Kindergartener's stripper-mom in church-school flap

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.

I know that you are all-knowing, but I'll trust that the general counsel and his associates' legal expertise was on par with yours. Just out of curiousity, since I named neither the state nor city or the time frame of my employment, how did you arrive at the conclusion that it violated state and local law?

Could it be that they haven’t mentioned it because they are ashamed to have stooped to doing such a thing?

Nah, I think it's cause they know they'll walk away with a whole lot of Bible originated lumps on their head after such an admission.

BTW, you mentioned you're supporting a family of 5 on a single income, good for you. Not easy these days. Imagine how tough it would be if you didn't have someone home to run things while you're out "Hunting and Gathering". And since you're supporting 5 on that single income, imagine if you didn't have any jobs skills to speak of, and had to be both Mother and Father to a small kid.

I don't know about you, but I think I'd do anything I could to take care of my kid.

Lastly, Also glad to see you admit you've been one of those Leeches. Gee, I wonder whose child's Mother was Dancing for you?

Kevin you sound like you know how to have a good time. Let's you and me get a bottle, pick up a couple of floozies,and really show these kindergartners how to live. While we're there at the church we can throw out any religious art and the ten commandments. And if they protest that they are a private business, we'll take them to court. How's about it buddy?

If MY Kindergarten child was attending a Christian school, and came home asking why another little girl's Mommy took her clothes off in front of men who weren't her husband, I would blow a gasket. That is the PURPOSE of a Christian school for me, to help me shelter my children from things they are too young to understand. This would take away MY right to explain things to my child on MY timeline!!

And all those people equating this with an adulterous parent, if I decided to live with a man who wasn't my husband, I would EXPECT the school to expell my child. If my husband had an affair and repented, I would NOT expect the school to expell my child. Why can't some of you see the difference betweeen sinning, repenting and correcting the situation, and what this woman chose to do?

"She made the choice and she must live with the consequences of that choice. "

And the "consequence" of her choice happens to be the modern equivalent of a stoning.

"Seems to me the one harmed here is the child - not the mom."

EXACTLY.

The schools heavy-fisted way of dealing with this situation obviously gave the media, and the mom, the perfect opportunity to turn this whole thing into a circus. We'll be seeing followup headlines every day now - or at least every day that isn't a heavy news day - until the public immediately becomes glassy-eyed at the mere mention of the case and the media moves on to some NEW news fad.

I wanna see all those sinning Christians have their students expelled.

Hey! Now you're hitting a little too close to home. ;^) Glad we homeschool

-Kevin

Nah, I find it Authoritarian to use a patently illegal Religious based Ethics Statements to justify monitoring people's off hours activities.

I also find it Authoritarian for Private Christian Schools, who are continually bleating for Federal Cash Infusions, in the shape of School Voucher Schemes, to think they have the obligation to dictate off campus behavior of Non-Students.

BTW, Does this school normally Spy on Parents of their Students? Or was this just such an extreme case that Pastor Busy Body and his Merry band of Web Surfers just couldn't resist the urge to pry, purely for Inquisitorial reasons, or course?

Does the school then have the right to exclude ANY occupation they disagree with?

Say Criminal Defense Attorneys ?

I used to have a low opinion of Criminal Defense Attorneys until I saw just how far too many prosecutors will go to convict people of crimes the prosecutors knew the accused never committed.

Contrary to what you may think, it is not the defense attorney's job to do anything to get his client off. His job is to make sure the prosecutor does his job.

Her sin is the sin of rebellion. Plain and simple. She is choosing to do what she knows in her heart is wrong. Because she likes the money.... or because she likes men looking at her. The reason is immaterial.

She has chosen rebellion. She has rejected repentance, forgiveness, and restoration. The church has acted very properly in this matter... based on what has been reported.

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