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Today’s Blog Post
Health and Physical Education Curriculum for Grades 1-8… YIKES
Dare I stand up and oppose the Catholic Church? Or worse yet, stand to object to the stance taken by the Religious Right – which the Press generally throws all Evangelicals into? Would you dare to state an opinion that differs from the strong stance that some are taking against the Government?
Dare I as a member of a Church that is within the extreme labelling, say something that they, the Church, would object to?
I am caught in a precarious spot as I suspect a number of Christians are. More often than not when any objections are raised or discussion ensued from the “church people” they risk the dangerous place of being relegated to “religious whackos” by the Press or the opposition in the community. The very term Religious Right has a connotation about it that results in a sting… a contempt from someone on the other side.
Now as a one time church leader, who still has some small say in what happens, I am doubtful that I can make strong statements without raising someone’s ire. As a Pastor of a Church at one time I knew that any radical stance that I might take would immediately be addressed by folk within the huddle – if they felt that it might obscure the message or image of the local church. Simply put, a local minister would do well to consider any “political” statements that could be conscribed as being anti anything.
My “Ministering neighbours” to the south of the Canadian Border are subject to far more scrutiny by outside authorities than Canadians. Within Canada it is our own folk that scrutinize what we say or do… or don’t say or do.
From within the church, try to stand up or against the Anti Abortion Folk(whatever their names appear locally). It is not a nice place to stand. There will be severe opposition to what you try to do against them.
The same is true with the newest regulations that have just hit our local press in Ontario.
If you haven’t read something about this the Links are provided below.
The Ontario Government has just flip flopped on a solid Government decision to incorporate Health and Physical Education Curriculum for Grades 1-8 at a much earlier stage within our school system. Beginning at a very early age, compared to times before, teachers would be taking into their classrooms the privilege and responsibility to teach kids their body parts, how to use them and the variety of ways that one should try to use them. They would be assuming parental responsibilities, normally reserved or assumed by the biological parents of the kids.
Mind you most teachers in our schools have a far greater input and more time with our kids than we as parents do and are more like parents than some of us are. What they say to our kids is powerful and we know it…maybe even more powerful than what we say in that we don’t have any time to spend with our kids and teach them what we want them to know… but object if anyone else does.
The Ontario Government has backed away from introducing the new curriculum this September 2010 to our school system. Apparently the opposition to what they were planning has been so strong from certain areas that even our brave Premier Dalton McGunity has said, “No way – I am out of here on this one!” Yesterday he announced that the Government will not introduce this in September, but will give it some more thought as to how and when it might come back.
In October there is a big election that possibly will change our political landscape all across Ontario. There are enough things that have made people angry in recent times to cause concern. Another big one that might sink a Government is plain nuts.
I need to consider some really important things as this issue has risen.
The first one is do I agree with the Religious Right and belong to what they say or do? Do they speak for me? Will I allow them to include me in their huddle?
At this stage I am not that sure to allow myself to be swept into the pack.
The second one is, have I thought through the arguments that are being presented by both sides? Do I really know what is being said? Is the information that is presented true or good from where I stand and what I know? Can I support either side? Why should I?
I am caught in the middle.
My commitment all along has been to pray for the Leadership that is in our Government. Now with the latest news flashing everywhere the Ridiculous Religious Right is in opposition to whatever the Government does – and I am labelled in that group.
The problem that I am having is that so many people do not come to church and are not any where near a church background. The folk that are objecting have nothing to do with the Ridiculous Religious Right or the Catholics. Yet they are lumped into the groups that object. The ridiculous other side has made it look that way.
There are many families that do not want their children being taught the personal things in their lives by a teacher that has no idea of what the family stands for. The morality issues require far more input than a teacher will have… and should have the parents complete input.
Certainly there are children from Family Based Homes in the class but they are not the only ones. There are dozens of families that have their children in the same class and that do not have any input into their children’s life at all.
The Government’s policy and the Education Policy that has been suggested, adopted and then backed away from is flawed in one major area in my mind. They assume that children all will be at the same stage each year. They assume by treating each kid equally that it will be taken care of that way. That isn’t what happens in the normal family. Each child is different – there are just too many factors to consider.
So I am against the Policy that was suggested by the Government and the Education policy People.
I am also against the Ridiculous Religious Right or anyone that lumps me into that group.
I am in between. I am trying to make sense of what is being said by everyone. Trying to make sense out of the community of highly sexually oriented people, that are super charged by media of all kinds, that are preying on my grandkids and their own sexuality; leaving me wonder why.
Take a look at an average evening of TV viewing and count the number of times something about sex or sexual things take place. Now add to that the entire day’s viewing. You will be stunned to see what is coming their way.
Go back 60 years ago and that wasn’t happening. Go back another 100 years and there was no affect or outside influence.
Yet Children back then were sexual beings as well… and arrived at a point of knowledge about these things without a lot of help. Sex was pretty natural – and has been for a long, long time. God created sex for me and you to enjoy and be apart of. It was His plan.
There was a corruption no doubt when fathers and mothers forgot what they should be doing. There were failures for sure. But the one thing that didn’t happen was – the Government never got involved. Ever!!!
So today as a result of the back off by our Premier, the confusion that the Education People are feeling, the short and small victory the Religious Right is claiming… I wonder who will help my grandkids understand their own awakening to the sexual things in their life?
I will continue to pray for my Government and all the 107 MPPs. I support them. I work with them. And I will share my ideas and feelings and reactions with them in a balanced way.
Not sure how to deal with the Ridiculous Religious Right? Maybe just stay away would be a good idea.
Sheesh!
~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/
Source:
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=2940873
http://southwesternontario.ctv.ca/news.php?id=7214
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