Kindergartener's stripper-mom in church-school flap

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Thursday, May 16, 2002

[JohnHuang2]

A private Christian school and a kindergartener's mother who stripteases for a living are quickly becoming the focus of the latest debate on religious freedom.

Officials of Capital Christian School in Sacramento, Calif., discovered that what they thought had been a private meeting with a mother of a kindergartner who violated her commitment to school policy had become a news story on the local CBS affiliate KOVR.

The story first came to the attention of WorldNetDaily when WND columnist Rebecca Hagelin was invited Wednesday morning to discuss the issue on CNN's popular afternoon talk show "Talk Back Live." The only information circulating at the time was a brief description of a broadcast report filed by KOVR-TV which broke the story late Tuesday evening.

The summary blurb summed up the story this way: "A mother says her daughter is getting expelled from kindergarten because mom is a part-time stripper. This is about a five-year-old girl who attends Capital Christian School in Sacramento. But her mother says when the school found out she was an exotic dancer they told her she had one week to get her daughter out of their school."

Since the school's position was entirely absent from the report, Hagelin contacted the pastor of Capital Christian Church, the sponsoring church of the school. Senior Pastor Rick Cole was clearly disturbed by the events and reluctant to discuss details. Cole did, however, agree to provide certain facts about the case that had not been disclosed by the mother when she contacted the local television station about the situation.

Although Cole did not reveal the identity of the mother or child, WND subsequently learned their identities from KOVR-TV reporter George Franco, but has opted not to disclose the names to protect the child's privacy.

Hagelin reported the other side of the story during her appearance on CNN yesterday.

"By air time Wednesday afternoon, I had secured two interviews with pastor Cole from my car phone," she said. "His greatest concern and reluctance to speak came from his desire to protect the mother and her daughter." Given that only part of the story had become national news, she added, Cole thought it important provide the rest of the story.

Cole explained that recently school officials had become aware that the mother in question works as a part-time strip-teaser dancer at a local club. Since her occupation is in violation of an agreement with and commitment to the school philosophy that parents must sign before the children are admitted to school, school officials, including Cole met the mother.

Not wanting to divulge the personal and confidential details of the conversation with the mother, Cole only briefly outlined the details of the offer officials had made the mother -- which had been left out of previous news stories.

"The school offered to waive the last month's tuition for the student so the young girl could remain in school to the end of the year if the mother would quit her job as a strip-tease dancer. They also offered to support the mother and walk 'hand in hand' with her as she worked through the spiritual issues involved and sought to better her life," said Hagelin. "The pastor believed that the meeting had been well-received by the mother, but the next thing he knew he was getting calls from the local media. I found Pastor Cole to be clearly upset that his efforts to help a woman in a very bad situation were not successful."

As a requirement for admission, parents of prospective students must sign a "commitment" to support the philosophy of the school. That philosophy, in part, reads: "Emphasis is placed on learning about God and the truths of God's Word in relationship to man and his world; recognizing that the way to God comes through personal faith in Jesus Christ; and Christian maturity comes by application of the truths of the Bible in all areas of life." In signing the document, parents agree to maintain a "partnership" with the school "regarding the standards and criteria of a Christian learning structure that involves the entire family."

"Although school officials see the mother's job as a stripper as a clear violation of her signed commitment, automatic termination of the relationship was not an option for them," said Hagelin. "The pastor and school attempted to help the mother better her life, and offered her both financial, spiritual and emotional support."

In Hagelin's interview with the pastor, he described how the role of the school differed somewhat from that of the church. While the church has open arms to all who wish to attend, he discussed how essential parental commitment is to the success of a school of 1,200 students that seeks to provide both high academic and spiritual standards for each and every student, noted Hagelin.

Reporter George Franco of KOVR told Hagelin that the mother has retained legal counsel and is considering filing a motion for an immediate injunction to have the child remain in school while the mother continues to work as a stripper.

[xsmommy]

oh and PRIVATE schools are not permitted to set the criteria for admission? what you are describing is perfectly accurate about PUBLIC SCHOOLS, but private schools should not have someone else shoving down their throats who they need to accept. doesn't sound too CONSERVATIVE to me.

[Hemingway's Ghost]

I'm suprised we never got the thought that maybe the complaints stem from jealous house fraus afraid that their hubbies my leave them for the stripping mom if they happen to meet at a school function.

Dollars to doughnuts that's exactly what happened. My thoughts:

1) The agreement Strippy signed was ethereal. It said nothing about what jobs she could/couldn't have; my take was it merely outlined the school's educational philosophy. For the school to use "she signed the pledge" as ammunition is silly.

2) That said, this is a private school, and I can't fault them for wanting to have the kind of school they want to have.

3) They did bend over backwards to give Strippy "a better path." Personally, I find that kind of active salvation more than a bit nauseating, but I understand certain christians don't. I'm just not one of them.

4) Strippy should just send her kid to another private school. There really isn't an issue here.

[CholeraJoe]

Easy, punkin'. Slow cleaning breaths.

[RGSpincich]

Isn't that what happened?

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

Yes you do.

BTW, I believe the woman in question had to sign some sort of agreement of Christian Principles before she enrolled her daughter. If true, this undercuts her arguement.

[xsmommy]

you know i enjoy nothing better than brawling with all of you! especially when i know i am right.

[NeoCaveman]

Your take on it makes a lot of sense.

[hobbes1]

but private schools should not have someone else shoving down their throats who they need to accept. doesn't sound too CONSERVATIVE to me.

So then....Can they also exclude the Children of Crinminal Defense attorneys. Someone who makes a living keeping immoral people from suffering the just consequences of their behavior?

[xsmommy]

no, sorry. you need more stringent discipline.

[hobbes1]

I am the most right one on the thread. Finish the School year, don't allow her back.

[xsmommy]

That said, this is a private school, and I can't fault them for wanting to have the kind of school they want to have.

this is the bottom line.

as to the horsecrap propounded by dubs that hausfraus were worried that hubbies would run off with strippymom. If xshub were going to go off with someone like that, he sure wouldn't need to find her at school. that is a spurious argument.

[flyervet]

Would you be willing to employ an ex-stripper, especially now that the Clinton recession has forced thousands of skilled, experienced employees without tainted pasts into the workforce? Would you give this woman a job as, say, a receptionist with no experience and (presumably) little education and office skills while dozens of women with experience and up-to-date skills are applying for the position?

As a mother, would you leave a high-paying but humiliating job that allows you to provide food, clothing, decent shelter and a good education to your child for a low paying job, or none at all, because of your pride? Would you be willing to sacrifice your child's well-being for your own selfish pride?

[xsmommy]

that is a two way street, darling. should the school be forced to accept the progeny of transgendered, NAMBLA types, looking to raise their adopted child up out of their deviant lifestyle?

[iconoclast]

i send my kids to catholic school, i would fully expect them to do the same thing

I would be shocked and disappointed if they did.

[ThinkingMan]

Children learn from their parents. How many people have gone through public schools and AREN'T strippers. Your point is completley flawed and asinine.

[AppyPappy]

If you could get a grand or more a week for stripping we would probably find you out there doing it. Of course you will deny that, won't you?

If you could make a grand selling pedophilia, you would do it. You will deny that of course.