Motivational talk at Fresno High crosses line into religion

[Newsjock]

http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/12897373p-13556938c.html

A motivational speaker visiting Fresno High this week invited students to convert to Christianity, prompting the district to cancel a similar appearance at Sunnyside High.

On Wednesday, former NFL player Greg Jensen asked 400 to 500 students in a Fresno High assembly to indicate on a card whether they'd accept Jesus Christ as their savior, Fresno Unified spokeswoman Susan Bedi said Friday.

Jensen was speaking as part of a group called Champions for Today. The faith-based group aims to "create long-term positive changes in America's youth," according to its Web page.

... Fresno High Principal Bob Reyes sent a letter home to parents describing the incident, offering an apology and pledging to do a better job of screening speakers in the future.

[Crunchy Frog]

1. Uh, oh. Another example of the persecution of Christians.

I suppose we'll hear no end of complaints about how this poor man has been denied his basic civil right to prosylitize children in a public school. :sarcasm:

[krkaufman]

9. Right. Saying no one should have to apologize for believing in JC. n/t

[POAS]

2. Make Greg Jensen and those like him

sign a card saying that they accept the Constitution, including the seperation of church and state, as the guiding priciple of our country.

[rodeodance]

3. I would like to see JR. sign YOUR card!

[Joe Bacon]

6. Yeah, Chimperella would sign it with a CRAYON!

All that cocaine really burns out the cerebrum :evilgrin:

[LostinVA]

4. I've always thought the whole signing a card thing is weird

[LizW]

5. Accidental?

Sometimes I wonder how "accidental" these things are. "Oh, whoops, your child was just exposed to religious prosylitizing in school. We're SO sorry and it won't happen again!"

My kids' school district screens outside speakers very, very carefully (ESPECIALLY if they are speaking on topics that could be remotely controversial, like character education or sex education) and checks all their materials before they are allowed to come in the school. It's not that hard to do.

I just find it hard to beleive that this kind of thing happens by accident.

[Bill McBlueState]

8. I agree

The district made a good choice in cancelling the next speech, but how could they have not seen this coming?

[MarinCoUSA]

10. Exactly...........

I can still remember when this happened at my h.s. (spring '67!).
We were all such sheep but one girl stood in the middle of assembly and kept saying "But I am not afraid... I am not afraid". Wow! Still remember it.

[Nolo_Contendre]

7. Does he live in a van down by the river?

Inspired by Matt Foley?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Foley,_Motivational_Speaker

RIP Chris Farley.