I don't think Hoffman has a logical brain cell in his head.

It is Katherine Kersten's right to have her opinion column published where ever she choses. Expressing an opinion, with quite a few documented facts, is not 'inciting hatred' against these people. It's obviously a religious, segrated school. It quacks like a duck, and it's a duck.

The American Criminal Liberties Union - they are going to conduct an investigation? - what a joke that would be.

Maybe the City Pages shouldn't publish Hoffman's senseless drivel.

I'm waiting for a Wiccan Charter Schools. Their witches are hot!

Annoying as Kersten may be she has a point: taxpayer dollars may not be used to subsidize Christian or Jewish schools so taxpayer dollars should not be used to subsidize Islamic schools.

I have to agree about the Wiccan Charter Schools. I would believe they are hot gals! Could we possibly experiment first?

Wiccans wouldn't "experiment", they would cast "spells." It's a completely different type of science, you know.

Charter schools OFTEN have religious affiliations- they are much less accountable to separation of church and state. Just google "charter school and religion" and see how many religious charter schools are out there.

So why is this one such a big deal?

Why do you think?

I keep having lurid fantasies of Kersten in a burka.

There is that fine line between religious belief and being a PITA. Teaching children to pratice 12th century beliefs and customs, is actually dammaging the childrens' opportunity to fit in with the other 99% of the folks who live in the 21st century. These Muslim parents are doing a disservice to their children.

Taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for this!

I admit I'm torn. Kersten is clearly a loon, but Hoffman obviously doesn't have any logical brain cells either.

Maybe it's just me, but I find it pretty interesting that Kersten is complaining about the "close entanglement" between the school and the religious organization. After all, this particular term is awfully close to the language promulgated for the test for separation of church and state that the Supreme Court used to rule against officially led school prayer.

To state my point a bit more plainly, most conservatives I've talked to are very much against this ruling and are in favor of prayer in schools. Isn't the obvious angle to pursue, should one want to explore Kersten's feelings, whether she is in favor of the separation of church and state, or whether that just applies to Muslims?

What about the fact this is a public building and by law they need to display the American flag? In their years of operation they have NEVER done so.

When asked, the principal/head jackass said he didn't know how to operate a flagpole!

But he knows how to attack a camera man.

Hoffman, turn the lights off when CP finally dumps.

Jesus, Kevin, they're really beating up on you! Just say the word and my people will help. Just say the word, sir.

Haha. Thanks for the offer to assist Helm. I think both CP Fan and East Coast Doug have made valid points. Personally, I believe that Kristen overstated the case against TIZA for partisan ends, although I agree that there are some issues at the school with religion being taught in subtle ways. The main point of my post is that Kersten is blowing this thing up to a grand scale, and whether she has a point or not, it's putting kids in danger. I just think there might be more reasonable ways to go about making the criticism if one were more sensitive to the safety of kids and less a shill for the rightwing agenda. My two cents.