These School Kids Understand Separation of Church and State-- Wish Adults Could Get It Too--
Content of school seminar criticized
Some say workshop evolved into sermon
BY MELINDA ROGERS ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
Eureka Springs School District patrons are buzzing over an alcohol-awareness seminar that turned into a morality lesson at the city’s high school.
More than 300 students in seventh through 12th grades attended a presentation by a Minnesota-based organization called You Can Run But You Cannot Hide before the district dismissed for spring break March 16.
Some students who attended the assembly said that what began as a message to stay away from alcohol turned into rants from lecturers on topics including abortion, gun control, the sanctity of marriage and "the dangers of rock ’n’ roll."
District administrators contracted with the group to perform an anti-drug-and-alcohol skit through funds allotted from the state for "safe and drug-free" school programs. The three-hour presentation included a period when boys and girls were split into two groups for "virtue lessons" by presenters Bradlee Dean and his wife, Stephanie, said Amy Deitcher, a 16-year-old high school junior.
The group’s Web site states that Dean’s wife’s name is Stephanie Joy.
During the girls’ session, Joy reportedly told teenagers they "would get black spots" on their wedding dress if they held hands with a boy. Later, the girls’ group was presented with a "treasure chest" theory in which they were told that any sort of physical contact with a man before marriage would result in a woman becoming "leftovers" for her husband, Deitcher said.
Deitcher said she walked out with friends when Joy presented a list of "characteristics a good husband would have," which included the suggestion a prospect be a "God-fearing man." Boys were warned of the dangers of rock ’n’ roll and promiscuity, she said.
"It seemed like total propaganda. It was like a cult. They were trying to get kids who can’t think for themselves to think like them," Deitcher said in a telephone interview.
You Can Run But You Cannot Hide performers were scheduled to present to the district’s elementary school children, but Superintendent Reck Wallis canceled the performance after hearing reports about the high school presentation, Eureka Springs School Board President Rusty Windle said.
Windle said he’d fielded several phone calls from parents upset about the assembly and encouraged them to address the school board at a monthly meeting scheduled for tonight. He said many parents are concerned the content of the presentation wasn’t appropriate for a public school.
Wallis and high school Principal Charles "David" Childers could not be reached for comment.
Windle said administrators from the 667-student school district researched the group before allowing it to visit the school by calling other school districts out of state for references.
"I don’t know it was exactly what it was billed out to be. [Administrators ] thought it was all pretty much a drug awareness thing and there was a lot more to it than that," Windle said. "Maybe some more homework could have been done."
The district might investigate creating a more stringent policy for approving school assemblies presented by outside groups, Windle said.
Dean, founder of You Can Run But You Cannot Hide, said the message in the group’s performance has been altered by liberals in the school who are "bending" what was said. He acknowledged the "leftovers" comment but said it was meant to encourage teenagers to make the right decisions.
"Do you think that was the heart of her intent, to tell kids they’d be a bunch of leftovers? You’ve got a bunch of liberal kids listening to what they want to hear and that’s the bottom line," he said.
There were no direct references made to the Bible or Christianity during the skit, he said, although he added he identifies himself as a Christian and supports religious principles. The group’s Web site, www.youcanrunbutyoucannothide.com, states that the organization is a non-profit "charitable church ministry."
Dean said he’d received two phone calls from Eureka Springs residents complaining about the presentation’s content. The group generally makes $2,000 to $2,500 for performances outside a five-state radius surrounding Minnesota, he said.
He said the group receives financial backing from major retailers and businesses, which allows it to perform at schools that can’t afford to make a "donation."
"We got our poop in a group up here," Dean said of support for the organization.
Windle wasn’t sure what the district paid for the performance.
This story was published Monday, March 28, 2005
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 2005, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. All rights reserved.
This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc.
Some say workshop evolved into sermon
BY MELINDA ROGERS ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
Eureka Springs School District patrons are buzzing over an alcohol-awareness seminar that turned into a morality lesson at the city’s high school.
More than 300 students in seventh through 12th grades attended a presentation by a Minnesota-based organization called You Can Run But You Cannot Hide before the district dismissed for spring break March 16.
Some students who attended the assembly said that what began as a message to stay away from alcohol turned into rants from lecturers on topics including abortion, gun control, the sanctity of marriage and "the dangers of rock ’n’ roll."
District administrators contracted with the group to perform an anti-drug-and-alcohol skit through funds allotted from the state for "safe and drug-free" school programs. The three-hour presentation included a period when boys and girls were split into two groups for "virtue lessons" by presenters Bradlee Dean and his wife, Stephanie, said Amy Deitcher, a 16-year-old high school junior.
The group’s Web site states that Dean’s wife’s name is Stephanie Joy.
During the girls’ session, Joy reportedly told teenagers they "would get black spots" on their wedding dress if they held hands with a boy. Later, the girls’ group was presented with a "treasure chest" theory in which they were told that any sort of physical contact with a man before marriage would result in a woman becoming "leftovers" for her husband, Deitcher said.
Deitcher said she walked out with friends when Joy presented a list of "characteristics a good husband would have," which included the suggestion a prospect be a "God-fearing man." Boys were warned of the dangers of rock ’n’ roll and promiscuity, she said.
"It seemed like total propaganda. It was like a cult. They were trying to get kids who can’t think for themselves to think like them," Deitcher said in a telephone interview.
You Can Run But You Cannot Hide performers were scheduled to present to the district’s elementary school children, but Superintendent Reck Wallis canceled the performance after hearing reports about the high school presentation, Eureka Springs School Board President Rusty Windle said.
Windle said he’d fielded several phone calls from parents upset about the assembly and encouraged them to address the school board at a monthly meeting scheduled for tonight. He said many parents are concerned the content of the presentation wasn’t appropriate for a public school.
Wallis and high school Principal Charles "David" Childers could not be reached for comment.
Windle said administrators from the 667-student school district researched the group before allowing it to visit the school by calling other school districts out of state for references.
"I don’t know it was exactly what it was billed out to be. [Administrators ] thought it was all pretty much a drug awareness thing and there was a lot more to it than that," Windle said. "Maybe some more homework could have been done."
The district might investigate creating a more stringent policy for approving school assemblies presented by outside groups, Windle said.
Dean, founder of You Can Run But You Cannot Hide, said the message in the group’s performance has been altered by liberals in the school who are "bending" what was said. He acknowledged the "leftovers" comment but said it was meant to encourage teenagers to make the right decisions.
"Do you think that was the heart of her intent, to tell kids they’d be a bunch of leftovers? You’ve got a bunch of liberal kids listening to what they want to hear and that’s the bottom line," he said.
There were no direct references made to the Bible or Christianity during the skit, he said, although he added he identifies himself as a Christian and supports religious principles. The group’s Web site, www.youcanrunbutyoucannothide.com, states that the organization is a non-profit "charitable church ministry."
Dean said he’d received two phone calls from Eureka Springs residents complaining about the presentation’s content. The group generally makes $2,000 to $2,500 for performances outside a five-state radius surrounding Minnesota, he said.
He said the group receives financial backing from major retailers and businesses, which allows it to perform at schools that can’t afford to make a "donation."
"We got our poop in a group up here," Dean said of support for the organization.
Windle wasn’t sure what the district paid for the performance.
This story was published Monday, March 28, 2005
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 2005, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. All rights reserved.
This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc.
posted by Steve Nawojczyk at 4:28 AM
1 Comments:
I do not believe in separation of church and state--I believe that that separation is a huge reason for the caos in America!!! this is a Christian nation--founded through the values of Chritianity--and now that we have hit success, Americans want to move away from God. People debate whether or not students should be taught about God--and they should--especially with the insecurities they have within themselves. I believe that there is no greater feeling in the heart of child/student, than to know that if no one else is there, God does care. I believe that when you separate church and state you snatch away that comfort from not only the students, but all people, as well. No doubt in my mind that the people involved in Columbine, OKC bombing, 9-11, and other caotic situations in the past had missed that knowledge of God-and the comfort that comes with it--making some of them think they are alone in the world or whatever. Inshort, leave the people involved in the skit club alone. There is already a shortage of people in america trying to do right--don't step on those who try to!!!!!!!!!
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