Posted on 05/16/2002 2:29:30 AM PDT by 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.
I don't think that song's very far from wrong. Maybe Christina didn't count on it, but I'm sure such has crossed her mind, and I don't think one has to be too cynical to imagine Christina thought perhaps some of the fallout from "going to the TV news" might be a nice pictoral contract.Flynt? No; she doesn't seem to be his type (total trailer trash, "Beaver Hunt" rubbish).
Guccione? No; Penthouse is going out of business.
Hef? DING DING DING DING DING! Christina Silvas' story is right up Playboy's alley. They've done photoshoots of cops, ex-Navy pilots (WOOOOOOOOOO BAS), etc.
And if there aren't scandalous secrets, the kids will just make them up. So what really changes?
Yoohoo...mom is forbiding her from fully coming to Christ with her profession..or does this little tidbit not apply to her as well?
She puts the kid in daycare, she'll get bashed for doing that... The woman is in a no win situation.
Oh yeah, you are so right. This Woman should be taken to the town square and relaxed as the unrepentant heathen slut she is...
Ahhh, but thats the garden the NEA, Athiests, and ACLU cultivated for them. They're no longer schools but mini prisons and war zones.
By out on the street you must be referring to the public school system. Honestly what is more damaging to our country, the public schools or nude dancing?
I wonder what car everyone drives. What could conservatives be doing to take control of their childrens education. It is pretty hard to maintain this country when most people surrender monkey their children to an institution that teaches that true communism has never been tried and our constitution was written so long ago it is really out of date now.
LOL! Well thats not too contrived and contradictory. Now the public school will be "raising" the daughter against the values that either the mother or the private school would want.
It is so nice that the self-righteous are always around to help.
Well that sounds pretty bad and all but when it comes to nude dancing its time to put the foot down.
Because it is as intellectually as honest as calling someone a Nazi if he disagrees with you.
Burkas for Everyone!
If you want to wear one, that is fine with me.
Can you be more specific as to what rhetorical skills I think I have that I don't, how you know that, what is my experience level, and what does it need to be to correctly analyze the situation, and do the same for common sense.
This idiocy is clearly an attempt to keep from addressing the real issue. It's starts with a half-ass personal attack, and then attempts to paint a picture of me -- a picture no one here (especially anyone here who knows me or has gone up against me) will buy -- in order to justify not answering my point. Sorry. This tactic is way to old for me to miss.
My scenario is consistent with my experience
Oh, I see. You have experience being a hypocrite. Is that what you are saying? If not, please clarify.
and the Bee article
Which didn't even come close to hinting what you said.
Your's is consistent with straw grasping.
Huh? First of all, I didn't present it as fact, like you did yours. Second, straight up scenarios, you are the one grasping at straws. Finally, you didn't respond to my last sentence -- reread it (if you haven't already ran and hid, as I think you probably have), since it completely covers everything you said.
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