Gilbert school board orders pages ripped from textbooks (public schools, landlord)

[43north87west]

It's just more religious kooks taking the law (15-115) too far.

Give them an inch, they take a light year.

I'm not surprised that there are enough religious wingnuts to get a law like this passed in the first place, nor am I surprised that the people who probably supported it to begin with, would use it to such an extent.

Anyway, the ACLU fired back already, politely pointing to case law that suggests GPS is probably facing a legal battle if they do this.

One thing I did notice, was that the text in question, which referred to chemically induced abortion, was under a chapter named "Contraception", and the chapter began with a definition of contraception. I could see where that might have caused a few readers to raise an eyebrow and question why abortion was discussed in a chapter that, by definition, discussed methods to avoid getting pregnant. So the book probably didn't do itself any favors.

[asufan]

Looks like it is a conservative group out of SCOTTSDALE that is behind this. Same group that is outspoken against gay marriage. Time to avoid Scottsdale too I guess.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

In this case, this is absolutely imposing conservative Christian principles upon the student body.

Soooo, when religious-based text was ripped out of textbooks starting in the early 1960's, and was replaced with "science" teaching children that they are nothing but "evolved" animals, who were formed by complete random chance, from lifeless particles "billions of years ago" in a sea of primordial soup...that wasnt imposing non-Christian principles upon the student body?

"Hey! Im pissed off because a single school district ripped out a few pages from a textbook, but we're perfectly cool with campaigning countrywide to have any religious-based text ripped out because that offends ME, the non-believer!"

They should offer both religious and non-religious views in textbooks, let the kids decide for themselves, that way both parties wont be offended. However, it just doesnt go that way.

[goolsbyjazz]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Soooo, when religious-based text was ripped out of textbooks starting in the early 1960's, and was replaced with "science" teaching children that they are nothing but "evolved" animals, who were formed by complete random chance, from lifeless particles "billions of years ago" in a sea of primordial soup...that wasnt imposing non-Christian principles upon the student body?

"Hey! Im pissed off because a single school district ripped out a few pages from a textbook, but we're perfectly cool with campaigning countrywide to have any religious-based text ripped out because that offends ME, the non-believer!"

They should offer both religious and non-religious views in textbooks, let the kids decide for themselves, that way both parties wont be offended. However, it just doesnt go that way.

Maybe the most reasonable response to the matter so far.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Soooo, when religious-based text was ripped out of textbooks starting in the early 1960's, and was replaced with "science" teaching children that they are nothing but "evolved" animals, who were formed by complete random chance, from lifeless particles "billions of years ago" in a sea of primordial soup...that wasnt imposing non-Christian principles upon the student body?

"Hey! Im pissed off because a single school district ripped out a few pages from a textbook, but we're perfectly cool with campaigning countrywide to have any religious-based text ripped out because that offends ME, the non-believer!"

They should offer both religious and non-religious views in textbooks, let the kids decide for themselves, that way both parties wont be offended. However, it just doesnt go that way.

What religion? They all have varying beliefs. It would be a pretty thick book. If you want your kids to learn religion, your religion, take them to your church.

[sandy6879]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

What religion? They all have varying beliefs. It would be a pretty thick book. If you want your kids to learn religion, your religion, take them to your church.

Exactly. +1 on this. Everyone believes differently. To cover what each religion believes would take up a ton of time. Stick to the facts, and if you want your kids to have a religious view, handle that on your own time. Schools teach facts. End of story.

[Potential_Landlord]

Originally Posted by goolsbyjazz

Maybe the most reasonable response to the matter so far.

So what would you suggest to enter from the Temple of Satan Church in a school text book then? - I think they follow the belief that all abortion should be legal and only dealt with from a scientific angle. How about just like that?

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Soooo, when religious-based text was ripped out of textbooks starting in the early 1960's, and was replaced with "science" teaching children that they are nothing but "evolved" animals, who were formed by complete random chance, from lifeless particles "billions of years ago" in a sea of primordial soup...that wasnt imposing non-Christian principles upon the student body?

"Hey! Im pissed off because a single school district ripped out a few pages from a textbook, but we're perfectly cool with campaigning countrywide to have any religious-based text ripped out because that offends ME, the non-believer!"

They should offer both religious and non-religious views in textbooks, let the kids decide for themselves, that way both parties wont be offended. However, it just doesnt go that way.

If you want your children to be educated based on superstition and fairy tales, send them to private school. Public schools are to be fact-based. Not pro- nor against religion, but pro-facts.

Teaching children science is not anti-religion. To say it is, is pretty insulting to religion.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

What religion? They all have varying beliefs. It would be a pretty thick book. If you want your kids to learn religion, your religion, take them to your church.

Then how about the non-believers keep their ridiculous theories out of the textbooks, too. Fair is fair, mate.

The only reasonable solution is to offer both viewpoints in the textbooks, simple as that. Problem is that groups like the ACLU wont allow that, as "religion" shouldnt be broadcasted in textbooks. However, theyll surely allow secular humanism in the textbooks!

So your solution is to "take em to church"? Thats fine and dandy! But thats one day a week, just over an hour's time to be "taught". The other remaining 35-40 hours a week they spend in school, theyre being taught there is no God, etc. Thats real fair, guy.

OFFER BOTH VIEWPOINTS IN THE TEXTBOOKS. Problem solved. But religious people dont get that option, we have to bend to the will of the non-believers.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

If you want your children to be educated based on superstition and fairy tales, send them to private school. Public schools are to be fact-based. Not pro- nor against religion, but pro-facts.

Teaching children science is not anti-religion. To say it is, is pretty insulting to religion.

Pro-facts? lol Youre hilarious.

So all life on earth as we know it arose from non-life? Wow. Thats real scientific there, bud. Can you please observe and test that? Id like to see the results. Science has to be tested and observed for it to be science. You do know that, right?

YOUR fairy tale that life arose from a single-celled organism and birthed all of life in its incredible, irreducibly-complex life forms is the ultimate fairy tale.