Remember the school that "banned the Declaration of Independence"?

[UdoKier]

As many DUers correctly inferred, there was more to the story. A lot more.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/12/08/MNGPBA8DPL1.DTL

Battle over God in U.S. history class
Cupertino teacher sues to tell role of Christianity

Joe Garofoli, Chronicle Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 8, 2004

Stephen Williams wants to teach his fifth-graders at a Cupertino public school all about Christianity's role in America's founding -- an effort that has opened a blue state-red state divide smack in the middle of the blue Bay Area.

Williams, a self-described "orthodox Christian," ran afoul of school administrators -- and several parents of his students at Stevens Creek Elementary School -- when he backed up his contention that religion was central to the Founding Fathers by passing out historical documents to supplement the district-approved curriculum.



Some parents said Williams crossed the line into evangelizing, and they complained.

"My daughter came home one day and said, 'Mr. Williams talks about Jesus 100 times a day,' " said Mike Zimmers, whose daughter was Williams' student last year and began complaining on the second day of school. "She's adored every teacher she had until then."

[Trajan]

1. Jesus this .... Jesus that ....

THAT is what learnin is ALL about : Right ? ...

The dreaded 'Madrassas' were schools that consisted of and taught ONE field of study : Quran .... ALL day ... Quran, Quran, Quran ....

One might think that a school in the US that taught ONLY the bible would be praised (by some) to high heaven ....

[intheflow]

3. It's all heresay what Jesus said.

Jesus never wrote anything down.

[xchrom]

2. there are more of these characters

out there.
and it's pathetic.
the worst ones serve on school boards and hide their agendas while running.
perhaps, with some luck, this character can be sacked.

[Solly Mack]

4. If he wants to preach he should change professions

If he wants to teach, he needs to know the difference.

[fishface]

5. That was just more rwing hysteria unsupported by facts.,

Dumb bastards will believe any kind of pablum Rush and Handjob Haniity tells them.

[Ian David]

7. When Fundies Attack

eclaration of Independence Banned from Classroom Print This Page
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Release Date: 2004-12-06
Primary Category: Religious Freedom


National media will be interviewing ADF representatives during the next several days regarding a California School District's attempt to ban the Declaration of Independence from the classroom.

“ADF will continue to defend Christian teachers against discrimination by public school officials and will oppose historical revisionism that attempts to eradicate America’s religious heritage,” said ADF Senior Counsel Gary McCaleb.

ADF Media Appearances Wednesday, December 8
Hannity & Colmes - Fox News Channel
Stephen Williams and ADF attorney Jordan Lorence will appear live in front of an audience of several thousand in Northern California.
Airs 9 p.m. EST

Thursday, December 9
Good Morning America - ABC
Stephen Williams and ADF attorney Jordan Lorence will sit down for an interview with Diane Sawyer and Charlie Gibson.
Airs 7 a.m. (all time zones)


http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/story/?id=559

[gratuitous]

10. And bang, bang, bang

They're on show after show, all over the networks and cable! Yet, when we're looking for a responsible opposing viewpoint, it's Al Sharpton or nothing. Where's John Shelby Spong? Tony Campolo? Why aren't they booked on these shows that are so dedicated to the high-minded ideals of fairness and balance?

[bluestateguy]

6. He should take his red state bullshit to Alabama where it belongs

It is not welcome in the Blue bay area.

[Ian David]

8. Dropping the ball

I passed this along to The ACLU and to Americans United for The Separation of Church and State a while back, but it doesn't look they've published a statement on this yet.

Can you believe there are fundies that buy this crap?

[Taxloss]

9. Two excellent blog posts on why this story is rubbish:

http://seetheforest.blogspot.com/2004_11_01_seetheforest_archive.html#110133195504235536

And:

http://seetheforest.blogspot.com/2004_12_01_seetheforest_archive.html#110229700838969477

Loads of links and resources. And the story is totally bogus; a teacher was proselytising and handing out his own materials in class.

NB, that's not my blog or a blog I have any connection to, so I'm not spamming.