American Taliban: Christian school tells student to skip prom

[TWiley]

FINDLAY, Ohio – A student at a fundamentalist Baptist school that forbids dancing, rock music, hand-holding and kissing will be suspended if he takes his girlfriend to her public high school prom, his principal said.

Despite the warning, 17-year-old Tyler Frost, who has never been to a dance before, said he plans to attend Findlay High School's prom Saturday.

Frost, a senior at Heritage Christian School in northwest Ohio, agreed to the school's rules when he signed a statement of cooperation at the beginning of the year, principal Tim England said.

The teen, who is scheduled to receive his diploma May 24, would be suspended from classes and receive an "incomplete" on remaining assignments, England said. Frost also would not be permitted to attend graduation but would get a diploma once he completes final exams. If Frost is involved with alcohol or sex at the prom, he will be expelled, England said.

Frost's stepfather Stephan Johnson said the school's rules should not apply outside the classroom.

"He deserves to wear that cap and gown," Johnson said.

Frost said he thought he had handled the situation properly. Findlay requires students from other schools attending the prom to get a signature from their principal, which Frost did.

"I expected a short lecture about making the right decisions and not doing something stupid," Frost said. "I thought I would get his signature and that would be the end."

England acknowledged signing the form but warned Frost there would be consequences if he attended the dance. England then took the issue to a school committee made up of church members, who decided to threaten Frost with suspension.

"In life, we constantly make decisions whether we are going to please self or please God. (Frost) chose one path, and the school committee chose the other," England said.

The handbook for the 84-student Christian school says rock music "is part of the counterculture which seeks to implant seeds of rebellion in young people's hearts and minds."

England said Frost's family should not be surprised by the school's position.

"For the parents to claim any injustice regarding this issue is at best forgetful and at worst disingenuous," he said. "It is our hope that the student and his parents will abide by the policies they have already agreed to."

The principal at Findlay High School, whose graduates include Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, said he respects, but does not agree with, Heritage Christian School's view of prom.

"I don't see (dancing and rock music) as immoral acts," Craig Kupferberg said.

Link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090508/ap_on_re_us/us_school_dance_flap

[onager]

1. More of that good ol' Xian humility...

"In life, we constantly make decisions whether we are going to please self or please God. (Frost) chose one path, and the school committee chose the other," England said.

IOW, student chose path of damnation. But we the school committee chose GAWD!

And these people call atheists "arrogant."

[TWiley]

3. No kissing allowed ..... go straight to humping. To the farmer, it is all about procreation

[AllentownJake]

2. Why are they keeping Kevin Bacon down

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX38dNneIiU

[blue sky at night]

4. Sorry for Baptists....

they live in a strange world....one where they try to hide from reality. Telling kids that they can't do this and can't do that on the little things...that is what foments rebellion. This reminds me of many instances of children raised this way going nuts once they get away from parental authority. My friends who home-schooled their Son until Middle School suffered the embarrassment of him getting caught having sex with his girlfriend at the High School, nice lack of judgment son. Once someone is eighteen, they can and will make their own decisions...and guess what Baptists; they for sure are going to disagree with a lot of what you "taught" them. Perhaps this one rebel will open the eyes of his classmates to what a crock trying to hide from the world does to you.

[onager]

6. My SoB upbringing was nothing like that.

And I was raised in Lower Appalachia. About 15 miles from where Deliverance was partly filmed.

Our Southern Baptist (SoB) church held parties for kids and teen-agers frequently. All the "mainstream" local churches did, like the Methodists.

I guess we must have been Southern Baptist Lite or something. My family attended a church that had been in business since 1857. (Full disclosure: I have been a happy atheist for many years.)

[msongs]

5. wanna bet that "school" will keep ALL the money the family paid it? nt