[cajunator]

Glad I am not the only catholic with that opinion here.

Of course you aren't. Most people would find this idea to be stupid. People want to group ALL people who practice religion in the US as nutjobs. People can be religious and still have a firm grasp on reality and science. Actually, the more I learn about Science, the stronger my faith becomes.

[Technosteve]

I'm ok with this, less competition for my kids that will be taught by elite private schools.

[FACE]

Calculus runs contrary to my religious beliefs. As does the gym requirement. I'd like to be exempt, please.

The antichrist himself.

[Jibbajabbawockky]

I wonder how long until someone abuses the hell out of this? "My religion doesn't believe in math so I don't have to do this homework"

I would have loved that in my AP Calc class:

"But Jesus told me not to do my homework today!"

[ZeroRay]

I'll be deep in the cold, cold ground before I recognize Missourah.

[B-Dubs]

In my religion, there is no homework and there is no finals. I will back this up with vague bible quotes and create my own sub-sect of Christianity.

Dear god I thought you were Devo for a minute.

[Rockandrollclown]

Trying to find the silver lining, if you give religious kids the right to abstain from certain teachings, shouldn't that help do away with schools say refusing to teach evolution? I mean this way the school can teach evolution and the fundies would just excuse themselves.

[ZeroGravity]

Trying to find the silver lining, if you give religious kids the right to abstain from certain teachings, shouldn't that help do away with schools say refusing to teach evolution? I mean this way the school can teach evolution and the fundies would just excuse themselves.

Kind of defeats the purpose of schooling then.

[Famassu]

You don't have to worry about parents ruining the development of their children. Public education already has that covered.

It's mainly the parents' job to raise their children. Schools & teachers can only do so much. They can and should only SUPPORT the parents, but a teacher's main job is to TEACH, not to raise the children. If shitty parents have already ruined their children, how do you think public education has anything to do with it? It's the parents that are ruining children, not public education.

[cajunator]

Trying to find the silver lining, if you give religious kids the right to abstain from certain teachings, shouldn't that help do away with schools say refusing to teach evolution? I mean this way the school can teach evolution and the fundies would just excuse themselves.

Thats actually a good point.
The fundies already refuse to believe in it, so let them opt out if they so choose. However, I feel bad for kids whose parents can control what they learn. Not everybody believes what their parents believe. So This is still not a good idea in the long run.

[Mercury Fred]

If this goes through, all students should be able to opt out of any subject they don't want to take based on whatever made up shit they can come up with on the spot.

[Enron]

If this goes through, all students should be able to opt out of any subject they don't want to take based on whatever made up shit they can come up with on the spot.

Yeah, which is why this shit won't stand. Whoever wrote this probably already knew this was going to happen, and just figured the court would define it after a few challenges. But even that is a waste of time.

[-ImaginaryInsider]

I think the problem with this is that subjects like evolution is not a matter of "belief" but scientific fact. If the school was teaching things tat have no basis in fact then I would agree. Like a Religion class or something.

I do understand that point, but like I said, I think you can respect someones personal beliefs (right or wrong) and them still get a good education. My teachers respected my beliefs without giving me a free pass, and I made sure I worked harder for those teachers because of how I was treated.

[Choke on the Magic]

Thats actually a good point. The fundies already refuse to believe in it, so let them opt out if they so choose. However, I feel bad for kids whose parents can control what they learn. Not everybody believes what their parents believe. So This is still not a good idea in the long run.

Honestly though, if they don't like the public curriculum why don't they home school or send them to a religious school. There's no mandate forcing citizens to send their children to public schools. Freedom right? This law/amendment seems unnecessary.

[Bitmap Frogs]

I just can't understand it.

I've been trying, but I just can't get into their minds.

This is religious fundamentalism that's getting dangerously close to what you can observe on a theocracy.

These religious nuts step by step are turning parts of the United States into Iran.

[CharlieDigital]

This is religious fundamentalism that's getting dangerously close to what you can observe on a theocracy. These religious nuts step by step are turning parts of the United States into Iran.

Oh, the Irany.

Sorry, couldn't resist!

I didn't think the American public school system could fail its children anymore than it currently is.

Don't blame the public school system; blame the over-zealous parents and politicians who are trying their damnedest to keep their children in line with their religion.

[Foxy Fox 39]

I personally don't know any Christians who'd be OK with this.

[Pizarro]

Dear god I thought you were Devo for a minute.

Actually you can nevef be sure. This is pretty awesome actually.

[Steelrain]

Actually you can nevef be sure. This is pretty awesome actually.

What's awesome about it?

[Count Dookkake]

So gross.

Also, lol at the names for these schemes. "Right to pray," pfft.

[McLovin]

So.. what happens if they want to go to a good college later. Or even just regular school outside of Missouri?

[cajunator]

Honestly though, if they don't like the public curriculum why don't they home school or send them to a religious school. There's no mandate forcing citizens to send their children to public schools. Freedom right? This law/amendment seems unnecessary.

A lot of kids here get put into Private schooling. Thats always an option too.

[Choke on the Magic]

A lot of kids here get put into Private schooling. Thats always an option too.

Exactly. I live in Missouri. Went to private school and public school. This whole thing is bizarre to me.

[Hollywood Duo]

Strange that I went to a private catholic school and they taught us about all the religions of the world. Hell even the priests said "you can't force your beliefs on people so decide for yourself". Although that school was in the northeastern part of the country. Probably a big factor.

[Interfectum]

Strange that I went to a private catholic school and they taught us about all the religions of the world. Hell even the priests said "you can't force your beliefs on people so decide for yourself". Although that school was in the northeastern part of the country. Probably a big factor.

That's a tactic for indoctrination.

"Oh we aren't forcing anything you here. You can be whatever you want. Doesn't that make us so cool? Maybe you can be cool too! Just sayin..."

[Hollywood Duo]

That's a tactic for indoctrination. "Oh we aren't forcing anything you here. You can be whatever you want. Doesn't that make us so cool? Maybe you can be cool too! Just sayin..."

Except for the part about them teaching us about other religions. And it wasn't in a condescending way, it was completely factual. Also, most people at a private religious school are already initiated in to the faith.

[Pizarro]

What's awesome about it?

Not the actual religious part, but being able to use it as a way of not doing schoolwork.

[Arcteryx]

This is honestly the dumbest idea I've read since the anti-algebra article last week.

[Pizarro]

Strange that I went to a private catholic school and they taught us about all the religions of the world. Hell even the priests said "you can't force your beliefs on people so decide for yourself". Although that school was in the northeastern part of the country. Probably a big factor.

Yeah, I find Catholicism here progressive to the the point that they're like 'ahh fuck this, believe whatever the hell you want. Jesus is Lord k bye'

[Count Dookkake]

So.. what happens if they want to go to a good college later. Or even just regular school outside of Missouri?

Good college?

HAHAHAHHAHA.

ORU, here we come!

[Baraka in the White House]

What frightens me more than someone electing to forego a class on evolution is the notion that people shouldn't question the curriculum that government schools teach. I don't see a problem with people wanting to affirm the rights they already have. Makes me wonder who are really free thinkers and who are the mind-numbed drones.

Because that's the lesson to take away from this story.

[joseph1594]

This state makes me feel ashamed sometimes. Hopefully, this doesn't get passed. However, with the amount of religious conservatives in this state, I worry that it will happen.

[Orpheus]

On the one hand, this is atrocious.

On the other, I went to a private Christian school in California which ultimately wasn't much different from opting out. We didn't really learn evolution as much as we learned about all the "gaps" in the theory and the "truth" about the fossil record.

This would be fine if it weren't for these things turning out to be either delusions, lies, or some combination of both. I still have no idea how A Beka Book's curriculum can possibly pass grade school science requirements.

[DarkHeartedKill]

As long as they get a 0, they can opt out all they want.

I agree. How is it fair that others need to do it and get graded on it, while someone else just says "yea...this goes against my beliefs." and either doesn't have to do it, or probably has some make-up assignment that's nowhere near the difficulty. Give them a nice big fat 0 and end it there.

[AstroNut325]

What the... seriously? We went from news like THIS to having the right to ignore science in less than 24 hours!

Balance in the universe???

[Bombadil]

Without the religion there would be no reason for this law to exist.

Without people, we wouldn't have any problems whatsoever.

[weekend_warrior]

I'm saddened by Americas future.

[Gabroni]

Religion ruins everything

[MattKeil]

I wonder how long until someone abuses the hell out of this? "My religion doesn't believe in math so I don't have to do this homework"

[FACE]

What the... seriously? We went from news like THIS to having the right to ignore science in less than 24 hours! Balance in the universe???

First thing that came to my head. America can be so strange.

[Neuromancer]

Funny you should ask http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=291425

In the school's defense, that guy wasn't fired just for the wizardry.

[JokerOfSpades]

I was waiting for this.

[cousins]

wtf

[Aizu_Itsuko]

History has taught us where this road of ignorance ends many times. It would be a good change if we actually learnt from it.

Not like this is going anywhere, but the fact that this even exists is pretty sad.

Oh when the saints... ate my homework I think everyone who feels this way should home school their kids, and allow the rest of the public to learn in peace

That's a bad idea.

Those kids should have the right to be educated on actual known facts. This right should be protected, especially from authority figures like their parents.

[Omegasquash]

What the... seriously? We went from news like THIS to having the right to ignore science in less than 24 hours! Balance in the universe???

OBVIOUSLY the "Martian" rover is a lie perpetuated by the government to debunk the fact that God made the Earth the center of the universe.

[CrunchyFrog]

Fundies screwing things up for the rest of us rational thinking Christians. Please pay them no mind.

[Orayn]

Fundies screwing things up for the rest of us rational thinking Christians. Please pay them no mind.

You guys are the key to beating fundamentalism, really. Sane, reasonable religious people need to realize how bad things are getting and rally to vote fundies off of the school boards.

Nonbelievers will play our part too, of course, but let's face it: There aren't as many of us, we're not well organized, and our public image kinda sucks.

[Cyan]

This makes me more sad than angry.

It's just a meme propagating itself, but it's sad that it hurts people to do so.

[Alchemy]

Fuck this country, I want out.

[marrec]

Fuck this country, I want out.

You want to leave because a few super religious nuts have a small grip on power in an insignificant state?

Kay.