Freethought & Rationalism Archive

MilitantModerate · 11-21-2002, 02:30 PM

I am not 100% certain this thread belongs in this forum; perhaps Church State Separation might be better. Mods feel free to move it at your pleasure.

I was just at my kindergarten daughter's parent teacher interview. While at the school (a public one in Edmonton, NOT Catholic, they are a separate system, or some religious charter school which fundies are free to form) I noticed a poster on a bulletin board for the group <a href="http://www.motherswhocare.com/" target="_blank">Mothers Who Care</a>. They appear to be associated with the ever popular

"Campus Crusade for Christ".

Now I don't know if this recuitment poster really belongs in a public school but I am more concerned about this group's agenda in an elementary school. Officially it seems they only pray for the school at private, off site, meetings. However some stories from their site, like the following, make me think they are borderline prostelitizing at least the teachers and parents, if not impressionable young children (eg. on field trips, etc.).

Quote:

"On special occasions we take a tray of sweets or fresh fruit into the staff room. We actually had one teacher phone and thank us. Because of the lack of 'Christians' in our small community, this was encouraging for us. Our children also come to us with their prayer requests." (Saskatchewan)

"Thanks so much for the encouraging newsletters you produce and send out. Our group has grown from three to six who meet to pray fortnightly. We have ten on a roster to supply morning tea weekly to the teaching staff of our school. This ministry has been really positively received by our school and God has been answering many of our prayers." (Australia)

Has anyone else heard of these gals?

MadMordigan · 11-21-2002, 03:27 PM

Because of the lack of 'Christians' in our small community, this was encouraging for us. (Saskatchewan)

Having been to Saskatchewan, I can say there is a lack of fucking ANYONE there.

Soulblinder · 11-21-2002, 04:28 PM

Well if thats as bad as it gets I wouldnt really worry. What gals me is that my school, in the good ol' US of A, organises prayer meatings and hands out flyers on prayer to students. Cant really do much about it though im afraid of speaking up, too many Christian's who are than bigger than me (um just about everyone in fact). I'll end now having completly left the topic and offered no real solution to your problem.

pescifish · 11-21-2002, 04:32 PM

I think you are right, MilitantModerate: CSS&A forum will probably get you better responses than here in SL&S.

Soulblinder, I think you might find some threads in CSS&A that might relate to your situation as well.

MilitantModerate · 11-21-2002, 04:44 PM

Having prayer meetings is likely fine but preaching or handing out leaflets (particularly to impressionable elementary or junior high students) I find unacceptable in a public school. To paraphrase: "Don't preach in my school and I won't think in your church."

After a bit more research I also found this other "movement" afoot in our schools:

<a href="http://www.syatpcanada.com/" target="_blank">http://www.syatpcanada.com/</a>

It appears to be some sort of international thing born in the good 'ol US of A (http://www.syatp.com/) and thoughtfully exported to other unsuspecting countries to hurry them down the road to a theocratic state. Kind of reminds me of what happened in the German & Japanese schools during the WWII era.

I guess that last paragraph was a bit of a rant but the recent victories of the religious right down south has made quite a few of us secular northern neighbours nervous. (nice alliteration 'eh?)

Soulblinder · 11-21-2002, 05:11 PM

Ok this (refers to link above) is precisley whats happening in my school(same name and all). The problem is, allthough i think its wrong its difficult to combat. They (school officers) pass out leaflets to "see you at the pole", but these leaflets never actually use the word prayer. However the entire student body understands what's going on (well everyone except me that is). It seems to me that this violates church and state seperation, but im not really sure. Any help would be apreciated, thanks.

(none of that made sense did it? oh well im young and can get away with such things)

Soulblinder · 11-21-2002, 05:13 PM

wow changing the subject completely is probably impolite, sorry for doing so

Toto · 11-21-2002, 05:18 PM

Their website says they are Intercessory Prayer Warriors. (Too tired right now to rant.)

"See You at the Pole" is legal as long as there is no official sponsorship of the event. There was a comprehensive thread on it a while back:

<a href="http://iidb.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=59&t=000207&p=" target="_blank">See You at the Pole</a>.

Soulblinder · 11-21-2002, 05:23 PM

Thank you oh worthy Toto, once again I demonstrate my ignorance by speaking (or typing in this case)

<Edited because it's very apparent that i have not completed High School>

[ November 21, 2002: Message edited by: Soulblinder ]</p>

MilitantModerate · 11-21-2002, 05:26 PM

I think I helped hijack my own thread!

So before it gets completely off topic I will reiterate: has anyone else, particularly fellow Canucks, heard of "Mothers Who Care"?

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11-21-2002, 03:27 PM	#2
MadMordigan Beloved Deceased Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Vancouver BC Canada Posts: 2,704	Because of the lack of 'Christians' in our small community, this was encouraging for us. (Saskatchewan) Having been to Saskatchewan, I can say there is a lack of fucking ANYONE there.

11-21-2002, 04:28 PM	#3
Soulblinder Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: VA Posts: 15	Well if thats as bad as it gets I wouldnt really worry. What gals me is that my school, in the good ol' US of A, organises prayer meatings and hands out flyers on prayer to students. Cant really do much about it though im afraid of speaking up, too many Christian's who are than bigger than me (um just about everyone in fact). I'll end now having completly left the topic and offered no real solution to your problem.

11-21-2002, 04:32 PM	#4
pescifish Beloved Deceased Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: rural part of los angeles, CA Posts: 4,516	I think you are right, MilitantModerate: CSS&A forum will probably get you better responses than here in SL&S. Soulblinder, I think you might find some threads in CSS&A that might relate to your situation as well.

11-21-2002, 04:44 PM	#5
MilitantModerate Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Edmonton, AB Posts: 603	Having prayer meetings is likely fine but preaching or handing out leaflets (particularly to impressionable elementary or junior high students) I find unacceptable in a public school. To paraphrase: "Don't preach in my school and I won't think in your church." After a bit more research I also found this other "movement" afoot in our schools: <a href="http://www.syatpcanada.com/" target="_blank">http://www.syatpcanada.com/</a> It appears to be some sort of international thing born in the good 'ol US of A (http://www.syatp.com/) and thoughtfully exported to other unsuspecting countries to hurry them down the road to a theocratic state. Kind of reminds me of what happened in the German & Japanese schools during the WWII era. I guess that last paragraph was a bit of a rant but the recent victories of the religious right down south has made quite a few of us secular northern neighbours nervous. (nice alliteration 'eh?)

11-21-2002, 05:11 PM	#6
Soulblinder Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: VA Posts: 15	Ok this (refers to link above) is precisley whats happening in my school(same name and all). The problem is, allthough i think its wrong its difficult to combat. They (school officers) pass out leaflets to "see you at the pole", but these leaflets never actually use the word prayer. However the entire student body understands what's going on (well everyone except me that is). It seems to me that this violates church and state seperation, but im not really sure. Any help would be apreciated, thanks. (none of that made sense did it? oh well im young and can get away with such things)

11-21-2002, 05:13 PM	#7
Soulblinder Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: VA Posts: 15	wow changing the subject completely is probably impolite, sorry for doing so

11-21-2002, 05:18 PM	#8
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	Their website says they are Intercessory Prayer Warriors. (Too tired right now to rant.) "See You at the Pole" is legal as long as there is no official sponsorship of the event. There was a comprehensive thread on it a while back: <a href="http://iidb.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=59&t=000207&p=" target="_blank">See You at the Pole</a>.

11-21-2002, 05:23 PM	#9
Soulblinder Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: VA Posts: 15	Thank you oh worthy Toto, once again I demonstrate my ignorance by speaking (or typing in this case) <Edited because it's very apparent that i have not completed High School> [ November 21, 2002: Message edited by: Soulblinder ]</p>

11-21-2002, 05:26 PM	#10
MilitantModerate Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Edmonton, AB Posts: 603	I think I helped hijack my own thread! So before it gets completely off topic I will reiterate: has anyone else, particularly fellow Canucks, heard of "Mothers Who Care"?

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