I am a devout Christian. I sing in a contemporary praise band. I am an Elder in my Presbyterian Church (the youngest ever). I believe that Jesus is my lord and savior. And my kids are home schooled through a Christian umbrella school (more about this below the fold). However...
I am also a lifelong Liberal Democrat.
Now some of you may be reading the title and expect me to rant on about the Christian Rights focus on homosexuals, or their inane idea of how the Iraq war is a "just war". I won't. There is enough information out there and probably enough Diaries on the subjects that I won't go into that. You can trust I am a true Liberal when it comes to both of those matters. This has to do with an incident that happened today
I believe that raising children in a good Religious environment is beneficial in so many ways. I can't complain about the children I see that come from a household with a strong religious foundation, or adults that were raised as kids with the same foundation. Everything from morals to manners to having a clear understanding between right and wrong. This is not to say that a non-religious family cannot achieve the same, but I do think it is more of a shot in the dark. Maybe to do with having a religious text to go to for direction or a group of similar minded parents to always reaffirm what you are teaching. Not sure exactly. So long as you steer clear of the Jim Jonse's of the world, and keep your wits about you I have been happy so far with what I see.
We send our kids to a Christian school. We love the school because it is a combination home school. In other words they go to school two days a week, and we home school them the other three. Fantastic idea. I don't mind the Christian influence in the school. Again for the reasons noted above. I don't believe in EVERYTHING that is taught, but with the home school three days week my wife and I have ample opportunity to clarify what our family believes.
There was a specific incident today that happened that I would be interested in getting your opinion on. We are very good friends with the family next door. Their son, we'll call him Mike, is brilliant. In fact he scored a perfect 1800 on his SAT's (which he took twice just to prove it was not a fluke), has written several books and went to Harvard and MIT (dropped out because he wasn't challenged enough).
I'm talking Einstein smart.
Colleges across the country are now offering to PAY for him to go their school.
Mike asked one day, while he was home from school, if he could put up a sheet at our school for tutoring lessons. He would tutor students in math , physics and with the SAT. He helped to teach our kids a little, and we had no problems. In fact we vouched for him on the sheet, got it approved at the school and hung out his shingle for him.
***Now the incident***
Today we received a call from the school asking us what we knew about him. We told what we knew and wondered what the problem was (sensing there was a problem). They proceeded to tell us that a parent called Mike to get a tutor in science. As they were questioning him about his credentials they started to ask him about his belief in creationism. Mike quickly stopped them and said he does not believe in creationism but would be glad to teach math, physics, etc.
After the call the parent notified the school. They indicated that he was very smart and knew his stuff but was concerned that we (my wife and I) would vouch for someone who was not SAFE for her kids.
In the schools defense they did tell her that they were sure Mike was "safe", but were very clear with us that they would have to take the paper down in light of the fact that if you don't believe in creationism you can't teach math (much sarcasm). And that we should pray for him.
They wonder why so many people have a hard time with religion.
Is this what we should expect from a Christian school?
If I wanted to tutor a public school student in science, but I believed in creationism, would you act in the same manner?