"It's a Mother of a problem for us, he added."
Botticelli
Posted on 07/15/2002 3:14:28 PM PDT by Darth Sidious
Sheets Memorial kicks out Catholic student
The Associated Press
July 15, 2002
LEXINGTON | A 15-year-old student won’t be praying in a classroom at Sheets Memorial Christian School this year — because he prays the rosary.
Ben Holmes attended the school until June, but school officials say they’re no longer comfortable having him as a student.
“Our philosophy is the home, school and church have to complement one another,” said Dan Hightower, the school’s administrator. “The Baptist doctrine and teachings do not complement the Catholic doctrine and teaching.”
Ben entered Sheets Christian school as a freshman last fall after moving to Mocksville. The closest Catholic high school was too far away, said Ben’s mother, Cynthia Holmes.
Cynthia Holmes didn’t feel any conflicts about having her son attend a Protestant school where religion is incorporated into the curriculum.
Admitting Ben to the school wasn’t a problem, Hightower said, but he had no idea the family would be active to the Catholic Church.
Sheets is affiliated with an independent Baptist church. As a private, Christian school, officials can choose whom they wish to admit, Hightower said.
The school’s policy is to open enrollment to “all students whose parents are in agreement with the Christian philosophy, purposes and standards of the school.”
It also admits students “of any race, color, national and ethnic origin.” Hightower points out that religion is not included on that list.
Sheets admits Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians and students of various denominations — but not Catholics, he said.
“We have other denominations that go to this school, but the basic doctrine is the same,” he said, adding that Catholicism is not the same basic doctrine.
Ben and his mother disagree with the school’s decision.
“My son ended up being taught more about hypocrisy than Christian love,” Cynthia Holmes said.
Ben said he has learned a lot about his own faith through his experience.
“I didn’t know there was such a schism in Christianity,” he said. “The underlying thing about Christianity is to feel Christ’s love and passion for men and they taught me the complete opposite.”
Well, now you know junior...
Indeed. Such as the religious school of your choice is "too far" so you decide to enroll in a different religious school and expect them to bow to your religious beliefs.
I used to go to a school a lot like this one. You're more right than you know.
I went to the school's website. Pretty much what I was expecting: an indoctrination factory not unlike public schools, except this one churns out little legalists. No doubt that very few of them will ever know the real joy of a true life in Christ. I've seen young people screwed up far worse coming out of independent Baptist schools than they ever would be in a public school.
If the student hadn't been previously enrolled before, I can see him being turned down, even with voucher in hand.
But since he's already a student, and if his education was already being supplemented with a voucher... then there could be a situation that arises (discrimination, etc.)
"It's a Mother of a problem for us, he added."
Botticelli
If you want to go to a Baptist School, go to one. If you want to go to a Catholic School, go to one of those. What is so hard about that? I guess it is just easier for some people to demand that others conform to whatever is most convenient for them.
And you are correct. Vouchers will destroy the private schools.
Hightower is either an idiot or a liar.
How many private schools have been destroyed because of the GI Bill?
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