| Subject: Re: Ya Gotta Love Those “Christians”! |
Author:
Vicki
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Date Posted: 21:46:58 08/19/03 Tue
In reply to:
Karen
's message, "Ya Gotta Love Those “Christians”!" on 10:14:01 08/19/03 Tue
>Christian: \Chris"tian\, adj. Characteristic of
>Christian people; civilized; kind; kindly; gentle;
>beneficent.
>
>DISCLAIMER: Not every private school parent at last
>night’s School Committee meeting behaved badly and
>un-Christian-like, but there were certainly plenty who
>did.
>
>One would think that when a parent CHOOSES to send his
>or her child to private school it is for the religious
>beliefs as well as the education. In fact, most
>private schools in the area are religion-based. “St.”
>Patrick’s, Central “Catholic”, “Bishop” Guertin, all
>have a common theme—they include religion not only in
>their titles, but also in their teachings. One would
>also think that religion and Christianity is a major
>part of these parents’ lives, else parochial school
>would not be as important to them as it obviously is.
>If their behavior last night is any indication, then
>they are not adhering to those Christian beliefs.
>
>I was one of a handful of public school parents at
>last night’s School Committee meeting and was
>absolutely appalled by the behavior of these so-called
>“Christian” private school parents. Intimidation,
>threats, belittling comments, rudely interrupting,
>heckling, and best of all, yelling “OH SHUT UP!” to a
>person with a differing viewpoint. You kiss your
>private school child with that mouth?
>
>The tone was set immediately by the sheer number of
>private school parents who showed up at the school.
>(Gee, how many of them have EVER gone to Town
>Meeting?) Their sole intent was to intimidate the
>School Committee into changing their decision of
>discontinuing private school busing. This tone
>continued with the first speaker, a Ms. DeCastro, who
>labeled the School Committee as “despicable” and
>“irresponsible” and threatened that all her relatives
>would soon vote them out of office.
>
>When Mr. Campbell informed the audience that the
>School Committee had worked for 5 weeks and came up
>with what they thought was an equitable solution ($150
>user fee/person; $300 max/family) that was not good
>enough. Time after time private school parents spoke
>and not once did anyone interrupt them or say anything
>rude to them. However, this was not the case when Ms.
>Hayward spoke in favor of the School Committee’s
>decision. Private school parents interrupted her from
>the audience, yelled out rude comments, and disputed
>everything she said. Ms. Hayward was not given the
>same courtesy these so-called “Christian” parents
>afforded their counterparts.
>
>The “Christian” private school parents had tolerance
>only for those with the same viewpoint and would only
>listen to those who said what they wanted to hear. If
>this is what is learned in religious private schools,
>I’ll gladly be an agnostic and a public school parent.
>
>Ms. Paquette said it well. Her job as a School
>Committee member is to provide services for the PUBLIC
>SCHOOLS. Private school students can take the public
>school buses all over Dracut if they wish. When they
>CHOOSE to go OUT OF DISTRICT is when the fees arise.
>Taxes pay for PUBLIC services within the town—fire,
>police, schools, and elderly services, to name a few.
>Taxes DO NOT pay for PRIVATE services. The private
>school parents should realize how fortunate they are
>that the School Committee was willing to work with
>them on this matter. Do they see any other town in
>the area that provides transportation OUT OF DISTRICT
>to private school children, even for a fee? It
>doesn’t happen anywhere.
>
>Educating one child costs $6450 per year. Average
>taxes are $3000 per year and they include ALL town
>services. You do the math. The attitude that private
>school children are “entitled” to be bused out of
>district because they somehow “save” the town money is
>ridiculous. Oh that’s right, private school parents
>never call the cops, use town hall, parks or the
>library, drive on the streets and throw out trash. I
>forgot. Why again do you live in this town and not in
>the one that houses your private school?
>
>I have some questions for the private school parents:
>
>1. How do your children get to Lowell private schools
>in August, when the Lowell school system begins? Do
>the parents—GASP!!—make OTHER ARRANGEMENTS?
>2. How do NH private school students get to school
>during vacation weeks? Do the parents—GASP!!—make
>OTHER ARRANGEMENTS?
>3. What if your child had chosen a PUBLIC school in
>Westford? (because, you know, there is school choice)
>Would you expect the Dracut School System to bus your
>child?
>
>What it all boils down to is CHOICE. Parents who
>utilize private schools CHOOSE to go outside the
>system, therefore they are not entitled to the EXTRA
>services that the system does not cover.
Since the post to which I am responding began with a quote, permit me to do the same....
" ....on the day of judgement, people will render an account for every careless word they speak. By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." This is from the Bible in the New Testament, the Book of Matthew verses 13:36-37.
I will be judged by my deeds and my words NOT by someone who is clearly only trying to strike out in spite. I resent being judged by someone that clearly does not understand the meaning of community - whether it be Christian, Catholic, Muslim, Jewish, agnostic or pagan.
I am confused.... you say some parents were 'un-Christian-like'. What exactly is your criteria to judge? A definition from a dictionary???
From the moment the parents of Dracut parochial school students first organized, we were united in the belief that this was a DRACUT issue NOT just an issue that affected a percentage of residents. Don Plummer's extensive presentation is representative of exactly that point. We were adamant that we did not want to divide the town into public vs. parochial. HOWEVER, it was made abundantly clear that was exactly how many people felt. How sad for our community and our children!!! My heart still aches when I recall Ms Hayward's cry that 'public school students must come first!'
Ms Hayward was 'disputed' when she stated something that was and is TOTALLY untrue!! The Pelham Schools DO indeed transport Pelham children to SAINT Patrick's that are in grades 1 through 8. Children that attend kindergarten at SAINT Patrick's are not bussed because Pelham NH does not have public kindergarten. Also, by the way, the COMMUNITY of Pelham also subsidizes - with their tax dollars - the lunch program for SAINT Patrick's as well as text books and the school nurse. I guess that is a benefit of belonging to a small town COMMUNITY!!! Ms Hayward was NOT disputed she was CORRECTED. I invite verification of this and then perhaps someone would like to civily, kindly,gently, beneficently and publicly state the TRUTH!
Also, you ask me if I kiss my child with my 'Christian mouth'??? HOW DARE YOU!!???? What I/we do with our children is OUR business - it has certainly been made abundantly clear!! This remark is unconscionable!! And, enrages me!!! Do NOT judge me!!! I myself heard disparaging remarks from BOTH sides.
Why do you keep using this word Christian? Where does that come from? The town has used the term private. I use the term parochial and many use the term Catholic but Christian??? That is yours and yours alone... and since you evidently had to look the word up in the dictionary perhaps you're confused?
Also, I have gone to many town meetings. I don't see what that has to do with this issue except to inflame and harrass. I can say though that I am QUITE sure the Dracut Town Meeting was NOT what the patriots had in mind while fighting and dying in Lexington and Bunker Hill. Isn't our government founded on the premise that we are all created equal??? What about the freedom of speech?? We are critized for going to the School Committee meeting en masse - isn't that what we're supposed do - as has been accorded to us by the hundreds of thousands of men and women that have died for our freedom? You want us at the town meeting but not at the school committee meeting? I don't understand??? The last time I voted I was NOT asked where my children went to school. AND!!! promising to give OR withhold your vote is a RIGHT given to all of us - it is the American way!!! Just ask the unions, the NRA and any other special interest group!! Have you ever noticed every politician running for president talks about Social Security?? Do you know why?? Because social security affects senior citizens and senior citizens vote!!! WAKE UP!!! You want the right associated with being American to only apply to YOU???? So, you want to know when the last time any of 'us' was at a town meeting??? IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!! We CHOOSE to go to the town meeting or NOT to go to the town meeting!! It is our right just like it is our right to CHOOSE to send our children to parochial school. I do not and NEVER would ask you when you went to Church last....
You have labeled me a 'Christian'. I correct you - I am a Catholic! A Roman Catholic and proud of it. I have conviction. I have faith. I will NOT tolerate judgemental attacks from someone that doesn't know me. Your disclaimer is a feeble, pathetic and a lame half-hearted attempt. My religion and bussing issues are NOT related and should NOT be used in such a heinous and petty manner.
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