Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: kriz@skat.usc.edu (Dennis Kriz) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: On Christian vs Public Schools Message-ID: Date: 9 Jan 91 07:34:50 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Lines: 41 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu Recently Roger Black provided a list of examples supporting the contention that it has become legitimate to ridicule/harass Christians and Christian beliefs in public schools. Indeed, for my part I would say that the discussion of religion in public schools has been so curtailed in this generation, that public school officials have had to start rewriting history in order to avoid the subject. The Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth Rock, were simply not merely "travelers" as is the PC line taught to our kids. Instead, they were a religious group that crossed the Atlantic ocean to settle here because they were persecuted for their religious convictions at home. But beyond, this (at times) Orwellian attempt to rewrite history, I think that we should begin to honestly face the conclusion that "value-neutral" education just doesn't work. To teenage pregnancy and AIDS a value-neutral State can only passout the condoms, provide abortion on demand, and provide disposable syringes to drug abusers. Perhaps the State really can't do more. But then parents should begin to realize this, and start pulling their kids out of such an environment and try to provide their kids with a real education that will help get them through life without them having to suffer such personal calamities. But "that will cost money". Perhaps, but in LA I continue to be astounded how even the poorest of Hispanic families can put their kids through Catholic schools. There is a lesson in that I believe. Private Christian education, while not free, CAN BE PROVIDED FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYONE. Though it takes, what these efforts always have required ... that Christians with plenty to sacrifice a bit of what they have for Christians (and others) who don't. But then that's been the point of Christian charity (certainly from the view of those making the donations of money and time) all along. dennis kriz@skat.usc.edu