I don’t understand isolationism.  We are not of this world, but we live in this world.  How are we to fulfill the great commission if we sequester ourselves away from everyone, and everything else?

Still, in defense of that school, the boy and his parents did agree on the terms of education at that place.  No one forced his parents to enroll their child there.

I do not agree with the philosophy of that particular school, so I’d not send my daughter there.  If I did, I would fully expect to have to comply with their terms.

I feel bad for him, but he volunteered to follow those legalistic rules.

Let me first say that I graduated from a large Christian school.  It however, was not a “fundamentalist” denominational school.  There were rules that applied to outside of school that could get you in trouble and they were, sex, drugs, alcohol, smoking or criminal activity.  Other activities were not allowed in school like rock music, dancing, PDA, etc.  However, we were not held to this standard outside of school.  The school left parenting to the parents.  We did not have a prom, but had a banquet and then the parents rented the same ballroom and had an “after-banquet” dance that was not school sponsored.

All that to say this.  If a family agrees to certain standards then they can’t expect the school to make an exception.  He is being allowed to graduate but not participate in the ceremony.  He should be glad that they are allowing him to receive his diploma and not getting expelled.  It’s not like they didn’t warn him.

I would not send my kids to such a school.  In particular, these types of schools tend to impose these “rules” on the parents as well.  In fact, one school we looked into for our kids required the whole family to get rid of all televisions and for adult women not to wear make-up.  Given that the school was open to everyone and not just church members, this is overstepping the line.  But, we didn’t attend the school.  We took our money elsewhere.  I do think however, that schools that impose such legalistic, isolationist rules on families tend to be small and thus I question their ability to offer a quality, college prep education.

Its coverage like this that helps brings “this type of Christianity” to light.  He certainly should cry fowl, not because he didn’t know the rules but because the rules need to change.  While he may not graduate he may ignite the controversy needed to help these “type of Christians” realize their need to bring the Kingdom of God to this world.  Good Luck Tyler.

Will,

After examining the school’s website I have answers to your questions.

The handbook states that students will not participate in rock music, dancing, etc.  All parents and students in grades 7th-12th are required to sign a “Statement of Cooperation” EVERY YEAR with these rules and all other issues in the handbook.  It states that they are not signing that they agree with the rules, but that they will abide by them.

The school also followed the clearly laid out procedures of discipline.  So in all, nothing was a surprise.

Is he not getting a diploma or is he not being allowed to participate in the ceremony? Not getting a diploma when you’ve fulfilled the requirements--Big Problem, maybe even a legal one.

Not getting to walk across the platform with your class--well, you signed the rulebook, and this is their discipline.

But not getting the diploma when you’ve completed credits and work--that’s way over the top.

The problem is Disco.  It’s all me, myself & I. Traditional dancing with a partner, when I was a kid, is almost a forgotten art now. 

At our Christian Primary School here in Australia, a Country & Western “Barn Dance” night was held, and all the parents & young children all joined in. 

In addition to being a brilliant fund raiser, it was a highly successful event that the whole family could join.  A very safe environment, & a fantastic way for Christian parents to mix & get to know non-Christian parents at the school.

In contrast, the “disco night” held at another Christian school we knew of was very mediocre, as it isolated the students from their parents.

It is all about being a witness for Him, not living to yourself.  And legalists live all by themselves - not much point really.

Here’s the catch that none of you have seemed to notice quite yet:

“Findlay requires students from other schools attending the prom to get a signature from their principal, which Frost did.”

So the principal, who enforces a policy of prohibiting people from dancing and going to prom under threat of suspension, signed the paperwork that allowed the kid to go to prom.  Huh?!

Had the principal not signed the form and said, “Policy says you are suspended,” there would be no problem, and I would agree with the risk the kid took and suffering the consequences.  But for the principal to set him up for a fall is screwed up.  If the actions of the kid were truly sinful and that was the reason for the provision in the school’s rules, then the principal was a partner to sin (Romans 1) and should subsequently also follow discipline.

--
CS

Hrm.  CS is right.  Upon closer reading the article says:

“England acknowledged signing the form but warned Frost there would be consequences if he attended the dance. England then took the issue to a school committee made up of church members, who decided to threaten Frost with suspension.”

So he did sign it and said there would be consequences, but did not say what those consequences were.  That’s not playing very fair.

I grew up about 20 minutes from here (and only live 1 1/2 hours away now), so while I can honestly say I’ve never heard of this school prior to this incident, it does strike somewhat “close to home”.

I think the thing that a lot of folks seem to be forgetting here is that this is a private, Christian school which can create and enforce whatever rules it wants.  As I’ve read the stories about this, this is what sticks out at me: there was a policy in place about dancing (which I don’t agree with, either, for the record).  A student not only chose to violate that policy, but also informed the administration of his plans by taking in that form to be signed by his principle.  In my mind, the principle actually handled this pretty well.  He told the student he could go, but made it clear that it would be a violation of school policy and would open him up to consequences.  For some reason the student and his parents acted surprised when those consequences actually occurred.  Doesn’t work that way.

Don’t get me wrong, I applaud this student for standing up for what he thought was right.  Having said that, the school was actually within their rights to do everything they did.  I don’t agree with what they did, but I do respect their right to do it.  A lot of folks seem to be overlooking that part of this issue.

He and his family should not be surprised since it is in the school’s policy, but gravely disappointed--yes.  I’m sure they were hoping for leniency and a lecture like the young man said.  Also, CS raises a good point about the principal telling the young man there would be consequences but yet signing the form. 

I believe in personal holiness, but this idea of shielding children in a Christian bubble often backfires and can make for socially maladjusted adults who have never mingled or rubbed shoulders with the world.  What a rude awakening when they go into the real world and find out that (GASP) even some Christians listen to rock, dance, smoke, etc., etc.  I’m surprised that there’s a high school still around like this.  We desperately need balance.

Click on my URL for my two cents.

This brings back many shudder inducing memories from my private high-school past. Boys were not allowed to wear 1/4 length socks because they were deemed too effeminate. You need those manly, full-length socks son!

It’s a stupid reason to not let the teen graduate.  If he handled the situation properly, which he did, then why punish him?

I see this as a struggle, temptation, whatever you call it.  But as long as he did not sin and was able to do what’s right, then why treat him like this?

LOL, I can just imagine the staff in that Christian school doing the same.. probably listening to rock music on their ipods or something.

Dave