Monday, November 21, 2005
Christians Threaten Boycot of Local School System
On the local front, the Oregon Christians are still behaving badly. The theological storm troopers are fighting to inject religion into state-sponsored schools. In this case, a “Christian fellowship” is attempting to influence public policy. Just like Kansas, yeah. Just like that judge in the feudal south who wanted the Ten Commandments plastered on every courthouse wall.
While religious groups claim they are not trying to bring religion into secular institutions, the evidence is otherwise. They want to control what people learn and ultimately what people think. Once they do that, it’s only a quick step to controlling how people behave—whether or not they belong to that religious sect.
“Creationism” is one thing; education about reality—in this case, sex—is something else. Totalitarianism is always a goal of the religious mind-set.
And just as a gossipy aside, it was only a few years ago that a pastor from this particular church decided he was better off with the wife of a member of the congregation rather than his own spouse. The harder they protest, the farther they fall.
http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-13/113224405397470.xml&storylist=orlocal
Pastor may urge public school withdrawal over sex ed
11/17/2005, 8:07 a.m. PT
The Associated Press
MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) — The leader of a Southern Oregon mega-church is threatening to remove his two young daughters from the public school system, and urge his congregation to follow suit, if Medford school board members agree to a new middle and high school curriculum that includes information on contraception.
Peter-John Courson, senior pastor at the approximately 5,000-member Applegate Christian Fellowship, has two daughters in preschool.
"I cringe at the thought of my little girls being told about contraception and condoms outside of my presence," he told The Mail-Tribune of Medford. "If (the proposed curriculum) goes forward this way, I will pull my kids and use the pulpit to ask my congregation to pull their kids out of public school."
The Medford School Board is considering an update of the health courses it teaches students in grades seven through 12.
Health teachers have spent 18 months evaluating teaching materials that meet state standards and laws requiring comprehensive sex education that includes information about contraceptives and AIDS/HIV. Classes also must cover making healthy decisions regarding alcohol, drug and tobacco use, and information on disease control and prevention, nutrition and physical activity, and injury, violence and suicide prevention.
The law also requires districts to let parents review sex education materials and remove their children from that portion of a health class if they object to the materials.
The proposed curriculum introduces contraception in eighth grade, two years earlier than it is introduced now. Teachers still will discourage middle school students from having sex, but research has shown kids need classroom information two years before they face real-life decisions for prevention to work, said McLoughlin Middle School Principal Amy Tiger.
The Rev. Bill McDonald of Medford's First United Methodist Church said he had contacted board member Mike Moran to express support for a comprehensive health program.
"I have the philosophy that we need to help our kids see the whole of health issues, including sexuality and contraception," said McDonald, whose daughter attends Hedrick Middle School. "Our schools need to be educating people for life."
___
Information from: Mail Tribune, http://www.mailtribune.com/
Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
While religious groups claim they are not trying to bring religion into secular institutions, the evidence is otherwise. They want to control what people learn and ultimately what people think. Once they do that, it’s only a quick step to controlling how people behave—whether or not they belong to that religious sect.
“Creationism” is one thing; education about reality—in this case, sex—is something else. Totalitarianism is always a goal of the religious mind-set.
And just as a gossipy aside, it was only a few years ago that a pastor from this particular church decided he was better off with the wife of a member of the congregation rather than his own spouse. The harder they protest, the farther they fall.
http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-13/113224405397470.xml&storylist=orlocal
Pastor may urge public school withdrawal over sex ed
11/17/2005, 8:07 a.m. PT
The Associated Press
MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) — The leader of a Southern Oregon mega-church is threatening to remove his two young daughters from the public school system, and urge his congregation to follow suit, if Medford school board members agree to a new middle and high school curriculum that includes information on contraception.
Peter-John Courson, senior pastor at the approximately 5,000-member Applegate Christian Fellowship, has two daughters in preschool.
"I cringe at the thought of my little girls being told about contraception and condoms outside of my presence," he told The Mail-Tribune of Medford. "If (the proposed curriculum) goes forward this way, I will pull my kids and use the pulpit to ask my congregation to pull their kids out of public school."
The Medford School Board is considering an update of the health courses it teaches students in grades seven through 12.
Health teachers have spent 18 months evaluating teaching materials that meet state standards and laws requiring comprehensive sex education that includes information about contraceptives and AIDS/HIV. Classes also must cover making healthy decisions regarding alcohol, drug and tobacco use, and information on disease control and prevention, nutrition and physical activity, and injury, violence and suicide prevention.
The law also requires districts to let parents review sex education materials and remove their children from that portion of a health class if they object to the materials.
The proposed curriculum introduces contraception in eighth grade, two years earlier than it is introduced now. Teachers still will discourage middle school students from having sex, but research has shown kids need classroom information two years before they face real-life decisions for prevention to work, said McLoughlin Middle School Principal Amy Tiger.
The Rev. Bill McDonald of Medford's First United Methodist Church said he had contacted board member Mike Moran to express support for a comprehensive health program.
"I have the philosophy that we need to help our kids see the whole of health issues, including sexuality and contraception," said McDonald, whose daughter attends Hedrick Middle School. "Our schools need to be educating people for life."
___
Information from: Mail Tribune, http://www.mailtribune.com/
Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
