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Letters to The Editor - 10/02/2003- Times-News Online

Suspension deserved

In regard to the ongoing controversy of a Bible tract being placed on a teacher's desk, I think it's funny that when I attended Colonial Heights Junior High in the early 1970s, we had a weekly Bible class that we were practically forced to attend. I knew of only two people out of 100 that were allowed to skip the Bible class. Now, it's the students who are forcing their religious beliefs on the teachers.

If the student's mother wants to encourage her daughter to witness to others, then she should also teach her daughter about the consequences of witnessing - persecution, ridicule and in this case, suspension from school. In the end, the student got someone else to unknowingly perform the witnessing for her, which implies she knew this was incorrect behavior for the classroom. Although the student "meant no harm,'' she violated school authority and coerced another student to join her. Let the suspension stand.

Rick Hill
Big Cove, Ala.

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Follow school policy

I am aware that a bit of an uproar has been caused by this mess of "religious harassment.'' In no way do I think that what this young girl did tormented or bewildered this teacher. But over the past decade, we seem to have concocted new and more "logical'' ways to define certain things. Nowadays, you look at me in an awkward manner and you're going down. And why is this? Why are we so afraid? Why must we always feel so violated?

Was religious harassment ever a common or even regarded problem in your school system? More than likely, it was not. It seems like just recently someone has discovered that a few of us are capable of developing our own view and beliefs. Apparently, they aren't too happy about this, i.e., keep religion and state separate, keep school and religion separate, keep everything and religion separate.

I totally agree with this, although it seems to have done more harm than good. We can't hand out our pamphlets in school, we're being discriminated against. This must be the work of Satan. No my friends, it is not Satan that is destroying your right of free speech, it is the people that can't accept or even tolerate your opinions that are extinguishing any hope you have of practicing whatever you are practicing, freely. Hypothetically, I am of a pagan religion. I bring a pamphlet to school in relation to a function my church is holding, place it on my teacher's desk. Hypothetically, that's not going to happen. I understand that I would receive punishment for this. There are no if, ands or buts.

And why is this? Christianity is more tolerable then a few select religions because Christianity is practiced more publicly and perhaps it's because you won't need incense to produce your miracle.

No, this student should have not received such a severe penalty. But Christians should understand that maybe, they were not being directly scrutinized in this situation, and that until we can all be OK with one another's beliefs, they should follow school policy as well.

Courtney Cleek
Jonesborough

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Why study evolution?

According to Mike Cline, the students at Colonial Heights Middle School are told that evolution is just a theory and "is not encouraged as a belief.'' If this is the case why exactly are we discussing evolution in our classrooms? To those of us who believe in the divinity of God, the theory of evolution is pretty farfetched. If both sides are not discussed as theory, then I think we need to just leave what we cannot prove alone.

Marsha Lynch
Kingsport

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Double standard

Re. "Parent Says Suspended Student Meant No Harm,'' it would seem that the double standard that exists over so many question like this one led to this and other similar situations. Theories over science such as the Big Bang, morals such as alternate lifestyles and sex education, and any number of other topics, can be presented in class. Parents may or may not know what is being discussed or taught, even with disclaimers.

Then discussions about religion cannot be held, even with disclaimers. The teachers could be allowed to say what they believe personally, even if required to give a disclaimer. A liberal agenda has permeated every fabric of our society and very successfully has stymied and silenced any opposition to the takeover. The conservative voice is punished and even if teachers wished to voice their personal faith, they too are forbidden by law or regulations.

Gary W. Jennings
Taylorsville, N.C.

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Be patient

Re. "Middle School Student Suspended for Harassing Teacher about Religion," these things should not be offensive.

The problem is that adults of Christian children need to better explain that along with the pamphlets, prayer and patience are needed. Jesus never kept at people; they must be given time. I commend the student, but one cannot hound people.

Besides, the teacher may already believe. Christ does not want any who call themselves Christian to reach people this way. We are told to go into the world, which means the workplace and school, but witness and live the life that you are trying to win them to.

John Newnam
Dungannon, Va.

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Student lauded

This letter is in response to the student suspended at Colonial Heights Middle School for wanting to voice his or her opinion on their Christian beliefs. I applaud her for standing up for what she believes in and wanting to debate it against the Big Bang theory. I commend her for standing up for her rights and freedom of speech to debate and discuss what she believes is the correct beginning of creation.

It is apparent why our country is slowly deteriorating into self-consumed, closed-minded people, without any morals or any values. We seem to be concerned with protecting everyone except the ones who still believe in the foundation on which our country was founded. If only more adults would take the stand that she took. God is smiling upon her and appreciates her efforts even when the world does not.

Sandra Cook
Kingsport

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Two fallacies

Perhaps part of the reason for the issue between the CHMS student and her teacher stems from two fallacies that are commonly believed around here. First, that because we worship Christ, then everything we believe must be Christian. This kind of thinking puts Major Hoople's forecasts in the realm of theology.

The second is that evolution and creationism are the only two choices. As pointed out in Thursday's editorial column, the doctrine known as creationism is itself a creation of the late 19th century. That's barely more than 100 years ago. What did Christians believe before then? If we don't know, then maybe our churches are doing a poor job of teaching. Phillip Martin Kingsport

Copyright 2003, Kingsport Publishing Corporation.

On top of disrupting school over religion, we have a Rev. Poff that wants to ban Halloween as Satanic.

See Evolution Debate

 

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