Conservative senator touts school values

[Elkhunter]

February 5, story

Conservative senator touts school values

By Jim Stanford
Jackson Hole Daily

A state senator from Star Valley has sponsored two bills intended to return "traditional values" to Wyoming schools.

Sen. Delaine Roberts, R, SD-16, Etna, plans to introduce bills involving prayer in schools and the pledge of allegiance when the Wyoming Legislature convenes Monday in Cheyenne.

The first bill, SF 26, titled "Prayer in schools," would require a period of silence of at least one minute before the start of the first class each day. Silent time could be used to reflect, pray or meditate.

The second bill, SF 39, would require instruction in the proper use and display of the American flag and would require recitation of the pledge of allegiance each day. The pledge "shall be recited," the bill says, but students would not be required to say it.

"I suppose we're getting away from a lot of our traditional values," said Roberts, who represents Wilson.

Roberts, a member of the Mormon church, said some of his constituents of various faiths had expressed concern about the lack of prayer in schools. And some students don't know the pledge of allegiance, he said.

"During this time of war, we just ought to be more patriotic," he said. "The flag is a symbol of patriotism."

Wilson resident Keith Benefiel, 54, said parts of Roberts' legislation reflect his traditional values as well. Prayer helped him get through school, he said.

"You'd pray there wouldn't be a pop quiz," Benefiel said. "You'd pray you wouldn't get shaken down for your lunch money in the halls."

 

[pawclaws]

You know Values are not necessarily patriotism; but, it is probably a real good place to start. Someone said; "Whatever it is that makes a Christian a Good Christian also makes a Citizen a Good Citizen." How much longer do you suppose "we" are going to tolerate the kind of crap we are seeing in our nations leaders, our media, our education systems, our courts, our financial institutions, and even our churches? When is enough enough? Are you ; "MAD AS HELL" yet!

 

[BuzzH]

I think its ridiculous for a senator to be wasting their time on legislation like this.

If you want to pray, fine, do it. But why is it necessary to pass a law to set aside one minute of time? Why dont kids pray at home with their parents before school?

We always said the pledge, it took a grand total of 20 seconds, no big deal...and nobody made it a big deal.

Now, because a lot of kids get no guidance from home, we think some jerkass senator will make the education system all better by wasting time with this type of nonsense.

If they really wanted to help the education system, why not pay teachers a better salary and attract some better qualified teachers. How about hiring more teachers? How about getting some parents off their ass and into their kids lives. No, lets waste a bunch of money and effort on a minute of their school day...are they serious? Is anyone so naive as to think that will do any good? Come on, get at the truth.

If you're relying on schools to instill values in your kids, you're in big trouble...

What a joke!

 

[beardown]

wierd thats the exact same thing we did in school. I'm surprised its not that way still today.

 

[Yukon Hunter]

Here, here, Buzz. Well put.

 

[pawclaws]

Buzz, YH; Why is it liberals alyays seemto think that you fix problems by throwing more money at them? You can pray in school, put cops in school, make teachers all millionaires; and the problems will not go away until the educators figure out one very simple fact; "We don't teach courses, we teach kids!" You can't take an inexperienced, world ignorant 22 year old out of college call it a teacher put it in a system and leave it there for 30 years , give it full control of the system, and expect the system to improve or change.

 

[BuzzH]

Paws, apparently you missed the main point of my post...that senators and teachers shouldnt be the people teaching kids values. When I was growing up that was the job of my parents, and I'm glad thats the way it was. My parents did their job, instead of sluffing it off to a Senator, a teacher, or the neighbors. I learned math, writing, english, etc. from my teachers, that WAS THEIR JOB.

I believe I made at least 3-4 references to that effect in my post, perhaps your teachers didnt think comprehension was very important.

As to "throwing money" at teachers, if I had kids I certainly would want good qualified teachers.

Its funny how a person wont bat an eye at dropping $50-60/hour on a plumber when their shitter is clogged, but refuse to pay a third of that for someone who is educating their kids. I believe that paying higher salaries would at the very least widen the application pool and pull more good people into the teaching field. Lets be honest, would you do their job for 20K a year? Most wouldnt and dont, theres easier money out there, with a lot less responsibility and hassle. Just like most things in life, you get what you pay for....