School Assembly Brouhaha (This is great reading!)

FoxNews ^ | Jan 22, 2006 | Scott Norvell

[SandRat]

A high school senior in the Chicago area complained to district officials because religious people were allowed to speak at a school-wide assembly,..

--snip--

Lane Tech's principal, Keith Foley (along with a teacher who attended the event) says God or faith was not mentioned once.

--snip--

Soto didn't even attend the assembly, however. He sat it out along with four other students in the principal's office.

[SandRat]

Got to read the whole story it is just too funny and insane to pass up.

[SeaBiscuit]

Your description is perfect.

[Eva]

I couldn't find the rest of the story. The Fox site seems to be messed. There is a note that the story is continued below, but it isn't.

[SandRat]

The paragraph above that note I think is the end of it.

[raybbr]

Info here.

"The speakers really talked about things, for example, about never giving up, quoting Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, Sir Edmund Hillary," said Foley, a self-described evangelical Christian who has been principal for 61/2 years, and before that was vice principal for a decade. "God was never mentioned. Religion was never mentioned."

Apparently, this George Soto, is nothing more than a publicity hound.

George Soto. He must think he's some kind of hero for denouncing God.

[raybbr]

We had some concerns about separation between church and state, and we don't like these kinds of assemblies being pushed on us," Soto said. "I'm a Roman Catholic, and I believe in Christ, but I think it's something that should stay outside of school."

Some Cathoilic.

[SeaBiscuit]

It makes the article, or should I say the whiner, sound even more inane. I have to add one more description to SandRat's "insane" and "funny" remarks, which is, 'Anger' because I'm sick of the atheist BS.

[vpintheak]

The devil has his ways.

[SandRat]

Yeah,... a real Kenndy Katholic

[SES1066]

Mr Soto has opinions but lacks the facts to shore them up. The problem is that by shouting loud enough he has made the current news cycle. The problem is that the idiots and noise-makers who were ignored in the past now are covered under the need to produce 'fresh news' in the 24/7/365 multi-channel news cycle. We need better filters to reduce the hot air intake.

[Iscool]

I wonder how many Catholics feel that way...I know I've met a few myself...

[SandRat]

I got a filter for this loudmouth!

MCRD Parris Island then assigned to the most remote assignment the Corps has on a 4 year hitch in the Corps!

[Lochlainnach]

You pretty much nailed it. For my part, I like when church and goverment are seperated, but that is merely because politics, a game of compromise, seems to endlessly degrade Faith.

But as far as school goes, why is it such an insane notion to discuss religion (the tenets, rituals, and beliefs) in public schools? Whether you believe in a religion or not, it doesn't hurt to know what is about. How else can you reject or accept something?

[OBone]

There is a good possibility that Mr. Soto was egged on by Ms Karen Lewis, the teachers union rep who attended both assemblies as well as the night session???

Her statement was "the morning sessions seemed to be recruiting for the evening session. If she can't recognize recruiting for real, she shouldn't be teaching.
OB

[SoftballMominVA]

The Seven group did an assembly at my middle school. At no point was God mentioned. They pushed doing right, believing in yourself, not being afraid to stand up to bullies, etc.

Now,that being said, they did do a presentation that night at the community center that was very religious in nature.

[SES1066]

Leathernecks have a PROUD history of taking trash and turning it into gold but with the voluntary military it is no longer their job. BUT him, standing uncovered, at PI, mid-August, parade ground, 100/100 - just a puddle of goo!

[Trillian]

Whoa, I went to HS there..

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Whether you believe in a religion or not, it doesn't hurt to know what is about.

This is a very valid point. Schools should educate people. And there is nothing wrong with learning about other faiths. The anti-establishment clause gurantees the freedom TO worship.