PREP4Kids, religion classes during reg school hrs

[Whitney]

True, true.  I'd REALLY be up in arms.  Either that or suicidal.

You probably have released time in your state, too.  It's in 44 states and the overwhelming majority of the population don't have any idea what it is and how it's implemented.  Surprisingly, Texas has no specific released time laws, which is actually worse than having them because they can do whatever they want.  Nice.  

Ya, I think we do have release time.  One of my friends was complaining about her son's school being let out during last period (with parental permission) to participate in some sort of christian program.

[LoneMateria]

At least Oregon didn't pass a bill that allows for a bible (not religions in general, only the bible) elective to be offered if students show interest....Texas did.

Honestly I don't see that elective being bad if the material is taught from a literary perspective with no bias.  Nothing makes more atheists then actually reading the bible.  I think its funny Texas decided to leave what version of the bible to teach up to the teachers.  Can you imagine if the said only King James or only New American Standard edition, they would piss people off.   Maybe a teacher could use the LOLcat bible.  Besides who want to bet the first lawsuit over this won't be by an atheist or atheist parents?  It will be by a Christian when the teachers say something like, "Look at the first book of genesis, what does that tell you about the authors of the book and their scientific understanding?"

**Edit**
Other then that though taking kids out of class to teach religion and give them candy seems sinister to me.  Church and state need to stay separate.  Like (i believe it was) George Carlin said, "I'm for the separation of church and state.  They fuck us enough on our own, but together it would be certain death."

[Whitney]

I think it would be funny for a kid to take the elective and bring in the Skeptics Annotated Bible as a reference guide then ask all sorts of hard questions.

[rlrose328]

I told Bren he should take my Gospel According to the FSM to school for reading... he was too young to be amuse.  

[rlrose328]

Went to the school board meeting.  4 of us spoke during the open to the public speaking time, 3 of us atheists (though we didn't make a point of that in our presentations) and 1 lady from the Jewish League who spoke about how outcast and lonely she felt as a child being one of only a handful of kids left in class (we're talking the 40s or 50s at the latest) when the Christian kids all went to the auditorium for bible classes... in the public school.   :yay:

The outcome:  They did NOT vote on the policy has it stands  lol

YIPPEE!!  So we meet in 2 weeks to redo the policy, the board votes on it at next month's meeting, and THEN the PREP people can meet with principals to discuss the program.  This is a first here in the Portland area.  We think they haven't encountered opposition like this before.  This will also push back their start date (first week of October) because the next board meeting isn't until 10/21 so they won't be able to start until at LEAST the beginning of November.

Of course, Joe reminded me when I got home that they could probably contact the ACLU to complain that their rights are being violated with this opposition and having their program delayed.  The ACLU has rep'd cases like that, including kids' rights to distribute religious materials between classes (which doesn't apply with elementary school), so we still have to see what their next move it.

This is much more complicated than it has to be.  But at least the ball is in their court now and we have the advantage.   :pop:

[Sheeplauncher]

thanks for the update. I find this all every interesting... Now i shall sit back and get mah popcorn and see when the shit hits the fan

[Promethean]

Yes, here's an article in the Oregonian about the board meeting. Way to go guys!

http://www.oregonlive.com/washingtoncou ... es_qu.html

[rlrose328]

Yup, that's us... wow.  Very cool.

Apparently, the newswriter called Dani and Mona yesterday early afternoon and got all the info she needed because she called me at 6:00 last night, just before the published the article to the web.  She just wanted to check one fact the others had given her.  I don't care.  I just want the issue addressed and we did that already with the Board.

So it's all good.  I just spoke with the woman at the school district who said the PREP people are willing to compromise by using part of the lunch hour.  LOL!  Not the entire lunch hour, but part.  That's a start.  

[LoneMateria]

Is there no way to get rid of that law that allows for this?  Isn't that a violation of separation of church and state?

[Reginus]

Good luck with the case. Religion doesn't have a place in public schools.

[rlrose328]

Wow... there is a bunch of responses to the article, the majority of which are thoughtful and rational.  Then... there's this one guy... wow.  The "evolution is a faith and yet you criticize us" crap.  The lack of brain cells there is astounding.

[LoneMateria]

Wow... there is a bunch of responses to the article, the majority of which are thoughtful and rational.  Then... there's this one guy... wow.  The "evolution is a faith and yet you criticize us" crap.  The lack of brain cells there is astounding.

Theres always that one in the bunch ^_^

[Kylyssa]

The school itself is not forcing any kind of religious doctrine on your child so they are within their boundaries.  If you are worried about peer pressure, that's another situation altogether.  The kids have a right to free speech and to practice their religion.  I think what you can do as a parent who disagrees with the religious doctrines is educate your children on your personal values and instill your claims in them.  If they are strong, they will hold true to your beliefs.  This applies to a Christian situation as well.  I would not go after a secular school for making my Christian child feel like an "outcast."  All I can do is educate my child and pray they hold strong to their ideals.

So I take it you would not mind if this were a Muslim or Scientologist group and your children were being enticed and bullied with peer pressure into attending or facing emotional abuse from peers?

When I failed to participate in Christian prayer in public school I suffered both emotional and physical abuse from fellow students.  It lasted for years afterward and school staff participated in the emotional and verbal abuse.  

Are you sure you aren't just fine with this because the kids who will be abused are not Christian and the doctrine being taught is your own?

You say you would not go after a secular school for making your child feel like an "outcast" - would you still be fine once it turned into actual abuse from students and teachers?  These things tend to create situations like that.  Most of the time when kids are abused in school for being non-Christian it is a result of one of these inclusions of religion into school time or school based events.

[Sheeplauncher]

that ones guys comments made my brain hurt a lot..... Anyways keep up the fight!