Wobbly HB Union High School Board Postpones "Bible As Literature" Vote
Posted by: Jubal | 06/25/2008 1:31 PM
The Hebrews wandered in the desert for 40 years before entering the Promised land, and I'm wondering if the Huntington Beach Union High School District Board of Trustees will take that long to make a decision on whether to offer an elective "The Bible as Literature" class.
Trustee Matt Harper has been trying to get his colleagues too consider this for a year. Not until April of this year could the necessary second trustee (Susan Henry) to even support putting it on the agenda for consideration.
But when Harper made the motion last night to simply vote on whether or not to offer the "Bible as Literature" elective, he could even get a second. So it died.
Weasely -- especially by Trustee Susan Henry. Why agree to agendize the item if you're not even going to allow a bloody vote?
Next, Trustee Michael Simons moved to bring the item back at a later date (presumably at next month's meeting) -- and then proceeded to vote against his own motion.
He was joined by Trustee-for-Life Bonnie Castrey (who I think has been on the HBUHSD Board since California entered the Union).
Despite Simons opposition to his own motion, it carried 3-2 and the matter will return next month.
Castrey is a hard vote against the "Bible as Literature" class. Susan Henry is opposed to it as well for lame "equal access issues." From the OC Register:
According to the OC Register, about a dozen citizens spoke on the issue. All supported the idea -- with the exception of veteran public commenter Darrell Nolta (yes, he doesn't limit himself to the Board of Supes).
Simons and Henry are both up for re-election this year. Maybe that's why Henry would provide the second that would at least require a vote on the issue. And Maybe that's why Simons voted against bringing the matter back at all.
And maybe the voters of the Huntington Beach Union High School District deserve some alternatives on the November ballot in terms of candidates who aren't afraid to cast a tough vote, and won't be cowed by silly canards against allowing students to study the most impactful work of literature in world history.
Trustee Matt Harper has been trying to get his colleagues too consider this for a year. Not until April of this year could the necessary second trustee (Susan Henry) to even support putting it on the agenda for consideration.
But when Harper made the motion last night to simply vote on whether or not to offer the "Bible as Literature" elective, he could even get a second. So it died.
Weasely -- especially by Trustee Susan Henry. Why agree to agendize the item if you're not even going to allow a bloody vote?
Next, Trustee Michael Simons moved to bring the item back at a later date (presumably at next month's meeting) -- and then proceeded to vote against his own motion.
He was joined by Trustee-for-Life Bonnie Castrey (who I think has been on the HBUHSD Board since California entered the Union).
Despite Simons opposition to his own motion, it carried 3-2 and the matter will return next month.
Castrey is a hard vote against the "Bible as Literature" class. Susan Henry is opposed to it as well for lame "equal access issues." From the OC Register:
"I don't have a problem with comparative world religions as long as all views are presented," Henry said. "If we present only one, we may be opening ourselves up to equal access issues."Maybe someone can educate this school board member that Matt Harper is proposing an elective literature class, not a comparative religions class.
According to the OC Register, about a dozen citizens spoke on the issue. All supported the idea -- with the exception of veteran public commenter Darrell Nolta (yes, he doesn't limit himself to the Board of Supes).
Simons and Henry are both up for re-election this year. Maybe that's why Henry would provide the second that would at least require a vote on the issue. And Maybe that's why Simons voted against bringing the matter back at all.
And maybe the voters of the Huntington Beach Union High School District deserve some alternatives on the November ballot in terms of candidates who aren't afraid to cast a tough vote, and won't be cowed by silly canards against allowing students to study the most impactful work of literature in world history.
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Politics Behind the Orange Curtain
I ran for the Huntington Beach Union High School District a few years ago. But it seems the current board members have the unions in their pockets (and vice versa); and they are pretty well funded candidates (i.e. hard to beat incumbents that are so well funded).
But I agree; the voters need a choice; and they need to change that board. It's been a problem for a long time.
Just what they need, a challenge from the Education Alliance. As a progressive, I see no problem with a Bible as Literature class. This hardly seems worth the fight to get the Education Alliance after them. It clearly was an intentional effort by the Education Alliance to use this as a wedge issue to take over the school district, and quite frankly a flimsy one. Dumb on Simons and Henry's part. People have forgotten just what kind of craziness the Education Alliance boards have done,. I remember when they forced my cousin to drop out of high school, even though she had a 3.5 GPA because she got pregnant and decided(under pressure from their "christian" counselors) to keep it, while they allowed the father of the baby to continue with his high school education. This is what the Education Alliance is all about, BEWARE. Just approve the curriculum, don't bring these folks to HB to screw them like they screwed over Orange.
It's strange to watch how people are AFRAID of the bible in our christian nation but more receptive to other religious books!
These lame people often argue that our bible can be offensive to others even in it's literature context......... how under educated and un american elected cowards we have on the board.
All foreigners knew this nation was built upon peaceful christian foundations before they left their airports and perhaps it was the one of the main reason why they have decided to emigrate to our country in first place.... a food for thought!
We don't need to be ashamed of being an christian nation.