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WashMDJD
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Joined: 12 Feb 2008
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 Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 1:45 am Post subject: UC rejects Christian School classes for admissions |
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Hot damn!
The University of California has been getting some grief from Christian schools about their policy of not recognizing certain classes (literature, history, government, world religions, and biology) from certain private Christian schools in California, due to course content issues. Seems that the Christian schools' academic work in these courses wasn't up to snuff for UC - who'd have thunk it?
Anyway, a previous legal challenge to the rejection of the coursework by high schoolers when seeking admission had been dismissed, and a new challenge to the policy was just upheld by a California federal district court.
The court said, "Defendants necessarily facilitate some viewpoints over others in judging the excellence of those students applying to UC. Therefore, the decision to reject a course is constitutional as long as: (1) UC did not reject the course because of animus; and (2) UC had a rational basis for rejecting the course."
Here's to hoping that more universities start examining the content of private religious high school courses a little more closely - the door's open for them to reject coursework if it's not up to their standards for admission.
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/08/08/news/californian/murrieta/za3f1fe48ff6b8872882574a0000ff96d.txt
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baddogma
antitheist
Joined: 01 Feb 2006
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| Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 7:08 am Post subject: |
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There is hope.
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pr126
resident misanthrope
Joined: 03 Jan 2005
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Location: Londonistan
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Jason_Harvestdancer
WonderMod Powers ACTIVATE!
Joined: 23 Oct 2005
Posts: 2528
Local time: 2:22 PM
Location: Northern LA County, CA
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| Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 8:26 am Post subject: |
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This was actually a pretty clever attack on the part of the Christians, and I'm glad the judge saw through it and squashed it.
Having for years lost on the establishment clause - they failed to show that teaching evolution is an establishment of religion and the failed to show that teaching creationism isn't - they moved onto the free exercise clause with this one. They claimed that by not accepting the classes their free exercise was being violated.
It wasn't, and the judge said so, but it was an innovation on their part. Their legal tactics evolved.
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ShaSha
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Joined: 21 Oct 2003
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| Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:21 am Post subject: |
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PR, you worry too much about Islam in the USA. That second article is so slanted, I suggest you look for more resources. Jesus is allowed to be spoken in public schools and wearing crosses is also allowed. There are unfortunately some teachers and or school boards who misunderstand separation of church and state and do make a stink of some religiosity. That is personal ignorance and can and is challenged on lower levels such as school board meetings.
That CA is looking to educate people on Islam is good considering that this country is such a Xtian nation. For those who aren't allowed to view other religions as also valid from their family or church's view, this is a chance to give them another view. That other view could actually get them to think more freely about what god is and religion.
The UK has far greater problems with Islam so I understand your bias. Our country won't have that because of liberal states such as CA. |
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