ACLU....Good or Bad for America

[Henry Hawk]

Indiana Mom Blasts ACLU Attack on Release-Time Religious Training Program

By Jim Brown
October 30, 2006

(AgapePress) - A Christian mom in Indiana is praying the American Civil Liberties Union will not succeed in shutting down a release-time religious education program in her children's school district.

The ACLU recently filed a lawsuit challenging a program in the Mooresville school district that allows third and fourth graders to leave the classroom for one hour a week to learn about topics such as the creation, the flood, and key figures in the Old Testament. A parent objected to the fact that the classes are held in a trailer on school property and teachers hand out enrollment cards to students wishing to participate.

The ACLU claims it does not have a problem with the release-time program itself. Rather, the civil liberties group says it objects to the fact that the religious classes are held on school property and that teachers are involved in collecting parental permission slips from students who enroll. But according to one of the community parents, the lawsuit is not sitting well with the majority of Mooresville residents.

Jacoba Ballard has lived in Mooresville all her life, and one of her children attends the release-time program at Neil Armstrong Elementary, the school at the center of the controversy. She says many people in her community are deeply involved in this issue, as they believe in God and support the religious education program.

"Most of the people here do," Ballard notes, "and it's just pretty sad that one person is going to change that for all of us -- and hopefully they don't." She says the release-time program is helping to teach her son moral values and the importance of loving God.

Besides, the Christian mom contends, the ACLU has no legal standing to interfere with or to protest the program, she contends, because the school is not subsidizing it. She points out that those providing the religious instruction even offered to pay rent for the use of school facilities.

"The school does not fund the program in any way," Ballard says, "and nor does our tax dollars." The money comes from churches and other donors, she asserts; so, along with other community parents who support the release-time program, she is hopeful that the ACLU will not be able to shut the religious education classes down.

[IYT]

I really don't see what the problem is, especially if tax dollars aren't used for it and it is voluntary.  While I don't have a problem with this, wouldn't this stuff be learned better in church or Sunday school?  Are we going to waste hours that could be used teaching math, spelling, history, writing, etc. to teach things that could just as easily, and probably are, taught in church?  That's where I learned about it all and I like to think of myself as a fine human being that is educated in Christianity.  I guess if its taught in schools, the ACLU fears kids will interpret this more as fact than belief.  I don't buy this because I used to think everything the Bible said was fact, and now I see it for what it is because I opened my third eye.    

[followsthewolf]

Doesn't belong on school property.

[Cookie Parker]

It violates the constitution.  As hard as the radical right wants to change it, the constitution has not moved on the separation of church and state in over 200 years...

[awol]

Re: ACLU....Good or Bad for America

good.

[Mr442]

Yep, the ACLU is good for America.  They keep the playing field level for EVERYONE!

[Y]

Indiana Mom Blasts ACLU Attack on Release-Time Religious Training Program...

A parent objected to the fact that the classes are held in a trailer on school property and teachers hand out enrollment cards to students wishing to participate.

The ACLU claims it does not have a problem with the release-time program itself. Rather, the civil liberties group says it objects to the fact that the religious classes are held on school property and that teachers are involved in collecting parental permission slips from students who enroll...

Those are the facts behind the problem.  Using taxpayer resources to benefit one specific religion or sect.

But according to one of the community parents, the lawsuit is not sitting well with the majority of Mooresville residents.

Jacoba Ballard has lived in Mooresville all her life, and one of her children attends the release-time program at Neil Armstrong Elementary, the school at the center of the controversy. She says many people in her community are deeply involved in this issue, as they believe in God and support the religious education program.

"Most of the people here do," Ballard notes, "and it's just pretty sad that one person is going to change that for all of us -- and hopefully they don't."

The usual propaganda and lack of critical thinking: 

Bandwagon

Appeal to Popularity

She says the release-time program is helping to teach her son moral values and the importance of loving God.

And the poor thing can't find either the time to bear that responsibility herself (the "conservative" viewpoint, "personal responsibility",...remember?), or any other avenue by which to accomplish that goal (say, the obvious, a church)?

Besides, the Christian mom contends, the ACLU has no legal standing to interfere with or to protest the program, she contends, because the school is not subsidizing it..."The school does not fund the program in any way," Ballard says, "and nor does our tax dollars."

Here she exhibits either her ignorance or her facility at prevarication.  As long as either taxpayer funded property or employees are involved, property owning taxpayers are funding this endeavor.


I'd steer clear of Agape Press...

[Y]

BTW: The ACLU is apparently far more concerned about our Constitution than the President, Congress, or the Supreme Court, our three main branches of government.

Ironic, isn't it?

[followsthewolf]

A guess.......

They aren't concerned about being re-elected?