Religion
Related: About this forumPrayer to be sung at preschoolers to skirt rule
Published Online: October 1, 2012
WEST FORK, Ark. (AP) A northwest Arkansas lawmaker says children at a preschool he owns will sing a prayer song before lunch instead of reciting a spoken prayer to skirt a new rule that prohibits religious activity in state-funded preschools.
"It just dawned on me that, well, we could sing our prayer," Harris, a Republican, told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (http://bit.ly/SMI1vb). "We have a song that's a prayer, and that's what we're going to use before we eat."
That way the preschool, Growing God's Kingdom in West Fork, will be in compliance with the new rule that goes into effect Oct. 26. It bans religious activities at preschools that receive funds from the Arkansas Better Chance Program, a state-funded preschool program for low-income families.
"If he continues to do that, he will lose his funding, if he wants to push it," said state Rep. Johnnie Roebuck, D-Arkadelphia. "Mr. Harris is using this, I think, as a political ploy, wanting to get some airtime for it. I think it's unconscionable to use those children in that way."
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/09/29/553558rsingingprayers_ap.html
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cbayer
(146,218 posts)That's going to be news to a lot of Jews.
rug
(82,333 posts)cbayer
(146,218 posts)Yea, that's it. It's part of their overall education.
Response to cbayer (Reply #4)
KansDem This message was self-deleted by its author.
KansDem
(28,498 posts)rug
(82,333 posts)nichomachus
(12,754 posts)Their whole liturgies -- except for the sermon -- are sung.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)WOW,it is idiots like this,that give Arkansas the reputation of being full of ignorant hicks!!
My fellow DU'ers please understand that Mr. Harris is NOT representative of the way all Arkansans think!!!
Especially here in Northwest Ar. There is quite a large body of liberal independents and democrats!!
We are a college town,so I think that lends itself to more open ideas.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)I have been all over Arkansas and love many parts of it, but some parts are scary.
ButterflyBlood
(12,644 posts)Even Bill Clinton wasn't able to win it.
Even though Fayetteville is largely liberal,we are surrounded by a whole different mindset!!!
bongbong
(5,436 posts)Those damn socialist right-wing fundies, taking gov't handout money.