said 'yes.' When I said, 'Jesus was a Jew,' one girl said, 'But Jesus was a good person.' "
"If Christians are good people, what are Jews? These are 6- and 7-year-old kids. This is an age where what's right and what's wrong are clear and unambiguous," Mrs. Ridell said. Somebody is not doing their job.
We weren't there but if it is true is is real scary.
A test in religion? Forget it. I think religion knowledge should come from the heart, giving someone a "test" on religion knowledge i think is kinda lame. but that's my personal opinion.
If the kids left school to be indoctronated into the gay lifestyle, there would not be a story here.
Kids say the darnest things. Why you assume the kid picked that up from this Bible School is beyond me. It is much more likely something the child picked up from TV or parents and probably did not understand what was said. I hope they teach people jumping to conclusions on flimsy evidence better in Isreal....
I suppose they could always move back where they came from
Or they can move to another state
Growing up in NYC public schools we had "release time" where some of us were released an hour early on wednesdays to attend religious instruction.
I remember it being mostly catholic kids who attended what is now called CCD classes in the catholic schools. Likewise, the catholic school kids got out early on Wednesday to make their schools available to us.
There was an understanding that no new material would be introduced, but it was only 1 hour, once a week and at the end of the day. I never understood why the Jewish & protestant kids went to "sunday school," or maybe why we catholics didn't do it that way. It was always a bit awkward to me to have to get up with the one or two other kids get our coats and leave, but that was the way we did it in NYC.
I don't know if its still done. The catholic churches where I live (outside of NYC) all have CCD classes on sunday mornings.
This case seems like a local tradition that is not being forced on anyone. If the parents are so concerned, why don't they have their kids work on homework or read for that time if they are not interested in the Bible lessons.
Exactly
Great point
Btw I was born and raised in Germany and we also had religous classes in school Tuesdays and Fridays. The protestant children went to protestant classes and we catholic children went to catholic classes. On Tuesdays we studied catechism and on Fridays the bible.
We did this in rural New York State in the 1950s and early 1960s and nobody said a word. We were glad to get out of school for an hour and would not have cared whether it was Bible study or making paper chains.
I can't understand people who move next to a runway and complain about the noise, people who drive across the street to a restaurant and complain about traffic and pollution, and people who move to an American small town in the Old Confederacy and complain about the free exercise of religion.
If some idiot liberal moved to THIS rural area and started that crap their whole family would be shunned so thoroughly that their house would be up for sale in one month or less and they'd be moving back to the city. The last person who even told anyone they were a democrat was a woman who drank too much at a neighborhood Fourth of July party and told everyone she was voting for Kerry. She hasn't been invited to a community party since. They ought to start doing that in this Virginia community.
Why don't ya just get on the same bus that brought you here and take your disruptive crap somewhere else?
No, there is nothing wrong with a test. I was born and raised in Germany and when I went to school there we also had religous classes. They were twice a week, Tuesdays and Fridays. The protestant kids went to protestant classes and we catholic kids went to catholic classes. On Tuesdays we studies catechism and on Friday we studied the bible. Our priest always had us do homework and then in the next class we had to repeat aloud the part he had us given to study at home. I never had to study though because I was always one of the last ones he asked, and I just repeated to myself what the other kids that were before me said. By the time it was my turn, I was able to say the whole thing. If he by any chance he asked me first, then I just told him I did not study.
Well they arent' exactly taught in goverment school. the children leave the school and are taught in churches
Typical situation.Ask anyone who lives in rural communities on a line north of NYC what it is like when these urbanites leave the big city for a quiet lifestyle.
The first thing they complain about is the smell from farms that they just moved next to.
Than it is school programs which almost always lead to higher taxes to pay for them.
They seem to expect everyone to kiss their behinds and cater to their demands.
Some how they hate the city life yet can`t shake the big city liberal mentality.
Here where I live we call these people "Come Downers" . They come down here to live because we have a good community then they go out of their way to spoil it.
I believe it was Paul , who said by the Spirit of God that men should pray always, lifting up holy hands without wrath or doubting. Everywhere means a football game too.
The words "self-centered twit" come to mind. I hope the town fathers smile patiently and then call out "next!"
"Come Downers"
I like that! I guess here we sould call them "Come Uppers" since this is up in the hills above the city. We can always spot the spoilsport newbies at the HOA meetings and neighborhood parties-they're the ones who want the HOA to make everyone park their cars in their garages and paint their house trim the same "approved" colors, etc. When no one listens to them, they will decide country living isn't what they expected, sell their house and move back to the city. And good riddance to them...
"open minded" "Progressive people" Orwellian Newspeak For close minded against the religion and traditions of the founding fathers..The Real America
imo
"School time"?! The schools and secularists OWN THE TIME?
I would like to add to my previous post (#7) that Bible lessons are important as much as History, Math and Science lessons in Israel, because a nation that doesn't know its past, can't understand its present, and won't be able to survive in the future- especially a nation as Israel.
The Bible is THE history of Israel and is THE key for understanding ourselves (ourselves- Israelis) today, and therefore Bible lessons in Israel's schools are taught very well.
One of the Quotes here is that the road that brought you here goes both ways, If you dont like it take that road the hell back to where you came from.
Renee Staton, a Staunton native whose husband is Jewish, questioned that argument because the schools already have character-education classes."
"...the schools already have character-education classes." Yes, and look how wonderfully they're working!!
/sarc>
These carpetbaggers should pack up and move to a rural Northern state.
That was my thought, virtually to a word. Maybe something like this:
Arrogant transplanted NY Liberals Don't Like Flyover Country Customs Alert
And all I've got to say to these people is, I-81 runs both ways. If you don't like the way we do things, get the hell outta my Commonwealth and quit spoiling the Shenendoah Valley.
}:-)4
Bottom line: It's 'voluntary'
"U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1952 that allowing public school pupils to be released to religious classes doesn't violate the constitutional separation of church and state.
"In fact, such programs are wholly consistent with the First Amendment and this nation's religious heritage,"
It's Freedom OF Religion NOT freedom From religion.
On the other hand, as for those parents who want their children to have a biblical education, why not hold the classes after school or teach them at home or enroll them in Sunday school and/or summer bible class. I remember growing up in rural New York and going to two hours of church school on Sunday mornings before regular services, three hours of youth fellowship on Sunday evenings, bible classes on Wednesday afternoons after school, and bible camp over the summer. IMO the public schools should be used for the three R's and not religious education when there are plenty of other oppurtunities for religious education in the community outside of the public school.
We did it in Chicago too and on Wednesdays (It must of been a Law LOL), but I don't recall it being named 'release time', it was just "okay its time too leave for catechism classes". Any way, we'd all line up double file at different exits depending on what parish you went too. But it wasn't just us Catholics who left, the few Lutheran kids (Germans) and a couple Methodists went on Wednesdays also (no Jewish kids in the school or neighborhood). We'd then march off to church 'led' by Eight Graders - and no talking or goofing off either, or we'd be "reported". And yes the kids at the Catholic schools got out early to make room for us. I'd usually see my one neighbor/playmate friend as we crossed path and we'd make faces at each other.
But it is odd, until now I never gave a second thought about any of the kids who didn't leave on Wednesdays, OR what went on in the school when we were gone?!? I guess I 'assumed' that everybody went 'somewhere'.
Well, then why don't they schedule the "character education" classes at the same time as the release time for religion, and let the parents choose? The parents who are so offended by another person's religious decision can let their children attend "character education" instead. They just need to get their heads around the idea that for some parents, character education and faith are linked. I wonder if the parents who are objecting ever considered volunteering to teach a class?
From the article:
"The Wards and other parents are asking the School Boardto eliminate or modify the program, saying that children who opt out are stigmatized and have little to do during that time because teachers aren't allowed to introduce new material while their classmates are in Bible classes."
Stigmatized? So what? If you're not a Christian, not going to Bible study isn't the only thing that's going to identify you as a non-Christian. People in small towns (like Red Springs, NC) know who goes to church on Sunday and who doesn't, and they stigmatize you anyway. Deal with it and participate in the community in other ways instead of trying to take away from the community. In Red Springs they pray before everything (games, performances, PTA meetings, you name it). It gives me a sense of community even though I'm a non-Christian. It shows me they really care. Too bad more parents don't show up though...
That's great!
You've described to a "T" the scourge of what has happened to rural towns all over the country. Happened in my own hometown in the late 70's, and it continues to fester everywhere today. It's sickening.
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