They don't It's a PRIVATE school they CHOSE to go there

No ... they we're proably forced to go there by their f--d up parents.

a fundamentalist Baptist school that forbids dancing, rock music, hand-holding and kissing ??
Does it sound like a bunch of maniacs that we are fighting ? The talibans ?

America is not as free as everybody think... religion is still enslaving some americans !

I find this appauling.... So glad I live in Europe, at least, no one has to deal with this kind of religious fanatism.

Go secular, people, you will be much happier !

Even if he was forced by his parents the article seems to point to the fact that the kid want's to be there. And again IT'S not about dancing IT'S about him honoring the contract that was agreed on.

No, it is not a private school, it is a madras where kids are brainwashed into thinking that living your life as you wish is a sin !

Those schools should be burned down ! Period !

a fundamentalist Baptist school that forbids dancing, rock music, hand-holding and kissing ??
Does it sound like a bunch of maniacs that we are fighting?

Nah, it's just an outline for an upcoming Kevin Bacon movie.

I totally agree. So they teach what they consider 'Christian Morals" but they don't trust their congregation to follow the teachings when confronted with a 'test'? Shows how much they really think their way is the right way. Liars.

P.C.:

funny @!$%#! I haven't heard a Footloose reference in far too long. lmaof

No offense, but regarding someone's religious beliefs as "insane", "crazy", "cultish", etc is a form of religious intolerance and persecution.  There are probably many who follow these strict guidelines and views and are perfectly happy in their life.  It is no different than calling all Wiccans a bunch of "teenage, tree-hugging, feminist psychos".  So to call them freaks because of their views puts you right in there with the intolerant "bible-thumpers".

And secondly, no where in there does it say the kid did NOT want to go to that private school.

I don't see why everyone's freaking out about this, making it a big debate about religion and school. Its fanatical, and it probably sucks to go to that school, but its a private school and it can do what it wants. If he doesn't like it, he shouldn't have gone there.

Ha ha! Thank you pc for the Footloose reference. I was trying to cook one up myself. It was the first thing I thought of after reading this.

Maybe the kid will luck out and turn the whole town on to dancing again once they see his bad ass moves in the abandonded warehouse.

first: footloose reference = funny spit out coffee funny

Second: Thomas as an atheist I completely agree with your post #1.9

Third: It is a private school. His parents obviously want him to go there. Following thier rules is part of growing up. Don't agree with thier rules but it is thier rights.

non-issue. movin on

The really sad thing is that these harsh and threatening punitive measures are of subjective, human origin and not supported by the Holy Scriptures. Have any of these "fundamentalists" actually read the Bible?

jesus freaks out in the street, handing tickets out for God

Seems a bit silly to be spending taxpayers' money fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan, while tolerating its equivalent here at home.

The point is that he did not have to go to the school his parents chose the school and agreed to abide by the schools rules. You don't get to pick and choose which rules you want to follow, esp. in a Christian school. If his parents did not have the same values as the school then they should not have sent their child there.

My kids go to a Christian school, but not with those beliefs, but you better believe that I was very careful to know what values they were going to impose on my kids.

I see many parents who want to send their kids to Christain shcools because of the acedemic excellence but end up with major conflict with trying to deal with the other aspect - it is a Christian school and the entire emphasis is God.

Not sure if the Principal should have signed the form. That seems like a conflict, but that does not change the rules imposed by the school. Otherwise what is the point of having rules.

Yes, myself and my kids had to sign a contract saying that we would abide by certain rules, which were based on the Christian belief.

I do feel sorry for him but the parents are the ones to blame for this predicament not the school.

"seeds of rebellion" = we're worried it might make them think. And if they start thinking, who knows what might happen! Why, they might even decide to do what they feel is right rather than blindly obeying us! The HORROR!!

A fundamentalist upbringing should be considered a form of child abuse, and ought to result in the children being taken away and reared by others. Seriously, how in the heck are these children supposed to become functional adults, when their "parents" have spent 18 years doing anything they possibly can to break them, to destroy their capacity to think, to feel, to make their own decisions... to make them, in effect, subhuman and absolutely unprepared for the real world?

Call me "intolerant" if you like. I have absolutely no tolerance for enslavement, intellectual cowardice, self-defeatist nonsense, and, just in general, complete bullsh*t. Moreover, I've never pretended otherwise. :P

While most are using this as a forum to bash religion the point gets passed by. I am sure that they signed a contract full of a bunch of rules as they would at alot of private schools however when you read rules such as no kissing no hugging no loud music I think it safe to assume that those rules apply while in school not at home not at your friends house or off on vacation unless the contract states that the rules apply while not at school or even off the grounds etc etc in which case they are over a barrel if it does not then it is a simple case of a school trying to abuse it's power either way it should go to court so that the facts can be heard after all in court there is a little matter of seperation of church and state so if done by law only the facts will matter

It is no different than calling all Wiccans a bunch of "teenage, tree-hugging, feminist psychos".

Except in the case of witches, the stereotype rarely holds water. For every one teenage iconoclast you see, wearing a pentagram the size of a hubcap and loudly proclaiming herself a witch, there are several more you don't see. These live quietly, don't wear identifying jewelry (at least in public), make an honest effort to seem completely "normal" to outside observers, and are older than that, sometimes by decades.

They could receive tax dollars in Ohio. Open enrollment allows tax payers money to pay for religious education. Ohio is "The heart of it all." His private school would receive the money that was earmarked for the public school he would have attended.

I agree with Elistra. Religious indoctrination is a form of child abuse. No one should be allowed to teach religion to children. You should have to wait until they're 18. No what would happen? The vast majority would say it's a bunch of crap and go on to live happy and productive lives free of guilt, shame, and psychological scars. We could marginalize religion to a minor annoyance in a couple of generations. The only way religion persists is through the brainwashing of innocent children.

When mankind starts worrying about this life instead of an imaginary afterlife, then we will know peace. Hallelujah!

p.s. to Tyler: I hope you go to the prom and tell your school administrators to go f#$@ themselves. You can always get your degree. Break free of the religious chains that bind you. Open up your mind. Think for yourself. Apply reason, not superstition. You'll be ok.

LOL!  But wiccans ARE all stupid granola eating, tree-humping, fools.  Every one of them. 

I'd rather go to prom with one of them than a bible-raised walking lobotomy.  The sins of the parents cannot be washed off of the children.  Let them LIVE!  And don't even get me started on zombie jesus and people dumb enough to pay for an education of intolerance.  I earned mine, I didn't need it spoon fed to me because the GOP needs votes!

No, it is not a private school, it is a madras where kids are brainwashed into thinking that living your life as you wish is a sin !

Those schools should be burned down ! Period !

You sound like the taliban yourself. You don't agree with the school...so let's burn it down? It's a free country and these parents chose this school for this kid...who the hell are you to threaten that?

A) I don't think that contracts signed by minors have any legal standing whatsoever.

B) I doubt any kids CHOOSE to go to Christian homeschools/private schools which do not adequately prepare students for post secondary education in math, science, cultural studies, or tolerance of diverse perspectives. They are generally forced into these schools by parents who are more interested in their own wants than the needs of their children.

C) It has been stated time and again that the influence of the school only extends to the property on which it sits (excepting school functions in other venues, of course).

D) I would love to see a study on incarceration rates, drug abuse, and unwed pregnancies among graduates of these Christian academies. I have known lots of students who attended these institutions and they seem to have higher rates of all three...of course that may just be in the midwest towns I have lived in. It seems to me that the more you shackle and impede children and teens, the wilder and more uncontrollable they are when they finally get their first taste of freedom...kind of the "preacher's daughter syndrome," I guess.

I know I will probably get reamed for that last bit, but it has been my experience over the course of several decades. Also realize that I don't assume my experiences to be universal but, like I said, I would like to see a comprehensive study done on this topic. I don't feel like parents are doing their kids any favors by preventing them from learning how to control their own behavior. I also think that's why we have so many problems. As our nation gets more and more restrictive, we are conditioned to expect someone else to control our behavior and when there are no authority figures around to admonish us to "do the right thing" (i.e. what they want us to do) we go berserk and start binge drinking and copulating with every willing (and sometimes willing is optional) partner we can find. This may also be an overly simplistic assumption, I concede. But it certainly would be worth looking into from a sociological perspective.

It is puzzling that this young man's school leaders would not want him to go out into the world and be a good example to others who do not have the good fortune of being able to attend a private school that promotes good moral values. Could he not agree to attend the prom AND uphold his values by not dancing or drinking? I, myself, am not a Christian, but I would think this school would relish the opportunity to show off to the rest of the community what fine, upstanding young citizens it is turning out.

LOL! But wiccans ARE all stupid granola eating, tree-humping, fools. Every one of them.

On the contrary, I strongly suspect you could well have talked to at least one witch today, and not even known it. ;)

Now, there is somewhat of a distinction, there. Most Wiccans would also identify themselves as witches, but there are a lot of witches out there who find Wicca to be too saccharine for their tastes.

You sound like the taliban yourself. You don't agree with the school...so let's burn it down? It's a free country and these parents chose this school for this kid...who the hell are you to threaten that?

Speaking out against child abuse is not Talaban-like, not in the slightest. "Why, it's a free country, if I want to beat my kid to where he's a cripple for life, that should be ok!"

No. No, that's not ok.

Crippling the mind is just as bad as crippling the body, if not more so.

Wow, my grandmother (Lutheran) was born in Findley, Ohio, in 1916 - she would have rolled her eyes on this dumb event. (Now my Methodist grandma over in Indiana allowed for no cards or alcohol, but I know my dad went to Prom, waaay back when.)

Is the prom ruling arbitrary? Because both the student and his stepfather did not seem to think the student would be banned. Maybe this was a new school, and no kid ever before had asked to go to another school's prom. Oh brother.

I read this and thought it was an article about Sharia Law--- To some of the folks posting here about the family choosing this for their children -- they can raise their children anyway they wish I guess -- as long as it's lawful and not abusive (and I know some will dispute that it is not abusive)-- but I think many Mormons/Mennonites/Amish practice the same way? So far, I don't think we have identified them as crazies -- have we?

Sure is remarkable by most folks standards though - isn't it? Hopefully the child and his peers wiil learn a lesson beyond the one intended by the school.

I like to see the principal and the school board getting a minor's signature on a moral obligation stick in the State of OH! Here is a school board that will most like see new faces in the coming years due to retirement, and wanting to spend more time with family.

Generations-long Mormons in the mainstream can let their kiddies go to prom, one girl is in my daughter's group later this month. (The converts are the whacky ones, or those wannabes over in Texas last year, it's all rather cultish to me.) The Amish kids might be able to go, unless they attend their more usual "only till 8th grade" schools. We had some Dunkard kids that went, they were in a public high school in rural Ohio- that's over 30 years ago. (Dunkards are a varying form of what we called German Baptists - they allow themselves cars, but might not allow electricity in the house, or may just no luxury appliances.)

The interesting thing about Amish, that many don't realize, is they have no access for public services. That is, the local fire departments or police departments would not respond or be called to their towns or homes in the event of an emergency. Therefore, child abuse and/or wife battery is more prevalent than what general society is aware of, but exact numbers are impossible to know since none would be reported. In my childhood I lived in Amish areas of Ohio and Pennsylvania, and I couldn't help to notice how many Amish women with black eyes or children who seemed petrified of people. The only difference between these groups and the Taliban would be that these groups are not advocating death to all who do not agree with them.

I must say that I am amazed and aghast at what I am reading on this forum. I cannot believe that I am reading talk of burning down Christian schools, taking Christian parents' children away from them, and so on--all because a Christian school dares to go against the flow of an increasingly wicked society, and uphold the teachings of the Bible! And you people call Christians intolerant? As a born-again Christian who had the privilege of being sent to one of those "intolerant" independent, fundamental, Bible-teaching Baptist schools, I offer the following comments:

1. I know, from having grown up in the Christian Schools of Ohio convention, that this school in Findlay receives no tax money of any kind. Christian schools that actually teach the Bible (such as the one I grew up in) choose not to receive any tax money in any form, so that the government cannot mandate what they are going to teach and what policies they are going to implement. Parents work and sacrifice hard in order to send their kids to independent, Bible-teaching Christian schools. (Yet, through their tax dollars, they are forced to pay for everyone else's kids to go the the public schools--where they are taught philosophies that are egregiously abominable and offensive to every Bible-believing Christian.) My parents made hard sacrifices all their lives in order to keep me in a Christian school, where God-honoring rules were enforced and God-centered curriculum was taught: and, unlike the ungrateful young man in Findlay, I thank my parents and Christian school teachers from the bottom of my heart for their sacrifices for me!

2. I'm reading an awful lot in this forum about "brainwashing." Seriously, now, folks: Who is brainwashing whom? The public schools have the hearts and minds of almost all the nation's children from 8:30 to 3:00, five days a week! They begin teaching children from their earliest years that all the matter, time, and energy in this unfathomably immense universe was once all wrapped up in a space about the size of an atom--and that somehow, it all exploded, and formed itself into breathtaking, incredible, mind-boggling order. To get anyone to believe such foolishness (especially given its total lack of evidence) takes an immense amount of propaganda and brainwashing. This is a level of absurdity on the order of a Grimm's fairy tale. And yet, it is called "science": and all who dare teach anything different, with their own hard-earned money, are called dangerous crazies whose children should be taken away from them! It seems to me that is is the other way around. It seems to me that the public school system is brainwashing its students according to their agenda.

Considering that almost all kids turn out from the public schools these days believing that life somehow sprang out of lifeless matter; that any and all forms of vile sexual perversion are good, healthy, and normal, and that all who say otherwise are ignorant, intolerant haters; that there is no such thing as "truth"; that we should throw out national sovereignty and move toward global government; that no one has the right to tell me what to do; that parental authority is a relic of the dark ages, and that the state should have massive powers to overrule parents and decide what is best for their children; that humanistic, evolutionary "scientists" and psychologists are virtual gods whose hare-brained theories and mind-controling drugs should shape our thinking and behavior; and, most of all, that the Bible is an evil book, whose followers are a threat to society: I say, considering that almost everyone comes out of the public schools these days holding these truths (even though there is no such thing as "truth"?) to be self-evident, I'd say that there is deliberate brainwashing going on.

The bottom line is this: This is still a free country: but that freedom is chillingly close to being extinguished. "Freedom of church and state" does not mean (as some on this forum apparently believe) that private Christian schools should not be allowed to exist. Actually, a society where Christian schools (or any private schools) ar not allowed to exist (or, at any rate, to teach what they believe) would be one that is...umm...not free! If the country keeps moving in the totalitarian direction it is moving, Christian schools and home-schooling will eventually be regulated or mandated out of existence (despite the fact that they overwhelmingly and consistently produce children who run academic rings around their public school counterparts--and with far less money and far lower-paid teachers).

Until such an awful day comes, however, (and, by God's help, after that time comes), this father of two precious little boys will continue to teach his children that the Bible is God's Holy, inerrant Word; that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who loved them so much that He died to pay the penalty of their sins in their place; that they are sinful rebels by nature and by choice, and that they desperately need to receive pardon for sin and eternal life by believing on God's Son; and that there is absolutely no real joy or happiness outside of a life of knowing and serving God. By God's grace, my children will never, ever step foot inside the humanist, communist indoctrination center that is called the American Public School--no matter what sacrifice I must make to keep it from happening. My children do not belong to the government; they belong to my wife and me. They have been entrusted to us by Almighty God: and we will raise them according to His laws and ways.

I don't like the fact that the school wants to suspend him for doing something that he's doing off school property. It's his business, school rules apply when you're on school property. What he does at home or anywhere else is not governed by school rules.

stuff like this almost make me embarrassed to be a Christian. Where do these people get off? Not reading the same Book as me apparently...

And I'm sure the kid didn't sign the agreement thinking he'd never be allowed to have any fun as longa s he went to this school. Probably didn't even read it in the first place. No Rock and Roll? What is this, the 80s? "That's the devil's music"

I am amazed at the ignorance and narrow minded attitudes of so many responders to this story. The fact that this story was even published is because of left leaning media picking up something to try to discredit conservatives. Does anybody understand this? Who really cares? Wow, a school is enforcing it's rules upon a student. Unbelievable!! Different organizations have different rules. Either follow them or break them and suffer the consequences.

And another thing, why are so many people against the truth? There really is such a thing folks. Here's some truth from nearly 2000 years ago. Read it through.

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator — who is forever praised. Amen.

Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

Romans 1:18-32 NIV

How convenient!

The principal did sign a permission form allowing this student to attend the other school's prom - therefore, the principal overrode the previous contract. It's unlikely that permission slip from the other school included provisions for the punishment the Christian school threatens this young man with.

Second, pick-and-choose, man-made doctrine runs counter to the very Bible these various demonimations claim to believe in.

Third, there are plenty of Bible verses encouraging dancing - and even referencing stringed instruments.

This young man's parents should be the ones to decide if he goes to prom or not, not the Christina school. There's some irony in this, because a lot of Christian parents who send their kids to these schools do so in part because they don't want the public schools (read that 'government') telling them how to raise their children. So this so-called Christian schools is doing exactly the same thing.

It's a pure example of hypocrisy on the school's part.

1. Many skip their proms because older sibs have told them they're not near worth it. Girls are the only ones that care. I said @#$ it and went fishing. I ended up in a good marriage with 3 kids.
2. Of course school's rules extend past the school property. See 'public lawbreaker', 'drunken athlete' or 'drunken valedictorian'
3. This is indeed no story. All the kid had to do was just go. He's out to make himself a martyr. If he needed some sort of signature from his principal;, sign it himself.
4. Never mind 'legal'. If you sign something like this, you entail a moral obligation. If you are churlish enough not to care, so what? It's only your own honor.

Christians crack me up--especially the more fundamentalist sects such as baptists (not capitalized intentionally). They're just so...primitive. It's right up there with watching a bunch of chimps flinging their own poop at onlookers at a zoo.

crybabyprophet said

Christian homeschools/private schools which do not adequately prepare students for post secondary education in math, science, cultural studies, or tolerance of diverse perspectives

and thats why a lot of the top scores on the SAT and ACT are done by home/private school students, look it up, and Christians are tolerant we just don't accept somethings as being right, but we tolerate them.

And it probably was a notice of attendance not and actual "permission" slip, my daughters have had to do the same thing to have friends from other schools attend their school functions, it also keeps over aged people from attending.

Yes, these religious fanatics just destroy society with their crazed faith. The government should just institute pograms and remove these people to camps. Why not just gas all of the faithfull.

Oh wait that would make America mini-Nazi Germany or pogram plauged Soviet Union.

But who cares. I really don't think Christians deserve tolerance. They aren't real people anyways. Its too late for them. They no longer are human having recieved such intense brainwashing.

You people piss me off.

Oh Robbob, it is always so entertaining to hear from you over there in lala land...how are the unicorns?

As someone who works in higher education, I can say without a doubt that high test scores are NOT indicative of preparedness for post-secondary course work. In fact this has been a major source of consternation among faculty and staff across the nation who are forced to deal with the re-education of home-schooled/private schooled individuals who simply are not up to speed. Granted, public schools are not adequately preparing students either, but those public school students who go on to college right out of public school have basic understandings of topics which are integral in multiple fields of study.

I know in your little fairy-tale world the world 'theory' means an educated guess, but that is what scientists generally refer to as a 'hypothesis'. in order to be a theory, an idea must have withstood the test of time and there must not be any evidence contradicting it. As soon as evidence contradicts a theory, it is reevaluated and improved upon in order to agree with ALL relevant data. Thus, the theory of evolution is much more than a guess or an idea, it is a huge body of evidence which unequivocally points to a simple truth: "systems change and become more complicated over time."

You may not like the repercussions of some of the realities of this simple fact, but that does not make it less true. The FACT of evolution is vital in a number of areas including biology, anthropology, paleontology, psychology, sociology, economics, geology, geomorphology, physics, linguistics, and especially in medicine, among others. While you may not like the idea of evolution, the reality of evolution produces the medicines you get when you go to the doctor's office; it has produced the language you speak and your ability to speak and comprehend it; it affects your impulses, your wants, your needs, and thus modern economic theories as well as the concepts explaining the very formation of the the entire universe.

Those who deny evolution are living in some fantasy world and refuse to see the changes taking place around them over the course of their lifetimes. The world obviously changes. It is not today the way it was 100 years ago, 1000 years ago, 10,000 years ago, let alone millions of years ago. Humans have been witness to some of these changes. We have seen species change and disappear. We have watched ecological collapses that resulted in biological adaptation. We have seen ecotones shift and species supplant other species which were less suitable to an area under changing conditions. To deny evolution is to state that the world today is exactly the way it was when it was formed, which is an obvious fallacy. Students who are raised to disregard evolution as meaningless are thus incapable of understanding basic processes that are basic to and essential parts of numerous fields of inquiry; they are thus horribly unprepared for a post-secondary education.

Incidentally, the statement "God is Good" disproves the entire intelligent design/creationist argument against evolution.

If God is good, then he abides by the same rules he establishes for his subjects. If he violates these rules, he is no longer either good or perfect. Rule breakers are not good people. Hypocrites, no matter how powerful, are not perfect. Thus, in order for miracles to be allowed, they must operate within the bounds of the rules He has set down, because He is a just god, i.e. He is inherently fair. Therefore, everything that happens within a universe created by such a good and perfect being is part of a set order. As such, it should be very possible to uncover the methods of the creator and to see the rules underlying what God has created without resting on the blind faith that it was done and that how it was done has no inherent value to us as products of His creation.

Evolution doesn't question the reality or the relevance of a Creator; it merely seeks to explain the how and does a surprisingly good job of explaining the processes by which life changes over time. However, creationism does question the reality and relevance of both a good and perfect Creator and creation by stating that even if we could understand the processes or origins of existence, we would be condemned for doing so. Such an argument turns the entire cosmos on its head by turning the Creator into a mischievous and hateful being whose primary purpose is to condemn those who use their gifts of reason and understanding to their full potential. As such the entire creationist argument is reduced to nonsensical and infernal shrieking at the very least and outright blasphemy at the very worst.

I know this is probably a lot for you to wrap your tiny little mind around, robbob, but just because you don't like something, doesn't make it either untrue or ridiculous. It only means you should read a book (besides the bible) before you start making claims about the truth or validity of an idea that you simply do not understand.

Just another example of a student and his parents whining when the rules they agreed to are enforced!

This is why the Religious-Reich in this country will eventually die out, anti-trust proponent. This sounds like the plot of "Dirty Dancing" LOL. If the Principal was so dead set against his student going to an "immoral dance", then he should never have signed the paperwork. Typical religious holier-than-thou act - tell the kid he can go and then slam him with outrageous consequences if he does go. Hell, I'm surprised they haven't expelled him for having a girlfriend. This is why I will continue to believe religious people are kooks and spiritual people are doing the right way to go.

Edgar you're right. They entered into a contract and are now facing the consequences. However, what a bunch of nuts to put their child in a school that is this fanatical. Dancing? Rock Music? Jesus sang a hymn at the last supper. Do these people know FOR SURE that the hymn wasn't rock and roll? They do not!!!

If you ask me this is just another example of the leftist media searching out and finding some random and obscure reason to bash Christianity. Do I agree with that Babtist school? No. I find nothing wrong with dancing or rock music. As a matter of fact I think God rather likes the music I play, and I play metal/blues. lol Its all about where your heart is during your jam session...

Footloose. Thats funny!!

You hit the nail on the head Edgar. I'm so sick and tired of people agreeing to do something and then changing their minds. Tough. You signed an agreement, now HONOR IT or suffer the consequences.

.

"just my thoughts," since when do underage teenagers have the authority to sign contracts? His parents put him in that school.

J Fin - so what DO you think constitutes legitimate news?

"just my thoughts," since when do underage teenagers have the authority to sign contracts? His parents put him in that school.

All the kid has to do is go to the prom to break the contract if he is that unhappy at school. My son signed a contract and a few of his friends did things to break it so they could go to a public school. That is not an option for my son because our public high school is a mess. Drugs, gangs....a kid was knifed in the heart two weeks ago...almost died. Three kids were arrested in that school. The hell if I am going to allow my son to go to that school.

J Fin,

I get so tired of all the bad news reported by the media day after day. It's a relief when they have some good news to report, like a nice Christian-bashing story. Makes me break out in a smile and laugh a little. Keep it comin', leftist media!

LOL.. hardly NEWSWORTHY for the FRONT PAGE of MSNBC... Just another media attack on Christianity. It's a private school... they can do what they want and no one else has to go if they don't agree.

How about a front page article on Where the Trillions are going?

many of the fundamentalists dictates are not even biblical.There is nothing in the bible against dancing,kissing,or any kind of music.Some fundamentalists even dictate when,how often and in what approved positions you are allowed to make love to your own spouse!!!Jesus said nothing about marital sex because He knew it was none of His business!

Wasn't Christ's first miracle turning water into wine (gee I wish I could do that)? FIRST miracle. Seems to me he wanted to party?

You think they signed something that allowed the school to control their son's private life?

and I thought Catholic school was bad, they had nothing on these people. We had all the same proms and dances as the public schools, just with an extra helping of Sister Superior making sure everyone acted decent. I don't recall signing any agreements tho, I guess perhaps they figured they'd give good guidance and leave the actual decisions up to us.

I personally find it comical the idea that every negative story about religion is bashing Christianity...idiotic really.

The article is not bashing christianity, rather telling a story about religous extremism and its effect on young people. The school is ridiculous, and cannot control the conduct of a student outside its grounds. This is an example of why I believe the republican idea of student vouchers over fixing a broken public school system is a cop out and an example of how unimportant a sound education is to some people who'd rather just see children indoctrinated to follow a certain ideal.

Okay, I'll stipulate the school's requirements, are ridicilous.

Parents and child, signed the agreement.

They broke the agreement, they are facing penalties.

You sign an agreement, of almost, any kind, there are penalties for non compliance.

I realize, that in this country, it's no longer fashionable, to honor your committments,

I think it probably comes with a mentality that expects the world to take care of them

Aw man....you beat me to it! "Now I gotta cut loose.....footloose....."

Are we showing our age, or what? :)

ROFL, the moment he said "Dirty Dancing" I thought "Footloose".

Hey! Nobody puts Baby in the corner!!

Hey, there's a FootLoose remake comin'! What's old is new again!

LOL.. hardly NEWSWORTHY for the FRONT PAGE of MSNBC... Just another media attack on Christianity. It's a private school... they can do what they want and no one else has to go if they don't agree.

How about a front page article on Where the Trillions are going?

well lts of kids have to go who don't really have a say in the matter. Kind of seems like there's a bit of discrepancy here as well, why would the Principal sign the release then threaten the kid? And even his parents are kind of like "wtf". Don't want to send the kid to college never having danced with a girl, that's just asking for trouble. Boy would lose his mind in a co-ed dorm.

Kind of seems like there's a bit of discrepancy here as well, why would the Principal sign the release then threaten the kid?

I'm wondering why a student needs the permission of his own principal to attend his girl friend's prom? Why should that girl's school care if the boyfriend has the approval of his principal?

Mr Rogers

Why doesn't MSNBC have real news...

Let's go to FOX NEWS and catch some of the real news

1. 4 teens sexually assualt football teammate

2. Gay Marriage hits "Rhode" Block

3. Sticks, Stones and Sex Clients

4. Mystery Snake Head found in Broccoli at TGI Fridays...

yep, there's osme hard hitting news for you..........

Let's see, by the way. Left to their own devices, teens are sober, loyal upstanding straight arrow people, right? No need for guidance, no requirement for some sort of control.

that's why God made parent's Tom, school's have zero say about what kid's do outside the classroom, or at least that's the standard.

You can prepare kid's for life, but THEY have to live it, the same as we did. You can't try keeping them from anyhting that might lead them astray, they have to be able to face thse siuations and make their own decisions about how to act.

"good decisions come from experience, and experience comes from bad decisions"

You can't try keeping them from anyhting that might lead them astray,

Capt Tripps, the above quote from your comment #3.10 is true to some extent.

But, when parents and schools establish and enforce rules to help guide young people it makes a difference.

The web site of Heritage Christian School in Findlay, Ohio (linked to below) claims that in "the Last 13 Years" the school has not experienced any teen pregnancies or any problems with alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drug problems.

As their web site puts it: "Maybe Heritage Christian School is doing something right."

http://www.heritagefindlay.org/

I think there are generally at least two sides to every story.

That they know of. My highschool (Catholic, btw) didn't have any pregnancies, but there was plenty of sex, alcohol and drugs that stayed beneath the attentions of teacher's and administrators. I have a hard time believing the kids that go to this school aren't doing the same things that happen elsewhere, perhaps just not letting it get out of hand. It'ds be interesting to see if they've had to expel any students for breaking their rules and whether or not those count for their claimed statistics.

And that kind of intolerant attitude is why gays get assaulted, and religious wars continue to rage on... so thank you Rapture.Walker for being such a prejudiced bigot.

Btw... the contract spells out moral behavior expected of the students in their LIFE not just on school grounds. There are many private colleges that can kick you out for drinking (at age) during summer break in another state. It's all a matter of your opinion on if the school and academic advantage is worth the social sacrifices.

The academic advantage? What are they going to teach you, that evolution is a lie, bats are really birds, and the sun revolves around the earth? lol ;)

I want to sit in on a biblical zoology course...I would love to know more about the phisiology of unicorns, dragons, angels, and demons! I also want to learn about biblical truths like the flat earth, geocentricism, and immortality! Additionally, a biblical-based genetics course would be a hoot...finding out how we could all become so differentiated in a 4000 year period after having descended from one man and one woman would be fascinating!

Thomas said:

"And that kind of intolerant attitude is why gays get assaulted, and religious wars continue to rage on... so thank you Rapture.Walker for being such a prejudiced bigot."

I don't see the connection to what Rapture.Walker wrote and your post. What do his comments have to do with gays being assaulted -- religious wars raging-on?

The Rapture isn't even biblical.  It's a lie perpetrated in 1827 by John Nelson Darby.

They'll be so shocked when they find out that they'll still be here with the rest of us-but I'm still taking their cars!

Thomas:

and religion is the reason why a large portion of the world is at war now. if only you people would accept science for once and open your damn eyes you would see how incompetent religion and the group that follows is.

Well I don't know if you'll think I'm sane or not but as an Atheist with a suspicious eye towards religion I have to say I agree with the schools principal here on this one.

The child and his parents chose to go to this school of thier own free will fully knowing what was and wasn't allowed behavior.Now that he wants to break the commitment he made he thinks the school is the one who is wrong.

The principal signed the statement allowing him to go because he was giving the young man a choice to make on his own like an adult should be treated.

If he chooses to go he should take the consequences like a man.

My high school penalized for things done off campus and after school hours. We had an honor code that we were expected to live by all the time - not just while at school and while attending school functions. This child is opting to not follow through with what he agreed to at the beginning of the year. His parents are missing an incredible teaching moment by not insisting that their son keep his word.

Go USA has said it all AMEN,

Although I think suspension and missing graduation is extreme punishment in this situation, I do think that the school has the right to punish him if he chooses to disobey the rules that he agreed to abide by. The school & church members have the option to show some compassion. There are other more fitting punishments that could be imposed in the case. Something that would enforce the rules, but would also be just to this young man. It happens in real life everyday. We as Christians have all been shown mercy and forgiveness. If God himself can extend this to us, then who are we to offer any less to our fellow man. Maybe this church sould spend as much time studying God's love, mercy and grace as they spend on condemnation and judgement.

The child and his parents chose to go to this school of thier own free will

How do you know the kid is there of his own free will? He may be forced to attend this school by his parents. If that's the case he certainly has my sympathy.

Gary,

God owns science. God is the fact that you have the ability to pretend to understand the Universe. Humans didnt create Mathmatics/Physics, we stumbled upon them. They were written for us and everything else out there in the cosmos that is lucky enough to exist. Without faith all we are is matter that has some how become self aware.

As far as tax money goes, Christian schools are funded by tuition payed by the parents. Though in some cases Govnt. money has funded underpriviledged kids to go to private schools. (no child left behind) Which I agree is a joke and has done nothing but hurt teachers in this country.

Also I don't understand the point of the principal requiring he sign a form unless it's just so he knows what a student is doing outside school hours and can basically tell him he's a sinner and as such will be punished by, He, the principal who is sitting at the right hand of God. Even catholics allow music and dancing and they are a judgemental religion too.

No offense to anyone, but God has nothing to do with this! It is a private school with a code of conduct clearly defined as a contract between school, parents, and student. He signed a written contract and is supposed to follow his end of the deal or the school owes him *nothing*, technically not even a diploma! So the school saying you'll be punished but can still get your diploma is something.

Lastly, the school is private (no federal funding), and since we don't know if he was forced to go to the school or not, we can't make a judgement there. And if he was, it's still his parents house and his parents rules. It'd be no different than his parents saying he can't go to prom or saying he can't date. You don't have to like it, but you do have to respect it. I really think it is important that kids and adolescents learn there are different behaviors for different situations and that the world shouldn't bow to "THEIR" ideals. We have enough narcissistic people in this world...

Gary -- apparently you didn't go to school. You can't spell. And you obviously are not aware that PRIVATE schools are just that. They are not funded by the government.

J Fin - I'm glad you think "God owns science;" then he should have no problem with the theory of evolution.

As to a private, Christian school not costing taxpayers any money, such schools are 501(c) 3 non-profits and therefore do not pay taxes, even if they make a profit. By virtue of not taxing that profit, the taxpayer IS subsidizing the school.

Well, I for one would like to read what the statement the principal signed actually siad. If it said "I give my permission for.... to go...", then we have an interesting case. No doubt the principal can override the rules (e.g., no cell phone calls during the day, but allowing a kid to call parents when sick, or a game they would go to is called off, etc.). So, if the wording was like that, then I think the kid has a case. But I would also suspect that the principal would be in hot water with the powers behind the school.

Of course where do these people come up with their rules. If they claim a literal translation of the Bible, they must have never read it. The Psalms mention dancing not as an evil,but a way to praise God. In the story of the prodigal son, we read the other son wondered why the siging and dancing and yet the father is held up to us to show how God behaves. It also amazes me how these same folks are against alcohol when clearly Jesus drank wine and even made some (Cana). Of course as a good Jew, He would have had wine with many rituals.

As for rock and roll, these people should really listen to more music. Rock is tame by comparison to some other types of music.

SO then my question to these so-called "conservative Christians" is if they do not get these ideas from the Bible, from whence do they come? And is this not really their true inspiraton and not the Bible. I suspect that is why they pay so much attention to things like abortion and homosexuality that get barely a mention and totally ignore things like having the rich give to the poor which is repeated over and over or "turn the other cheek," turning swords into plowshares.

I have no problem with anyone believing what he or she wants. I do have a problem with inconsistency and illogic though.

Actually, some kids can receive money from the gov't to attend private schools. I personally know someone at work who gets our tax money to send her son to a private school. So before you go accusing others of being ignorant, know the facts yourself.

Well, there are private schools you can go to that leave you to your recognizance once you leave, and then there are schools like this one. Why go to this one if you think its very essence gets in your way?

Bulls@#t a private school gets no government funding....what do you think non-profit status is????? They just don't get any other hand-outs from the government. NO PRIVATE/PAROCHIAL school should be tax-exempt, any more than any other religious organization. And this "christian" school isn't a private school, it is a parochial school. A private school is a non-sectarian institution.

While I personally would NEVER send my kids to a school like this, I have to remind you:

Some parents take on 2nd and 3rd jobs or pay thousands of dollars each year to send their kids to private schools in hopes that after they graduate they'll have a leg up to ensuring they can do whatever they want later. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices NOW to ensure survival tomorrow.

Yeah, stand by while people do everything they possibly can to destroy anything worthwhile in the child's character (and pay for the privilege no less!) all in hopes your kid will grow up to have more flat-screen tvs than anyone else on the block.

Um... no.

If there's one thing more destructive than fundamentalist nonsense, it would be rank materialism and the shallow social pretension which generally accompanies it. It would be far more humane to just shoot the kid and have done with it than to shackle him to either. At least a bullet to the head would be a quick death, as opposed to him "living" as little more than a mindless zombie for the rest of his "life".

I love your answer here. I think because of the contact the church/school has the right to suspend the kid, but that doesn't make it a moral decision. Good post!

as a Christian, I agree with you!! stuff like this makes me sick.

I agree 100%.

All of you deserve a kudos! Now this is a good post. No flaming, no demeaning, straight forward... Right by contract, wrong in a human sense.

bravo for the voices of reason.

LOL.. hardly NEWSWORTHY for the FRONT PAGE of MSNBC... Just another media attack on Christianity. It's a private school... they can do what they want and no one else has to go if they don't agree.

How about a front page article on Where the Trillions are going?

Ask me why I'm not a Baptist anymore.

Ask me why, when I attended Baptist school in junior high, I was anorexic, terribly unhappy and probably in desperate need of inpatient treatment at various times.

oops... thought I changed the last one up a bit....

TheWooj - now there is a Christian who really does understand what it's all about. Kudos to you TheWooj - you've got it.

Not me. I don't want to get suspended =)

W.W.J.E. = Who would Jesus expel?

What would Jesus do?? Probably kick their asses and then knock back a few brewskis in front of the tube!!

If it was a Muslim school, there would be no outrage.

Exactly. The same people complaining about this school's rules are the ones who will bend over backwards for the Muslims or the Atheists or Wiccans or any other religion or lack thereof. The same ones defending the people who don't want to touch pork so they want special treatment for the cashier's job they applied for and accepted at the grocery store. If for no other reason, I know Jesus is THE WAY, because He's the only one who sparks such outrage from people...must be a reason for such strong feelings for and against Christianity.

If this kid were being forced to attend this school, I highly doubt his parents would be defending him going to prom. If other kids have been allowed to go with no consequences, THEN it is a problem. If other kids have been denied the privilege of going, then this kid shouldn't get special treatment either. Parents and student apparently knew the rules when they signed on. If they didn't read the contract, then... you can't fix stupid.

Every institution has rules. The freedom part is that you can choose whether or not to be a part of it. No one forced this family to send their kids to that school.

4A,

Ok, so let me get this straight. You are a Christian. So you believe in the Bible, which means you believe in Adam and Eve, Noah's Ark, Jonah and the Whale, the Red Sea parting, and Jesus being born of a virgin, turning water into wine, and rising from the dead. You believe that the earth was created about 5,000 years ago, that heaven and hell are real places, and that there is an imaginary man in the sky somewhere called "god" who is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, who created a universe with billions of galaxies that are each millions of light years across all for the purpose of populating this one planet with incredibly fallable humans.

But you're NOT a loon? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rednecklawyer9 -

Perhaps if all Christians are "loons" then you and all other atheists are arrogant, self-centered, egotistical, narcissistic fools for believing that the Universe in its entirety just appeared from a ball of dust one day and that out of an uninhabitable planet came the only known life in the Universe. Evidently, then, you also believe that a human being evolved from a single microscopic cell! That might be one of the most ridiculous theories ever presented.

Now, I certainly do not condone such hateful comments as yours or my own, but I do feel that you must see what you sound like. No matter what a person believes, no matter how ridiculous it may seem, that individual is entitled to his or her beliefs and that must be respected. If you choose not to believe in God, then that is your decision, but you should still respect the beliefs of those who do choose to believe in Him. Your comment was irrational, unprovoked, hateful, and just uncalled for. I sincerely hope that you are not filled with such hate, as your comment leads me to believe.

Oh and, by the way, Christians do not believe that Earth was created 5,000 years ago. Get your facts straight you loon.

That's right!!!

It was 4,000 years ago! still LMAO...

If God can create the whole universe 4 or 5 (order of magnitude) thousand years ago out of nothing, then why cannot He create some old rocks and bones? You know, to design a proper stage set for us all to utilize while we make fools of ourselves, say on Newvine?

NewYorkMetsfan

said Evidently, then, you also believe that a human beings evolved from a single microscopic cell

Nope your wrong there Metsfan they believe that they came from a ROCK, It rained on the rocks for millions of years and formed great oceans and all these rained on rocks became soup and then the soup came alive and evolved into christian hating newsvine bloggers. At least that's what the elementary school science text book said. :)

ummm....I believe all the charges were dropped against the lacrosse team.

I just hope this is a wake up call to this family as to the kind of school they have been sending their son to.

Robbob4591

Christianity and Religion are two separate things, religion is what happens when men try and make God fit with their rules instead of letting God set the rules.

Religion is for people who are afraid of going to hell; Spirituality is for those of who have been there.

They did not get convicted of rape. They broke rules any student team member agrees to keep and got tossed from the lacrosse team. Rules governing out of school conduct. Duke university! Home of political correctness and secularity. Go figure! Rules!

But, unlike the Taliban, we don't behead people. Still, it is a stupid rule that this school has.

It's not about dancing, it's about following the contract that he and his parents signed together. Your problem is not with why he's breaking the rules but the type of school he was attending. Which I have to wonder why if they don't agree with the rules why go to a PRIVATE school in the first place. Switch schools and graduate there.

He only has two weeks to go until graduation. I guess if it were me, I'd forego the graduation ceremony rather than the prom. They'll still give him his diploma. Obviously, if he has attended this school up to now, he has been following their rules. This is just wrong on everyone's part. The school is forcing him to choose, he is being forced to decide if he's a hypocrite. His parents are being forced to decide between their church/school. Intolerance seems to rule in this situation. How ridiculous!

and sad

Safe sex is good for kids! Your kids?

"But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion."

That means a fifteen-year-old should be married.

Actually, the term Christian, literally translated, does mean "Christ-like", not that most are. I think if the majority of "Christians" today were faced with the actual Christ they'd call him a liberal, bleeding-heart, socialist, tree-hugging, pu$$y...which makes me wonder why they worship in a house supposedly dedicated to him.

I'd rather circumvent the whole freak show and listen to my Kiss and Avenged Sevenfold albums.

I'm waiting for the new Kiss record. It's supposed to be out in October. Gene Simmons makes more sense than any preacher.

IT is and yes they did :)

My father sat on top of me and beat me in the face. Should I respect the son-of-a-bitch, Sharn? He's lucky he's alive.

"And ye fathers, provoke not thy children to wrath...."

You don't have to respect or obey your parents. It's totally discretionary.

So, it's okay for parents to abuse their kids? That's what it says in Leviticus and Deuteronomy.

Let me share a little story with you.

One night, my father went on one of his tantrums and slammed me against the wall. The next night when he tried to do that, I pulled a knife on him and he backed down. Most parents are @!$%#s who should fear age because, due to their past conduct, their children will not be there for him.

I can't wait for him to "pass on". I wish he'd hurry up.

Again, children do not have to obey their parents-especially if the parents are wrong. That's where the writers of the Bible missed it.

Metal Guitarist: As one who has read the Bible from cover to cover more times than I can remember, I must inform you that the kind of genuine abuse you apparently experienced as a child is not what the Bible instructs parents to practice. Your father is obviously an extremely selfish and angry man; and he did not get his parenting style from the Bible.

God's word speaks repeatedly (especially in Proverbs) of the "rod of correction," and instructs parents to use it with love. The word "rod" in the Hebrew literally means a "small, flexible stick" (such as a small twig or branch). Even if you do not know the Hebrew, it is obvious from the context in every Scripture that speaks of the "rod" that the Lord is not talking about a post or 2x4; nor is He speaking of striking your child in such a way that he is bruised or wounded. On the contrary, God repeatedly warns parents against punishing children in wrath and anger. Paul instructs Christian fathers, "And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). He also instructs all Christians to "put away from you" all "bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking...with all malice" (Ephesians 4:31). He instructs Christians, "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:32).

As a little boy that had plenty of disobedience and rebellion in him, I was spanked very regularly as a child--until about age seven. After that, I had to be spanked only a couple more times, because I had learned submission. My parents did not spank me in anger, not did they ever spank hard enough for me to be hurt in any way whatsoever. It was just enough sting to make me think twice about defying their God-given authority, or defying anyone else who was in authority over me. Most importantly, as they corrected me, they taught me directly from the open Bible that disobedience against God's laws, and against God-given authority, is sin and rebellion, and that God hates it. When, at age seven, I understood the Gospel message--that I am a sinner deserving hell, and that I personally needed to repent and put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ--I asked Him to save me. My life has never been the same since. Christ came into my heart, and began to change me from the inside out. Even before I was saved, I knew that my parents loved me, and that they corrected me because they loved me; but after Christ came into my heart, my attitude toward God, my parents, my teachers, and everyone else in my life, began to change drastically. I began to truly love, respect, and honour my parents. I began to be greatly bothered by my own selfishness, and began to have a genuine love and concern for other people, and an actual desire to put them before me. I am still just as much a sinner today as I was then; but I am a forgiven sinner who now has the power, through Christ, to live a life that is pleasing to God.

My wife and I are bringing up our two precious little boys today the same way our Christian parents brought us up. People around us may vehemently disagree with our choice to follow the Bible in the way we bring up our kids; but they cannot deny what they see with their own eyes--that we are a very happy family; that our boys love us intensely, that we love them intensely; and they our boys are, even at their very young ages, learning courtesy, manners, self-control, and putting of others first (in stark contrast to other children whose parents do not correct them). I thank my parents from the bottom of my heart for bringing me up this way; and I thank them for sending me to one of those independent, fundamental, Bible-teaching Baptist schools where rock music, kissing, holding hands, etc., were banned. I thank them for every single time they spanked me, or corrected me in other ways. I thank them for shielding me from the evils of the world until I was able to stand against them on my own. I thank them for showing me, by example, what they taught me. Above all, I thank them for showing me how I could be saved by faith in Christ.

I am very sorry that you had such an unhappy upbringing, Metal Guitarist. But I can tell you that if you will repent of all your sin and believe on God's Son, He will not only save you, but will replace your anger and bitterness with love and joy. He will even enable you to forgive your father. I have seen it happen in people's lives many times.

I challenge you to think about it.

I believe all that crap, but what's that got to do with the price of gas on Mars? God still sucks. He only sent His Son because He knew He blew it in the Garden of Eden.

I'm now proud to be "Unholy" during all those "Crazy, Crazy Nights". I challenge you to listen to the tune "Thou Shalt Not" from the Revenge album (Kiss, 1992), Sinnersavedbygrace.

It's you guys in a nutshell-judgemental and one-sided. I'm so done Christianity.....

high five metal guitarist!!! :)

You certainly can continue to go your own way--just as your rock heroes have done. But you need look no farther than their shattered, broken, incredibly miserable lives (many of which tend to end surprisingly early) to see where your path will lead you. You may think you are free and autonomous, but you are a slave--to your sin, and to the Adversary of mankind. "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Proverbs 14:12).

You may have had some form of Christianity before; but you obviously never had Christ. Whether you like it or not, God created you to be dependent on Him. There is no true peace, joy, or fulfillment in a life lived independently of Him. Surrender your arms, and yield to your Creator. He loves you, and died for you.

By the way, I do not judge you. I can't judge you. I have no right. I'm just a sinner saved by grace--a beggar telling another beggar where he may find Bread. I actually do care for your soul.