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.
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