Posted on 12/26/2009 1:06:10 PM PST by Colofornian
CHICO —
Changes in the curriculum at Crosspoint Academy have some parents, including prominent radio host Delilah Rene Luke, concerned the private Christian school in Chico is straying from its biblical focus.
But school leaders defend the changes, saying the new materials will grow the school’s 290 students into the next generation of Christian leaders.
“The idea that Crosspoint is still fundamentally rooted in strong Christian values and delivers a curriculum with a Christian perspective in mind has not changed and that has never changed in this process,” said Eric Rasmussen, superintendent of schools for Crista, the Christian ministry organization that owns Crosspoint.
The school, formerly known as King’s West, announced this fall that it had a new plan for a curriculum focused on leadership and on five pillars: critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, contemplation and cultural competency. Much of the work has been based on “The Leader In Me,” a program for students from Stephen Covey, author of “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.”
The emphasis on Covey’s work is what most concerns Delilah. She recently disenrolled three of her children from Crosspoint.
“I would like to say that I am merely ‘deeply concerned’ about a recent addition to the school’s teaching philosophy, but instead, I am forced to admit I am actually HORRIFIED by the recent addition of a book by Mormon author Steven (sic) Covey,” she wrote in a Nov. 24 open letter to Crosspoint parents.
Further, she wrote that she believes in freedom of religion and does not object to Mormon beliefs or the yoga-type, Eastern religion activities Covey advocates. She said in a recent interview, however, that the materials don’t belong in a Christian school.
“It’s not about being intolerant. It’s about being true to my faith,” she said. “I don’t have a problem with Stephen Covey and businesses that use it. I don’t have any problem with people who want to sign up for yoga classes or attend the church of Satan if they want to. That’s their right. But I can’t imagine someone paying money to send their kids to Brigham Young University so they can get a good basis in Mormon faith and then having their kid come home and saying his new teacher was a Catholic priest teaching the Apocrypha.”
After her letter circulated, Delilah held an informational meeting in Port Orchard for Crosspoint parents. About 30 attended. She also received many supportive e-mails. But the parents contacted by e-mail by the Kitsap Sun about the controversy either declined to be interviewed or did not respond.
Covey has denied in recent years that his leadership materials are repackaged Mormonism. But Delilah is concerned that the leadership materials introduce Mormon tenets in a way that is palatable to non-Mormons.
“He intends to indoctrinate the world with his theology by wiring it in a way that people can accept,” she said.
Delilah questioned whether Crista and Crosspoint leaders were aware of Covey’s beliefs before they adopted the materials. But Rasmussen said the bigger question is whether Crista schools only take materials from Christian publishers. The schools draw from a wide variety of materials and “we will continue to seek and find the best resources and put them in the hands of outstanding Christian educators,” he added.
Additionally, Rasmussen said teaching at Crosspoint goes well beyond “The Leader In Me” to focus on the five pillars. For example, he said, the core value of contemplation means to be “people of reflection.”
“From a Christian standpoint, that means kids would meditate on their faith and the significance of biblical truth in their life, or they would read and think contemplatively about great literature.”
“We believe leaders do these core things, that kids should be contemplative in life and think about next step, about what God has in store and in place for them.”
Delilah said smaller issues have led her to believe Crosspoint is trying to rebrand itself to attract families familiar and comfortable with Covey, but not perhaps with Christianity. A plaque with the Ten Commandments was recently moved from a prominent spot in the school’s main hallway to a not-so-prominent classroom. A “Seven Habits” poster advocating meditation was put up at Crosspoint, with a Bible verse taped to it “as if to make Eastern religion acceptable to the Christian,” Delilah wrote in her Nov. 24 letter.
“They even changed the school’s name to take the Lord’s name out,” she said.
Further, school leaders did not properly inform parents of the changes until the beginning of this school year, giving them little time to understand or react, she said.
But Rasmussen said the school’s changes are not about rebranding, rather it’s trying to improve on past success in academics and extracurriculars.
“We’re thrilled in terms of where we’re going and moving forward to make this great school better to be really intentionally focused,” he said. “We see the need in terms of this world for good intentional Christian leaders who will lead in their churches and their communities and their homes.”
Show us YOUR pretty tootsies by giving us chapter and verse of the RESTORED GOSPEL® that supposedly lurks in the BoM.
I keep seeing a pattern here:
1. I ask where
2. You say you've SHOWN already
3. I ask for clarification
4. You give stuff that is NOT BoM
5. REPEAT
Watch out for SHINGLES later on - no fun either!
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Yeah I know. My best friend had a nasty bout of the shingles this year. It was painful just to watch.
Better than THIS??
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LOL. Even when I was LDS I had no use for the Mo Tab choir. One of my closest friends was in the choir and a couple of times I would go with her to practice if we were in SLC together. It would always put me to sleep.
“I’d Pull My Kids out of Mormonite Heresy too! Placemarker”
The gospel I LIVE IS the ONE in the BIBLE!
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SO show me where in the Bible the following are contained?
That there will be a BoM?
Temple rituals like sealings and endowments?
That God was once a man?
That God has a body of flesh and bones?
That there is a Mother in Heaven?
That Jesus was married?
Baptism for the dead? (preemptively, paul uses “they” not “we” in 1 Cor.)
The office of Seventies?
That the church is a specific denomination?
That man can become Gods?
LDS doctrine contradicts the Bible, not follows it.
I don’t think you have any desire to do so. It seems to me that you have found that it’s easier to destroy than to build up. I could be wrong, but that is all I have ever seen you do in the threads I have read.
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Then you haven’t been paying attention.
My desire is twofold, first to show the errors of Mormonism, and second to show the truth of Jesus Christ.
I asked for questions, yet all I get from you is complaints.
Questions please, so that I may answer them.
However, I DO doubt your sincerity.
Isn’t that a bit messianic?
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How about THIS quote for LDS “messianic complex”:
“God is in the still small voice. In all these affidavits, indictments, it is all of the devil—all corruption. Come on! ye prosecutors! ye false swearers! All hell, boil over! Ye burning mountains, roll down your lava! for I will come out on the top at last. I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet . . . “ (History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 408-409).
Good Gawd! Really?
Yep, actual quote. And he died in a gunfight almost exactly one month after making that boast.
Dear Brave Mormon FReeper - I have been down this road many times. It leads to nowhere. Just state your Testimony and kick the dust from your shoes.
Jesus Christ is my Savior; He died for me to save me from my sins. This is Heavenly Father’s Plan and the Holy Ghost seals it in my heart.
The woman who yanked her kids out of this school is just plain paranoid and silly.
About Stephen R. Covey
Personal Bio
Recognized as one of Time magazine’s 25 most influential Americans, Stephen R. Covey has dedicated his life to demonstrating how every person can truly control their destiny with profound, yet straightforward guidance. As an internationally respected leadership authority, family expert, teacher, organizational consultant, and author, his advice has given insight to millions.
Some of Stephen R. Covey’s milestones:
Over 20 million books sold (in 38 languages)
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People was named the #1 Most Influential Business Book of the Twentieth Century
Authored four titles with sales exceeding one million copies each: First Things First , Principle-Centered Leadership, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families, and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Latest book, The 8th Habit , has sold nearly 400,000 copies
International Man of Peace Award
National Fatherhood Award (father of 9, grandfather of 44)
Author of the best-selling nonfiction audio in history (The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People)
No. 1 best-selling hardcover book on family (The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families)
MBA from Harvard, doctorate degree from Brigham Young University
Board of directors for the Points of Light Foundations
Co-founder and vice chairman of FranklinCovey, the leading global professional services firm with offices in 123 countries
International Entrepreneur of the Year Award
Awarded eight honorary doctorate degrees
“Voice is unique personal significance—significance that is revealed as we face our greatest challenges and that makes us equal to them.”
Dr. Stephen R. Covey, from The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness
Glenn Beck is a Mormon. Do you boycott his programs and books because he’s a Mormon?
There are Mormon sports stars. Do you refuse to watch them play?
I’m sure there are many Mormon businesses in the world. Do you boycott them?
This is absolutely ridiculous.
This thread was supposed to be about a woman who took her kids out of a school that used Covey’s philosophy to build character and leadership.
It’s turned into a Mormon hating machine. How sad.
I didn’t bring it up. The LDS side was the one that started “thowing stones”.
And I don’t blame the woman for doing that, I would have too, but then again, sadly I am a lot more familiar with LDS beliefs than most Christians.
National chains like the Marriott? (Yes...of course, they're part of the porn industry)
There are Mormon sports stars. Do you refuse to watch them play?
Nothing "veiled" there...we usually know they're Mormon...same with Beck. (Though I wouldn't buy a Beck book)
Glenn Beck is a Mormon. Do you boycott his programs and books because he’s a Mormon? [SD]
Yes, actually I do. I don’t trust him to be completely honest and forthright. I don’t hate him, I just don’t trust him either.
There are Mormon sports stars. Do you refuse to watch them play? [SD]
Don’t watch sports, except PBR bull riding and to my knowledge there aren’t any LDS pro bull riders currently on the circuit. There is Cody Hancock but he is PRCA and I don’t keep up with PRCA.
I’m sure there are many Mormon businesses in the world. Do you boycott them? [SD]
If I am aware of them, yes I do. Of course that goes for atheist and gay owned businesses too. I much prefer to support Christian run businesses.
It isn’t about “hate”, it is about trust and about supporting anyone who gives money to the LDS organization through tithing.
I like Beck, even if he is a Mormon. He joined that church as an adult and I seriously doubt he knows of a lot of the strange theology that makes up Mormonism. I suspect he may one day learn of it and leave that church.
like Beck, even if he is a Mormon. He joined that church as an adult and I seriously doubt he knows of a lot of the strange theology that makes up Mormonism. I suspect he may one day learn of it and leave that church.
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I like Beck too, I just cannot trust that he is not putting an LDS spin on things.
And I pray that someday he will learn the truth.
I think Beck would be quite surprised to learn much of what Mormonism teaches. He would see right through the fraud of Jopseph Smith. He joined the church because some members helped him get off his addictions. The Mormons call it “fellowshiping”.
I’ve not heard of the Mormon church bragging about having Beck as a member. Maybe they are concerned that a guy as bright as he is will one day understand the truth of Mormonism and promoting him as a Mormon would create a serious public relations problem if he were to leave Mormonism.
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