School orders families to sign "biblical morality pledge".

[Zottistan]

Link.

The letter.

A Christian private school in Wilmington, NC has announced that it has adopted a so-called “Biblical Morality Policy” that allows the school to expel or refuse to admit LGBT children or children from families with LGBT members. According to Salon.com, the letter was written by Myrtle Grove Christian School President J. Stacy Miller.

The letter (embedded here) begins by evoking the childhood game “Duck Duck Goose.”

“Do you remember playing circle games like ‘Duck Duck Goose’ in elementary school?” Miller asked. “In order to form a circle, we would gather in close together, hold hands, and then back up away from the center” and form a circle.

“If we move to far from the center, we can’t hold hands anymore,” the principal warned.

He went on to say that all families with children at Myrtle Grove must sign the “Biblical Morality Policy,” swearing not to participate in, support or affirm “sexual immorality, homosexual activity, or bisexual activity; promoting such practices; or being unable to support the moral principles of the school.”

Compliance with the anti-LGBT policy will enable the school, he said, will help “students to develop a biblical understanding of morality and to pursue a life that is governed by the biblical moral code.”

“For this reason,” said Miller, “the school reserves the right, within its sole discretion, to refuse admission of an applicant or to discontinue enrollment of a student if the atmosphere or conduct within a particular home or the activities of the student are counter to or are in opposition to the biblical lifestyle the school teaches.”

Salon noted that in spite of the exclusionary policy, Myrtle Grove will still be eligible for taxpayer-funded government subsidies in 2014.

To sum up, a private school in North Carolina has adopted a policy that allows them to expel or refuse to admit sexual and gender minority students, or students from families with sexual and gender minority members. Their reasoning? Bible quotes and a terribly put-together metaphor about duck-duck-goose.

Honestly, isn't this illegal? Are private schools exempt from the Civil Rights Act? They shouldn't be. And isn't the school continuing to be open to government subsidies blatantly unconstitutional?

[Dreadful Sagittarius]

I see no problem with this, provided they're stripped of all government funding immediately. Why on earth should private schools, especially ones aimed at religious indoctrination, qualify for such?

Also, I hope their uniforms don't mix two types of fabric and that female staff and students keep their hair covered at all time, and detention is replaced with stonings. After all, if you're going biblical you may as well go all the way.

[Kushtor]

The morality of an ancient tribe of filthy ululating savages is no morality at all.

[Korencia]

God, people can be so stupid.

Take away funds from them and close the fucking school.

[Cameroi]

i see one problem with it. even if it did not violate seperation of church and state, it would be itself an immoral act.

however, what country did you say this was in? perhaps it is one which does not claim to make such a distinction. some sort of religious oligarchy perhaps?

[Zottistan]

i see one problem with it. even if it did not violate seperation of church and state, it would be itself an immoral act.

however, what country did you say this was in? perhaps it is one which does not claim to make such a distinction. some sort of religious oligarchy perhaps?

I get the feeling this is a joke I'm missing, but it's in the US. It's in North Carolina.

[Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States]

It's a quite fun legal trick, I think. By agreeing with this document, the parents would lose all ability to challenge anything the school says.

For this reason, the school reserves the right, within its sole discretion, to refuse admission of an applicant or to discontinue enrollment of a student if the atmosphere or conduct within a particular home or the activities of the students are counter or are in opposition to the biblical lifestyle the school teaches. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, participating in, supporting, or affirming sexual immorality, homosexual activity, or bisexual activity; promoting such practices, or being unable to support the moral principles of the school.

Basically, if you or your child does anything that can be considered wrong by any interpretation of the bible, we can sack your kid. Even if it's just a vague reference. If the school doesn't like a kid, they can claim they don't approve of his wearing of mixed garments (like someone said above). Now, it's not as bad as a nation adopting such a law, because the kids can find other schools, but this is just a rule that dissolves all the parents' possible legs to stand on, if they don't agree with the school. It's a really, really smart move of the school. They just can be sued anymore, if the parents agree to this new rule.

Of course, any sane judge would strike this down as soon as he laid eyes on it, but you never now. These Christian communities are strange places indeed.

[Soheran]

Honestly, isn't this illegal? Are private schools exempt from the Civil Rights Act? They shouldn't be. And isn't the school continuing to be open to government subsidies blatantly unconstitutional?

If the school receives federal funding, it's subject to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits race discrimination. There is no federal law explicitly prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Nor does North Carolina have any such law, and even if it did, it probably would not apply to a religious private school's internal policies. So this is probably perfectly legal.

[Cameroi]

i see one problem with it. even if it did not violate seperation of church and state, it would be itself an immoral act.

however, what country did you say this was in? perhaps it is one which does not claim to make such a distinction. some sort of religious oligarchy perhaps?

I get the feeling this is a joke I'm missing, but it's in the US. It's in North Carolina.

well in this case its in violation of everything and someone responsible needs to go to jail for a very long time for having done it.

[New Socialist South Africa]

I feel sorry for the majority of christians who find this nonsense equally ridiculous, these close minded lunatics give them a bad name they don't deserve. Honestly this is ridiculous, close minded and discriminatory. This makes me genuinely happy to be an agnostic.

EDIT: I'm also happy I live in South Africa, far away from these lunatics. All families in the area of the school that care about freedom of choice and expression should boycott this school in protest for thei absurd and small minded discriminatory requirements.

[Kilobugya]

Yet another example of why private schools shouldn't exist...

[Olivaero]

Holy shit I can't believe such discrimination is legal. This is so alien to me i don't even....

[Lies and Ignorance]

Yet another example of why private schools shouldn't exist...

Not necessarily that they shouldn't exist, just that if they're going to exist they might as well be something more constructive then just, "You pay us, we educate your children outside the scope of Federal and state laws!" Such praxis is just destined for trouble.

E: I guess scope isn't such a good word, they would prefer "suffocating grip" since they complain about their religion being infringed when people dare to exist and be gay at the same time.

[Fascist Russian Empire]

How is this Constitutionally legal? Private religious schools practicing their religion is one thing; openly discriminating against homosexuals is something entirely different. That school needs to have some serious legal action taken against it.

[Lemanrussland]

They should be stripped of state support and accreditation.

[Jormengand]

How is this Constitutionally legal? Private religious schools practicing their religion is one thing; openly discriminating against homosexuals is something entirely different.

Something entirely different which is still not actually prohibited by the constitution, nor any state laws.

[Lies and Ignorance]

They should be stripped of state support and accreditation.

Agreed. If private schools aren't going to play by the rules they can be kicked out of the game. ^_^

[Benuty]

Thought this was a public school when I first read the title...change it please.

[Lemanrussland]

How is this Constitutionally legal? Private religious schools practicing their religion is one thing; openly discriminating against homosexuals is something entirely different.

Something entirely different which is still not actually prohibited by the constitution, nor any state laws.

I'm pretty sure he's talking about the subsidies to the school.

While SCOTUS has ruled that school vouchers can be redeemed at accredited schools even if they are religious (as it is entirely up to the student what school they would wish to go to, and it does not advance any particular religion), I feel direct subsidies to a religious school does qualify as the advancement of a particular religion.

It fails the Lemon test in my view, which is as follows:

The government program/action...
(1) Must have a secular purpose.
(2) Must have a principal or primary effect that does not advance or inhibit religion.
(3) Cannot foster an excessive government entanglement with religion.

Specifically the second part, and to a lesser extent the third.

[Zottistan]

Thought this was a public school when I first read the title...change it please.

I tried, it's too long.

[Conservative Conservationists]

They should be stripped of state support and accreditation.

Agreed. If private schools aren't going to play by the rules they can be kicked out of the game. ^_^

Why?
Accreditation for schools relates to what is taught. As long as they are meeting curriculum demands, it is legitimate.
I would not support tax dollars going to the school, but if people want to waste their own funds, it is their own choice.

[Benuty]

Thought this was a public school when I first read the title...change it please.

I tried, it's too long.

Damn word limit.

[Scinan]

It's very difficult for me, sometimes, to look at things like this and not feel like there's some kind of Christian conspiracy to defund secular public schools while rerouting funds to and-we-use-the-term-loosely 'private' theological schools to create an environment where children are either inadequately educated or totally indoctrinated.

If they are receiving public funding /they should not be regarded as a private institution/, and /must/ be subject to the rules governing disbursement of public funds. If they don't want to play by those rules, they should not receive the funding. If they are in fact receiving public funding /and/ pulling shit like this, someone is being fraudulent and subversive and should be stripped entirely of the authority they obviously can't be trusted with.

[Havenburgh]

The schools are private. They don't have to abide by any government stuff. This, I find it as bloody bull.

[Lemanrussland]

Agreed. If private schools aren't going to play by the rules they can be kicked out of the game. ^_^

Why?
Accreditation for schools relates to what is taught. As long as they are meeting curriculum demands, it is legitimate.
I would not support tax dollars going to the school, but if people want to waste their own funds, it is their own choice.

Well, perhaps not accreditation under current law (although, I feel showing respect and giving certain civil rights to students should be a required part of accreditation), but at the very least the subsidies should be suspended.