School Trip to Abortuary Triggers Calls for Firing of School Administrator

LifeSiteNews ^ | 10/17/06 | Gudrun Schultz

[wagglebee]

NEW HOPE, Pennsylvania, October 17, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The National Pro-Life Action Center (NPLAC) in Washinton D.C. is calling for an investigation after a private school sponsored a field trip to a nearby abortuary, triggering outrage in the local community.

More than a dozen high school students from Solebury School, near Philadelphia, were taken by bus to the Planned Parenthood location in Warminster, Catholic News Service reported, where they spent several hours touring the clinic. According to CNS the students wore vests used by abortion staff when escorting women into the building.

Jason Gordon, social science teacher for the school and the trip organizer, said the outing was part of an “activism class.” 

“This is outrageous,” said attorney Stephen G. Peroutka, chairman of NPLAC. “Why would somebody take children out of school and to an abortion business? Why would anybody think that was good for kids? Whoever did--shouldn’t be teaching, and the school should be investigated and the administrator fired.”

Pro-Life demonstrators who were conducting a prayer service outside the Planned Parenthood building at the time said the students were not allowed to talk to them.

“We tried to encourage them to come down and talk to us, to at least hear the other side of the story, but they weren’t allowed,” Eileen Stone, a prayer service participant, told the Catholic Standard & Times, newspaper of the Philadelphia Archdiocese.

“This is very, very disturbing,” Stone said. “These students are only seeing one side. Shouldn’t they see another perspective? After all, education is about seeing the whole picture.”

Gordon said the students weren’t permitted to speak with the pro-life demonstrators because he did not want them to become involved in activism--he denied that the student’s participation in the abortuary activities was itself a form of activism. When asked by the Times if he had ensured students were given both sides of the argument, he admitted he had not.

“I wouldn’t say it was necessarily both sides,” Gordon said. “I don’t want to polarize things by saying this is one side and that’s another. The opposite of pro-choice is anti-choice. The opposite of pro-life is anti-life. If they say they’re pro-life, I can say I agree with people living. I’m not for people dying. But I’m also for people having a choice. I’m not for people not having a choice to do what they want.”

Escorts at the facility began playing a radio to drown out the pro-life demonstration and openly mocked the demonstrators in front of the students, participants told the Times.

“It’s so irresponsible for adults to act like this in front of kids,” Stone said. “And I think it’s very irresponsible for the administrator of any school to send children here to be brainwashed.”

Dr. Paul Chaim Schenck, executive director of NPLAC, said the incident shows just how badly legislation is needed to protect minor children from abortion activism.

“A school excursion into the bowels of an abortion mill is a stark illustration of why the Senate let down American families by failing to pass legislation prohibiting anyone from taking a school-aged child to an abortionist without parental consent,” said Dr. Schenck in a press release yesterday. “This was an inexplicable and inexcusable act.”

Read full coverage from The Catholic Standard & Times:
http://www.cst-phl.com/061005/second.html

[wagglebee]

This might be the most disgusting thing I have ever read.

[wagglebee]

Pro-Life Ping.

[Clintonfatigued]

It could make the students think twice about having promiscuous sex.

[wagglebee]

Moral Absolutes Ping!

Freepmail wagglebee or little jeremiah to subscribe or unsubscribe from the moral absolutes ping list.

FreeRepublic moral absolutes keyword search
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[BenLurkin]

Unbelievable.

[wagglebee]

Education Ping.

[uptoolate]

Did they show the kids the 'dumpster'?

Bet they didn't.

[madprof98]

Gordon said the students weren’t permitted to speak with the pro-life demonstrators because he did not want them to become involved in activism

I thought this was a class in "activism" to start with.

[CindyDawg]

I think it a great idea, as long as the kids get to see the product.

[Jaysun]

The National Pro-Life Action Center (NPLAC) in Washinton D.C. is calling for an investigation after a private school sponsored a field trip to a nearby abortuary, triggering outrage in the local community.

I stopped there. It's a private school, let them host a midget lesbian mud wrestling contest if they wish.

[wagglebee]

Or the garbage disposers.

[CindyDawg]

A private school too. Did the kids have to get permission slips from their parents?

[Natural Law]

What did you expect from a left wing institution like that? From their mission statement: "In everyone there is an artist and an athlete and a scholar–we have a mind, we are creative, we have bodies. If we can keep those in harmony, we can be whole. That's the challenge of education-to help people see that in themselves."

[par4]

The opposite of pro-choice is anti-choice. The opposite of pro-life is anti-life. If they say they’re pro-life, I can say I agree with people living. I’m not for people dying. But I’m also for people having a choice. I’m not for people not having a choice to do what they want.”

Just reading this rambling statement gives me a headache. I can't imagine this person actually teaching children.

[Maeve]

This is the shape of greater evils to come.

[wagglebee]

This is the shape of greater evils to come.

I'm pretty sure it's here.

[imskylark]

"Jason Gordon, social science teacher for the school and the trip organizer, said the outing was part of an “activism class.” "

Later:
"Gordon said the students weren’t permitted to speak with the pro-life demonstrators because he did not want them to become involved in activism--he denied that the student’s participation in the abortuary activities was itself a form of activism"

A Kerry wannabe? 'It was activism before it was not activism.'

[Cicero]

Reminds me of the Hitler Youth movement.

Hitlerjugend, 1939.

[phoenix0468]

Jason Gordon, social science teacher for the school and the trip organizer, said the outing was part of an “activism class.”

Uh, but the activism being taught here is one sided.

Gordon said the students weren’t permitted to speak with the pro-life demonstrators because he did not want them to become involved in activism--he denied that the student’s participation in the abortuary activities was itself a form of activism. When asked by the Times if he had ensured students were given both sides of the argument, he admitted he had not.

Uh, Oh, he forgot that education should be about learning all arguments involved in a topic. He shouldn't be teaching.

[lesser_satan]

There mission statement (from their website):

Our strong belief in informality, diversity, and the importance of mutual respect between teacher and student helps build a strong community.

Also from their website(Statement of Philosophy & Objectives):

One of the strongest forces animating innovation and creativity is diversity. Solebury is committed to the tolerance, respect, and active concern for the greater human community that come from embracing cultural, economic, and intellectual differences. At the same time, we learn and grow from the challenges encountered in creating a diverse community. We seek to continue our success in the attainment of a diverse student body and strive to increase diversity among the faculty and administration. Recognizing the need to find and maintain an equilibrium between disparate elements contributes significantly to the vital dynamic of the Solebury community.

Sounds like something a commie wrote. That many instances of "diverse" and "diversity" in the span of two paragraphs is proof of it.

[ChocChipCookie]

After all, education is about seeing the whole picture.”

I think that many or most conservatives, and Christians, would agree with that. But when you have a rabid anti-Christian, anti-family, anti-traditional values ideology, ABOVE ALL, you do not want to show the other side.

[lesser_satan]

Did they show the kids the 'dumpster'?

Please, dumpsters are s-o-o-o last year. I'm sure they have state-of-the-art crematoria, possibly paid for with your tax dollars!

[Chewie84]

That is so revolting. Why not just take them to a gay bathhouse to introduce them to alternative lifestyles?

I actually just listened to an audio account by my favorite singer, Rebecca St. James, in which she briefly explained our need to fight the evil that is abortion, talking about how many babies who could potentially go on to do great things later in life are killed through abortion each year.

btw, I like that term "abortuary," I'll have to remember that when I debate my pro- choice friends.

[Nomorjer Kinov]

Jason Gordon, social science teacher for the school and the trip organizer, said the outing was part of an “activism class” ...

Gordon said the students weren’t permitted to speak with the pro-life demonstrators because he did not want them to become involved in activism

Well that's clear enough.

[sneakers]

Ugh.

This is one of those "Just-when-I-thought-I'd-seen-everything" moments.

This turns my stomach.

[CindyDawg]

I saw your screen name and wondered.....When kids tour my job, afterwords we provide them with drinks and cookies. I wonder after telling them about all the babies they kill, if they provided the kiddies that "survived" with refreshments.

[Maeve]

Oh it is here, as you say, but my point was that far greater evil will come out and dance in the broad daylight (and that right soon.)

[bahblahbah]

Um, check out some more of the propaganda he is spreading.

The Cuban Revolution: A look at Fidel Castro's communism.

Instructor:
Department:	Social Studies
Description: The course will begin with a brief overview of Marxist-Leninist theory as a base, and then we will see how these ideas have played out in Cuba over the last half century. We will discuss Cuban internationalism and Cuba's ties to Eastern Europe, Angola, South Africa and in particular Nelson Mandela, and how the idea of a constant revolution helps this relatively small country afloat. A particular focus will be given to Cuba's relation with the U.S. and how that has shaped the community of our closest communist neighbors.

[Hildy]

That's what i think the thinking was behind it. To show the teens the reality of what an abortion is. I don't know if I agree with it, but I don't think it was a feel good trip. I'd like to hear the school's side.

[NY.SS-Bar9]

If this were my kid, Jason would be waking up about now with "Louisville Slugger" tatooed on the back of his skull.

[oyez]

I don't think the kids heard thing like, "These rooms down here on the right are the abortion chambers. We make every customer comfortable while we rip that little life out of her. And look, each room has it own little incinerator."

Talk about a sick place to take the young people. If your children aren't screwed up enough, the school administrators will finish the job.

[Joahob]

Perhaps the students were given the opportunity to view a live procedure. What a delight.

[dpwiener]

"A school excursion into the bowels of an abortion mill is a stark illustration of why the Senate let down American families by failing to pass legislation prohibiting anyone from taking a school-aged child to an abortionist without parental consent," said Dr. Schenck in a press release yesterday. "This was an inexplicable and inexcusable act."

Perhaps Dr. Schenck (and everyone else) missed the part of the story which said that Solebury School is a private school. That means that the parents voluntarily placed their kids in the school (and payed a lot of money to do so) and can also remove their kids from the school if they don't approve of the school's policies.

So what business is it for the Senate to be passing legislation regulating the actions of a private school? And what business is it of outside groups to be demanding the firing of the school administrator? If the parents object to what the school administrator did, they can pressure the school to fire him under threat of withdrawing their kids and hurting the school financially.

If this was a public school, the school would be facing a justifiable uproar and probable lawsuits. But since it's a private school, all this outrage is wasted.

[Biblebelter]

A. I am offended by the word abortuary. It is an attempt to legimatize the illegitimate.

B. I wish the MSM would take a field trip to these places and provide film on a daily basis.

The liberals who saw Michael Moore's first piece of cinematic trash did not have the stomach for rabbit skinning which got the film an R Rating. I am sure they do not have the stomach to see an actual abortion.

[Sloth]

The National Pro-Life Action Center (NPLAC) in Washinton D.C. is calling for an investigation after a private school sponsored a field trip

An investigation by whom? On what basis? It's a private school.

[CindyDawg]

Do you think as the kids left, they were told, "yall come back, now"?

[wagglebee]

how the idea of a constant revolution helps this relatively small country afloat.

Cuba has more natural resources than any other country in the Caribbean. Fifty years ago they were the most prosperous nation in the Caribbean, now they are the second poorest (after Haiti). That is where "constant revolution" got them.

[airborne]

It's a private school, let them host a midget lesbian mud wrestling contest if they wish.

Or better yet, let them fire the science teacher.

[zendari]

Private school. Their deal.

[bahblahbah]

Um, I'm not completely sure that is the guy. I hope the admin removes that ASAP until I get confirmation.

[Socratic]

From New Hope, PA comes this story of Lost Hope for the innocent murdered.

[mkjessup]

"...we have a mind, we are creative, we have bodies."

They have bodies because they were not dismembered either in the womb, or as they were beginning to enter the world due to an abortionist's knife.

Of course they're not worried about that now, because "they got theirs".

[little jeremiah]

I actually don't think about stuff like this often at all, only when needed does it surface.

I'm happily married to a member of the opposite sex, btw. And according to your logic, those who think a lot about, say, how to oppose and defeat terrorism, also have a screw loose? Thinking or contemplating about evil and how to counteract or defeat it means the thinker has something wrong with him/her?

[gabidale89]

It's an activism class, but the teacher doesn't want the children to see the other side of the abortion debate because that would be... activism?

Somebody as contradictory as this shouldn't be teaching.

Not to mention that it's sick that they send students to abortion clinics. I'm just so sickened by the left.

They cherish "diversity" if that diversity doesn't include abortion opponents.

[little jeremiah]

ACK! Wrong thread! Sorry, wag!

[StACase]

I like to post stories like this on websites populated by my liberal "friends" The problem I have is finding these stories in outlets that can't be dismissed as rightwing religiously biased. I assume this story is true, but I can only find it on Christian websites and as such it is testament to the bias in the rest of the news media.

Go ahead, and Google keywords from the article and see if you can find any reference to it in the "Main Stream" media.

[wagglebee]

You will NEVER see stories like this in the mainstream media.

[Coleus]

You mean planned parenthood that wonderful family planning organization that is funded by Pro-Life, Devout Catholic and Evangelical Christian Republicans who vote for Title X funding every year?  

The total amount (to date) received under the Bush(43) administration is $1,385,778,000,

Total Amount to crisis pregnancy centers $0

Title X Funding History FY 1971 - 2005
http://opa.osophs.dhhs.gov/titlex/ofp-funding-history.html

by voting to fund planned parenthood, they (the pro-life Catholic and Evangelical Members of Congress) vote to fund sexual health clinics, condoms in schools, teaching students all forms of sexuality and promote anal sex among teens. Party before principle.

All About the Anus http://www.teenwire.com/infocus/2003/if-20031001p197-anus.php Sexuality and relationship info you can trust from Planned Parenthood http://www.plannedparenthood.org ® Federation of America

And, as usual, LifeSite News is lame with the contact information, How about e mailing the "teacher" and his supervisors.   http://www.solebury.com/pages/department.cfm?id=1 

Department:	Social Studies
Phone Number:	215-862-5261
Year Appointed:	2004
Email address:	Jason@solebury.org
Credentials:	BA, Yale University '95
Administrative Offices 215.862.5261 John Brown, Head of School jb@solebury.org  Geoff Tilden, Assistant Head of School Geoff@solebury.org  Steve Buteux, Director of Studies asbuteux@solebury.org  Annette Miller, Dean of Students Annette@solebury.org

[uptoolate]

Or the guilt and greif some women experience.

Or the physical damage done to the body of a woman.