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Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Sidney Reilly who wrote (26843)	12/10/1998 9:33:00 AM
From: Rambi	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

There are two sides. Of course there are; that was my whole point! That people are individuals, capable of evil and good, not necessarily determined by their religious persuasion. If you read it as anything else, then I failed to make my point. I am not at all opposed to Christianity. Indeed my guess is that many are surprised to hear me say that I'm not one. At least not in the sense that Emile is or probably you. Everything you say about control of the school system is true, but has nothing to do with Chrisitianity. I personally do not believe that the removal of God from the school has anything at all to do with the failure of the system to educate. However, I do think our failure to maintain a level of classical education along with the current PC topics being forced into the curriculum have damaged the system. What objectionable material are you speaking of specifically, though? Evolution again? So far, that's the only issue you have mentioned, and that is a very questionable scientific argument! I've read the Christian based sites on this and am not at all convinced. I have no problem at all with providing alternate reading material; I have a HUGE problem with those parents telling the school they want the material removed, and turning it into a huge religious debate. And as for Egyptian worship---there you go being overreactive! Why did you make that comment? The book was chosen to enrich the teaching of ancient civilizations that was being covered in Social Studies. ALso by sixth grade, children are not learning to read---they are READING. And hopefully reading a diverse and exciting array of literature. Do not make assumptions about appropriate material for MY child and you can keep yours from reading anything you choose. A quiet word to the teacher and the problem would have been corrected. Did it really need calls to the principal and letters to the schoolboard? I am strongly against the banning of books and believe that it is the parents' duty to keep a careful eye on what their children are learning and reading, but not what mine is. What you believe about the correct age for learning about WWII is fine for your child. The book was not required reading. It was just THERE. I found it excellent for middle school age. We visited Dachau with the boys a few years ago. At the time, I felt they were too young to see the movie presented. I also didn't let Ammo see Schindler's List when it came out. But that is MY decision for MY child, not for yours. I don't have a clue what happened to O'Hair, and really, why does it matter if she had a deathbed conversion,although that sounds like Christian wishful thinking to me? My guess is, faced with the fear of death, many people pray who haven't before. That really isn't much of a convincing argument for religion, only for our terror of the unknown journey ahead. Your daughter's education will depend far more on you than the school in these early years. Later, it will be determined by the community of the school, but ultimately it will depend on her and her desire to learn. The greatest gift you can teach her is to critically examine the material presented, not to reject it because you tell her to, or because it doesn't fit some preconceived ideas. I admire your obvious diligence and your caring and your love for your child. But I am frightened when you begin to dictate to me or anyone else what the Ultimate Truth is. Childhood is fraught with joys and pain. It is important to remember that often children---Christian and otherwise--are just cruel. Learning to blame behavior on race, religion, or class is wrong wrong wrong. It was not prayer in school; it was the ENFORCED CHristian prayer and Bible readings that caused the problem. ANd because of this arrogant belief that it is the only true religion, it brought about its own defeat. Jefferson, arguable the most important thinker during the infancy of our country, wrote that No man has power to let another prescribe his faith. No man can conform his faith to the dictates of another. The life and essence of religion consist in the internal persuasion of belief of the mind. External forms of religion, when against our belief, are hypocrisy and impiety.