Are public schools anti-Christian?

Dori writes...

Last week, I talked with the parent of a Seattle Public School student - the mom was very upset about the school's field trip to see the Dalai Lama. She felt that the public schools would never facilitate kids going to a Christian spiritual leader - like the pope - like they did the Buddhist spiritual leader - the Dalai Lama.

That seemed to be confirmed on Monday when KIRO-TV's Essex Porter saw Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson at a Dalai Lama event and had the following exchange:

PORTER: Would the Superintendent of Public Instruction urge schools to bring kids to the Pope?

BERGESON: Well, I probably couldn't get away with that as the Pope, Essex. But the Dalai Lama is a man of the whole world.

The Dalai Lama is a man of the whole world but the Pope is not? Isn't there a universality to both of their messages that is relevant to people of all faiths?

I'm neither Buddhist nor Catholic - but I do respect both the Dalai Lama and the Pope as good men with valid messages. If the schools embrace one, why wouldn't they embrace the other?

UPDATE: Here is the audio of my interview this afternoon with Terry Bergeson. She explains why - in her view - it's acceptable for public school kids to go see the Dalai Lama... but not the Pope. Despite her explanation, I fail to see the distinction.

listen >

Tough Questions for Terry Bergeson
Dori's one-on-one interview with Washington State's Superintendent of Public Instruction.

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Linda (1) wrote...

Of COURSE the Public Schools Are Anti-Christian

Prayer is not allowed in schools, at sporting events or at graduation. If you are muslim, your are allowed to have your prayer time in the Seattle Public Schools, you cannot say Christmas in the public school, you cannot do anything that remotely looks like Christianity - but ANYTHING else.....they are all over it like flies on flypaper.

April 16, 2008 11:10 am

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Ex Libris wrote...

Archbishop Desmond Tutu was there ...

... just because they had to settle for a Primate of the Anglican Church instead of the Pope himself I'm not sure that's a reason to get terribly upset. Is Archbishop Tutu not Christian enough to provide balance for the Dalai Lama? Or does 1 Archbishop not equal 1 Lama? What's the conversion ratio? Or is the real issue that we need an exclusively Christian presentation instead of a mixed Christian/Buddhist presentation?

April 16, 2008 12:11 pm

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Josh in Puyallup wrote...

Yes, there is a bias

I think because that the majority of people in America are Christian, the bias comes from the liberals who seek to make it an even playing field. They believe that the minority religions need help to stand out among the majority. If Christianity taught to kill all those who oppose them, they would get more respect. We are taught to love one another, turn the other check, ect. and thus are easy targets.

April 16, 2008 12:42 pm

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Ex Libris wrote...

Is Josh Really JC?

Joshers - His Eminence the Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Primate of the Anglican Church of South Africa, Rector of Saint Mary's Cathedral and Trustee of the Communion of Jesus Christ appeared with the Dalai Lama in Seattle. Was Tutu just not Christian enough for you? I'm left to wonder who, short of Jesus himself, would have met your apparently very high standards. was just not an acceptable Christian to provide balance by co-appearing with the Dalai Lama in Seattle? Josh, I'm left to wonder what Christian, short of Jesus himself, would have met your standards?

April 16, 2008 1:06 pm

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RatCity wrote...

Re: Archbishop Desmond Tutu was there ...

I think a real Christian presentation would have to be exclusively by a Christian. A mixed Buddhist/Christian presentation would be very in contrary. You can argue they both have a message of love and compassion, but I think that's a very generic view. Dalai Lama's claim to be buddhist masters who have chosen of their own free will to be reborn to this plane in order to teach humanity. God proclaims that there is only one mediator between man and God, and that is Jesus Christ. God and Christ as one claim the righteous do not bargain or make treaties with the unrighteous. Pray for them, teach to them yes, but don't comprimise your faith for them. I think both types of spiritual leaders trying to mix their beliefs into a single message would be doing both their faiths a disservice. If one person compromises their faith to make room for another, how seriously did they ever take their faith to begin with? God's Word doesn't exsist so we can change it around to suit us they way we want it to. But it's just my point view..

April 16, 2008 1:19 pm

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Ex Libris wrote...

lol

Yes, definitely. There's absolutely no way to have a serious and contemplative dialog in an integrated setting. Total segregation is the answer. While we're segregating religions, let's get those black and white kids split apart too. And maybe we could look at special drinking fountains too. Sounds like they're damned if they do, damned if they don't. They had a Christian and a Buddhist present and they're getting lambasted for compromising religion by those who realized Tutu was there. When they have only a Buddhist or only a Christian they get lambasted for presenting only one side and showing bias, as evidenced by those who weren't aware that a major Christian figure was co-presenting with the Lama. If they let 2 Nobel Prize winners (Archbishop Tutu and the Dalai Lama) come to town and refuse to let students attend at all they get lambasted for refusing students the opportunity to see two living, historic figures. Maybe the solution is just to have one big school in Ritzville where all the state's students go and study nothing but auto-shop. (That said, Terry Bergeson is a dolt.)

April 16, 2008 1:35 pm

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Ex Libris wrote...

BTW - the Central Party Planning Committee of the People's Republic Loves You All

The Red Chinese love to hear people pile on the Dalai Lama. Keep rubbing your precious little mouths into the ChiCom's hands, let the feeding continue. The Red Chinese already own all of America, pray they don't start converting their dollar currency or cashing in their Treasury securities and cause the instant bankruptcy of the United States - is that why everyone is so anti-Dali? Running scared and sobbing, trying desperately to appease the thugs of the Red Chinese police state by supporting them in their quest against one of only two groups (the Dalai Sect and Taiwan's National Front) to have the audacity to stand-up to the global spread of their pseudo-socialism.

April 16, 2008 1:42 pm

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RatCity wrote...

students go and study nothing but auto-shop

I like that idea, mechanics are charging to much per hour as is, we need more mechanics in the field to get the price down.

April 16, 2008 1:51 pm

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ms murf wrote...

Schools are of the world--it's impossible for them to be Christian

I'm a Christian. the bible commands me to be salt and light in the world. The school is part of that world--its not part of the church. The school can do what it wants--it should not be trying to teach of promote Christianity--if it exposed my child to a different religion it would not matter to me. My God is greater than that.

April 16, 2008 3:12 pm

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Johan In Burien wrote...

Prayer in Public Schools

First I want to respond to Linda's post. Prayer in public schools has never been banned. I say grace before every meal (I am a Catholic) and I went to public school. It is my constitutional right to practice my religion so long as that practice does not infringe on anyone else. There are lots of ways children can and do pray in public schools. I believe the ACLU publishes a pamphlet detailing all the ways in which prayer is allowed in public schools. What is banned is someone from the public school (like a teacher or principal) or an organized prayer (like at an assembly) where the students are led in prayer. That should be banned. The school has no place teaching or leading students in prayer. That's the job of parents. See the difference?

April 16, 2008 6:48 pm

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