Child w/lesbian parents expelled

[Aaron]

Go here, read, and comment


I'm not sure what to think...

[Vlad!]

Most Christian schools have requirements like this for their students. A Christian school is not primarily intended to be a ministry of outreach but one of environment. The idea is to bring kids up and give them a good education in Christian surroundings. The merit of this is debatable, but I can see the rationale for a decision like this one you linked.

[Aaron]

Another scenario:  what if the parents are a heterosexual couple but perhaps one parent is a Christian and the other is not?  Is that more allowable than a child having homosexual parents?

[Vlad!]

Another scenario:  what if the parents are a heterosexual couple but perhaps one parent is a Christian and the other is not?  Is that more allowable than a child having homosexual parents?

In the Christian school I (and a few others here) attended, at least one parent had to be a Christian.  

[bloop]

I know I disagree with the decision, but I also know it's their school and their right to have whatever admission standards they wish, within some legal boundaries.

[leinad]

I know I disagree with the decision, but I also know it's their school and their right to have whatever admission standards they wish, within some legal boundaries.

True, though I doubt very much that a privately owned restaurant would be allowed to discriminate like this, so there does seem to be a contradiction here.

[Vlad!]

True, though I doubt very much that a privately owned restaurant would be allowed to discriminate like this, so there does seem to be a contradiction here.

I don't know enough to say whether a restaurant could deny service based on sexual orintation, but a school is not a restaurant and I think it's good that the government understands this.

[leinad]

I don't know enough to say whether a restaurant could deny service based on sexual orintation, but a school is not a restaurant and I think it's good that the government understands this.

I do know that in many states, restaurants cannot even refuse to employ someone for the reason that glog is HIV-positive (which is very controversial for obvious reasons.)  But of course you're right, a school is very different from a restaurant.  But still, the logic that a privately owned institution should have the absolute right to decide whom they serve or even employ would not seem to hold in many instances.

[leinad]

In the Christian school I (and a few others here) attended, at least one parent had to be a Christian.

Strange, considering I seem to remember it being mentioned in the phorum that a few students themselves were openly non-Christian, perhaps even anti-Christian (which would seem to indicate that that requirement does not apply to the students themselves.)  Or did I misunderstand what I read?

[Vlad!]

Strange, considering I seem to remember it being mentioned in the phorum that a few students themselves were openly non-Christian, perhaps even anti-Christian (which would seem to indicate that that requirement does not apply to the students themselves.)  Or did I misunderstand what I read?

The students are not required to be Christians. Only one parent (this is my recollection, and I graduated three years ago. It may have changed since then).

I do know that in many states, restaurants cannot even refuse to employ someone for the reason that glog is HIV-positive (which is very controversial for obvious reasons.)

Note that employment is different from service. There are indeed a number of anti-discrimination laws in effect for employment (the usefulness or necessity of which is certiainly open for debate), but as for the clientelle I think an establishment has a lot more freedom.

[oneafroboy]

I assume most Christians schools are like my Christian school. There are certain applicant requirements. My high school is the same as the one described. One parent must be a church-attending Christian. In fact, technically you're supposed to have a letter of recommendation from your pastor and proof of membership at a church for that parent to enroll.

It's not like they're judging based on something someone can't change (like ethnicity, race, disability), but rather a lifestyle choice (not the attraction, but the choice to be in a homosexual relationship).

Not that I am defending it. Rather, I am just trying to look at with less of a "oh-my-gosh-how-could-they-do-that?!" reaction.

I personally do think a private school has a right to do something like this (regardless of the ethics of this decision, much like a person has a right to be in the KKK). But anyone is more than welcome to try to convince me otherwise.  

[bethany]

Don't most restaurants/businesses have a little sign that says "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone"? I would think that there is a fair amount of leeway in choosing to serve someone. Granted it's probably more for the purposes of those who are inebriated yet still asking for alcoholic beverages, or people who are causing a disturbance, etc., than for people of a certain sexual orientation, but the precedent is still there.

At the Christian school I attended, at least one parent (perhaps it was even two...?) and the kid had to sign something saying they were Christians. I don't necessarily agree with the logic, but I do agree that as a private institution, it's their perogative to limit who they take in.  

[Vlad!]

Don't most restaurants/businesses have a little sign that says "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone"?

I haven't seen signs like this, but I haven't really been looking, either.

 

[bethany]

I haven't seen signs like this, but I haven't really been looking, either.

I don't see them everywhere, but I have seen them fairly frequently in privately-owned businesses.

[RokrantheGreat]

Hmmm my thoughts are that 1) it's not the kids fault that her parents are homosexuals and 2) the Christian school should be doing it's best to show her that that lifestyle is not a godly one and show her the way to salvation - as they should do with any child at their school. I did not read the full article... is there problem that she would be a bad influence? Or just rank prejudice?

[bloop]

I can understand their position a bit more seeing as if they're indoctrinating the child one way, and the parents are indoctrinating in a different direction, conflict between the parent and the school could very easily erupt and get out of hand.