The Family / Children of God

SOCIALISATION

ISSUED BY WORLD SERVICES ON THE COLLECTIVE BEHALF OF THE FELLOWSHIP OF INDEPENDENT MISSIONARY COMMUNITIES COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE FAMILY

August 1992

GENERAL COMMENTS

1. The socialisation question

                The concern has been raised by certain agencies that our children may not be receiving sufficient opportunity to socialise with their peers and persons outside our communities.  This concern is expressed because of our communal lifestyle, our deeply held religious convictions (which we pass on to our children), and because many of us have chosen to home school our children.

                In this article we hope to clarify for the reader that if socialisation is a process whereby people learn to have good social behaviour, then compared to the vast majority of children today, our children are actually more highly socialised and superior in social habits than most.  We will also demonstrate that the form of socialisation which some agencies portray as desirable, we consider to be socially and spiritually negative experiences that would prove damaging to our children, particularly to their faith and Christian development.  The common daily experience children have in public schools, as well as secular research, support this claim.

                In fact, we feel secular institutions would do well to take note of our actual success in the realm of positive socialisation, particularly when the decline in social order and conduct in secular schools and other such institutions is so widespread and well-documented, including crime, drugs, violence, etc.

2. What is socialisation?

                Socialisation is the term used for the process by which individuals learn and perform behaviour expected of them by society.  In order to survive and work together, people have to agree on certain common values, and conduct themselves accordingly.  They learn most of this from other people.  As people interact with each other, all involved are affected and in varying degrees change their attitudes and behaviour accordingly.  Habits, ideas, attitudes, and values are developed through this socialisation process.

                Socialisation begins at birth and continues throughout life.  Socialisation is deliberate when individuals are told what to do or how to act.  Much socialisation is indirect and simply learned by being with other people.  The family is a principal agent in socialising a child.  From their family, most children learn speech, basic health and hygiene, eating habits, beliefs, and a prescribed set of values.  They usually learn concepts of God, what it is to be male or female, how they came to exist, why life is the way it is, the difference between truth and falsehood, and what things are important in life.

                Behavioural scientists regard socialisation as one of the principal ways by which societies, and we would add religious communities, perpetuate themselves.  Through the process of socialisation, culture and religious values are transmitted from one generation to the next.

3. Our children are very effectively socialised.

                Possibly more than any other children in the world today, our children are very highly socialised.  The cooperative communities where our children are raised all strive for moral and social excellence.  Living in a missionary community such as ours requires the highest level of sophistication in socialisation, both directly taught and learned by experience.  Rules of conduct, fair play, consideration for others, interaction between each other, expressions of love and concern, being a positive influence, being safety-conscious, cooperating and working together with others, sharing responsibilities, courtesy in speaking to others, and a host of other social skills must be highly refined and adhered to in order for a close-knit cooperative lifestyle such as ours to be able to exist and continue to prosper in peace together.

                Remember too that we are more than just a miniature society.  Ours is an actual Christian culture, striving as a group to conform to the very image of Jesus, which we believe is the highest form of socialisation any human could hope to attain.

                An example of the level of sophistication in  social skills that we as a group are striving for can be seen and enjoyed firsthand by closely examining one of the videos that we produce for children.  Parents and experts around the world highly commend us and marvel at the positive socialisation effect these materials have on their children.  The values portrayed and presented therein are only a small sampling of the immeasurably more complex social skills we strive to foster in each other and our children.

                 Another example can be seen when a new member joins one of our communities.  Very rarely do new members know much about how to live in harmony with others, in spite of years of conventional socialisation.  If the socialisation of today's society and public school system is so effective, then why are the new members that come into our communities so ill-prepared in the art of living and working with others?  Why do they often lack the basic skills of open communication with others and the ability to resolve differences of opinion?  Why is the overall quality of life and general happiness of young people at large declining so rapidly, especially in many First World countries, if conventional socialisation is indeed superior?  We firmly believe it is because the institutions that were the greatest and most effective means of positive socialisation in the past--family, church and school--are simply not doing their job in today's society.  They have relinquished their duty to train up the children in the way they should go, and that once-precious responsibility has now been taken over by peers and television and Godless public schools!

                Consideration for others is not a highly developed skill in society today, yet without it a society is doomed to turmoil, and even riots or civil war, as we see in the world today.  Our children appreciate the great importance of sustaining positive relationships with others, and learn how to resolve conflict quickly and easily through prayer and honest, open discussion.  Concern for others is not just confined to the members of our own communities, but is translated into a lifelong outgoing concern for those outside our communities as well.  Our children learn with us to reach out and minister to all people in society. Social adaptability is a skill we emphasise greatly.  As the great Apostle Paul said, "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.  Unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews . . . To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some" (1 Corinthians 11:1; 9:19, 20, 22).

                Ours is a multi-national fellowship of close to 100 nationalities.  In our Homes we socialise with others from every part of the world.  We are missionaries and our members come from all over the world, therefore our children are not confined in their social life to the members of just one society, culture or nation.  Our communities are mini-international cultures that greatly help broaden and enrich our children's attitudes and develop their ability to communicate with others. They learn the languages, songs, customs and beliefs of others firsthand as they interact with people from many different nations, races and varying religious backgrounds.

                Our children accompany us to visit and minister to others throughout the surrounding community.  We visit old folks' homes, orphanages, attend social functions of the rich and famous, visit the shacks and shanties of the poor, go to businessmen's banquets, to schools, nurseries and private clubs.  Our youngsters talk and pray just as comfortably with top officials, judges, newspaper reporters and cameramen as they do with beggar boys in the street.  They meet and interact on a regular and personal basis with people of all ages from all walks of life.  This is socialisation at its best!

4. Why is socialisation such an issue?

                It is obviously not for any lack of good and positive socialisation that we are criticised.  The real issue is that, being dedicated Christians, we do not willingly expose our children to worldly negative socialisation and obviously corrupting influences.  Herein lies the meat of the matter and the parting of the ways.  The Scriptures tell us plainly that "the whole world lieth in wickedness" (1 John 5:19), yet some want us to make our children conform to the ways of the world.  When we object, they feel slighted and try all the harder to impose their will and ways upon us, so many of which are directly contrary to the written Word of God.  What are we to do?--Conform to this world as they would have us do?--Or obey God's command and fight for our religious rights!

5. Concerned parents must monitor social influences and exercise control when negative socialisation is involved.

                Sincere Christians and other concerned religious groups throughout the ages have always carefully monitored the moral quality of the peer involvement and socialisation to which their children are exposed.  After all, this is why parochial schools were created in the first place.  All children in society do not need, want, or deserve to be subjected to the same brand of socialisation.  Socialisation without guidance is not love--it's abandonment!  Freedom from rules, freedom from God, freedom from traditional Christian values is not freedom, but social anarchy and an open door to crime, violence and the eventual loss of all freedom!

                Many forms of socialisation in today's society are blatantly bad for children.  Children should not be forced to learn bad behaviour, plain and simple.  We believe that most secular schools (and sad to say, even many modern parochial schools) have far too many misguided children, corrupting peers and devilish doctrines and devices busy at work undoing and "unsocialising" the moral foundation that Christian parents desire to establish in their children.

                Neither we nor the Bible accept the misguided assumption that children need long exposures to counterproductive behaviour and scornful intimidation just to "toughen them up."  When it comes to socialisation, it is "quality," not "quantity," that really counts.  We strongly disagree with the policy of dumping children indiscriminately into a big common community pot for a "socialisation" experience.--Especially when we know that the social waters there are untreated, unfiltered, unsafe, and highly polluted by disbelief, disrespect, lack of religious conviction and lack of discipline.  This is not to mention the more commonly identified social cancers of drugs, alcohol, sexual problems and perversions, violence, bullying, gangs, social cliques, crime, vicious competition and impersonalised care.  There are a host of sad and sorry "social experiences" we are all better off not experiencing!

6. Peer-centred socialisation is not the best for children.

                Advocates of public socialisation would like to have us believe that public school is good for children if only for the supposed social benefits to be attained in today's public school environment.  Psycho-therapist Dr. Larry Shyers, in a landmark study comparing home-schooled children with children educated in public school, has effectively exposed the complete fallacy of this very popular myth.

                In his excellent doctoral dissertation done at the University of Florida's College of Education (June, 1992), Dr. Shyers (who is chairman of the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage, and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counselling) compared behaviour and social development test scores of two groups of 70 children, ages 8 to 10, one group educated exclusively at home and the other in public or private schools in Lake, Orange and Seminole counties in the state of Florida.  Children were videotaped at play and their behaviour was observed by trained counsellors who did not know which children were educated at home or which in traditional schools.

                Dr. Shyers found no significant difference between the two groups of children in self-concept or assertiveness, which were measured by the social development tests.  But the videotapes clearly showed that youngsters who were taught at home by their parents had consistently fewer behavioural problems.  Home-schooled children tended to talk quietly, play well together in groups and take the initiative in inviting other children to join them.  On the other hand, the report concluded that "traditionally schooled children were considerably more aggressive, loud and competitive than home-schooled children of the same age.  If one child was loud, another child tried to be louder.  If one child picked up a toy, another child often tried to take it."

                For example, home-schooled 8-year-old girls tended to talk softly to the stuffed animals, while traditionally schooled 8-year-old girls tossed the stuffed animals up in the air and tried to disturb the boys at play.  Home-schooled children quietly introduced themselves at the beginning of a play session, but most traditionally schooled children sat alone watching each other, sometimes crossing their arms and pouting when not included in a game.

                Dr. Shyers points out that all 50 states in the U.S.A. passed compulsory school attendance laws in 1918, partly on the assumption that the classroom provided the best place for students to develop social skills.  However, he said that home schooling has now become increasingly more common as dissatisfaction with public schools grows.  Educational researchers estimate that as many as one million families in the United States home school their children, and the practice is likewise growing in most other industrialised countries of the world.

                Why are home-schooled children better behaved and better socialised than children taught in regular classrooms?  Dr. Shyers says it is because they tend to imitate their parents, while traditionally schooled children model themselves after other children in the classroom.  "The results seem to show that a child's social development depends more on adult contact and less on contact with other children than previously thought," he concluded.

                Other interesting findings  were that home-schooled children even score as high or higher on standardised achievement tests than children in conventional schools.--So not only are they better socialised, most are better educated as well!

7. Traditional school settings cause negative socialisation and low self-esteem.

                Environmental psychologist Dr. Maxine Wolfe, at the City University of New York, in her paper, "Institutional Settings and Children's Lives: An Historical, Developmental and Environmental Perspective on Educational Facilities," says that just the physical setup of schools causes negative socialisation because the overriding goals of the institution take precedence over treating or teaching children in a personal way!

                Developmental and social psychologist Dr. Urie Bronfenbrenner of Cornell University enlarges on this point.  In his article "Two Worlds of Childhood," he laments the deplorable social lack created by normal school classrooms and age groupings.  He believes dividing children into separate classes according to their age is very bad for them, because they miss the benefits gained from the modelling and reinforcement that results from relationships with older children.  On the other hand, family-based home education, by its very nature, provides excellent exposure to a wide variety of age groups and positive role models.

                Warm, loving interactions with parents who respect their children, as we do, make children feel secure and self confident, assuring their social success. When children's positive self esteem is nurtured, he or she feels much more confident and free to venture into the wide variety of social situations they will encounter as they grow up.  These fundamental stepping stones to social success are nurtured in our Homes and far outweigh any other contributing factors in a child's long term social development.

                Interestingly enough, Dr. Bronfenbrenner also found that over-exposure to a peer group during a child's early years can be damaging if he spends more time with his peers than with his parents or older family members.  Such children become peer dependent and begin to lose their sense of self worth, optimism, and respect for their parents.  So much for the benefits of public school socialisation!

SOCIALISATION MUST BE IN ACCORDANCE

WITH OUR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

                Secular considerations aside, the fact remains that as a people dedicated to the service of God, we are morally committed to follow the path of Christian socialisation set down and defined for us by Scripture.

8. We and our children are commanded by Scripture to remain separate and apart from worldly people and unbelievers.

                The Scriptures specifically admonish dedicated Christian believers that neither they nor their children are to become too closely involved with unbelievers and worldly people, other than to witness to them and to tell them of the benefits and wonderful rewards of receiving the Lord, or to warn them of the consequences of rejecting Him.  Even marriage to non-believers was expressly forbidden in the Old Testament and discouraged in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 7:12-16,39; 2 Corinthians 6:14,15).  "Neither shalt thou make marriages with them. . . .  For they will turn away thy son from following Me, that they may serve other gods" (Deuteronomy 7:3,4).

                Believers are warned not to become too involved with or participate in the activities of mockers and Christ-rejecting non-believers and worldly people outside the faith.  "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful" (Psalm 1:1). "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you" (2 Corinthians 6:17).  "Come out of her [the world system], My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues" (Revelation 18:4).  "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?" (2 Corinthians 6:14,15).  "Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils" (1 Corinthians 10:21).  "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Ephesians 5:11).  "My son, walk not thou in the way with them [the wicked]; refrain thy foot from their path" (Proverbs 1:15).  "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.  Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away" (Proverbs 4:14,15).  "Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord" (Isaiah 52:11).  "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ" (Colossians 2:8).  "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matthew 7:13,14).

                In addition, we believe the world is now entering the Endtime, and so we expect that world conditions will continue their rapid social and moral decline.  We feel St. Paul's prophetic description of society in the Last Days is rapidly becoming a daily fact of life for many already.  "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. . . .  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived."  St. Paul goes on to advise all true believers: "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;  And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:1-4, 13-15).

9. We are in this world, but as servants of God and dedicated Christians, we are not to become overly involved in worldly matters.

                As a people, we believe we are called by God to serve  Him and  to  remain separate from  worldly involvements in order to totally dedicate our lives to the Lord's service. We believe we have a calling from God which is specific and urgent. This is a lifelong commitment that parallels the total dedication and calling of God that was also upon others He has chosen in the past.  We follow the sample given us by Jesus, the prophets, the Apostles, the early disciples, and great Christian men, women and children down through the ages.

                Our full-time members are similar in many ways to the tribe of Levi of Old Testament times who were set apart from the mainstream of their society to minister spiritually to the nation.  In the words of St. Peter, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you  out of  darkness  into His marvellous light" (1 Peter 2:9).  We believe that we are to, as St. Paul says, "shine as lights in the world" being "blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation" (Philippians 2:15).

                Jesus very much considered His followers separate from the world. "I have given them Thy Word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world" (John 17:14).  "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you" (John 15:19).

10. Negative "socialisation" is to be avoided.

                Worldly and negative "socialisation" is morally damaging, and believers are exhorted to avoid it.  The Scriptures contain many examples which teach this principle.  The great patriarch Abraham wisely avoided the cities in the plain of Jordan; his nephew Lot, however, was not as discerning in the company he kept.  Lot soon found himself embroiled in the city of Sodom, "vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked.  (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds)" (2 Peter 2:7,8).  St. Peter used this lesson to warn the Church, "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness" (2 Peter 3:17).  We most emphatically agree!

11. We decry State demands that would force negative "socialisation" experiences upon our children.

                Just as any other citizen claims the right to associate with whomever they please, so we claim the right to associate with whomever we please and to also choose NOT to associate with people in ways damaging to our spiritual development and contrary to the spirit and commandments of Scripture.

                 Just as Noah and his family were warned of God and wisely obeyed Him and set to work building an Ark to save their immediate family, thereby making it possible for life on earth to continue, in similar fashion we believe in the divinely appointed purpose of our mission and calling.  We too feel we "must be about our Father's business" (Luke 2:49) and not become "entangled with the affairs of this life" (2 Timothy 2:4).

                We consider it odious and highly contemptuous of our sincere beliefs and religious faith for government agencies to violently interfere in our lives and seek to dismember our communities, impede the exercise of our religion and lifestyle, and try to control whom our children associate with by forcing them into faith-destroying secular schools and corrupting environments.

                Where would Mankind today be if Noah's sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth, had been taken from their parents and their Godly home and from the ministry God had appointed them to do, the task of separating themselves from their evil society to build the Ark?  We can imagine the powers of their day also trying to force Noah and his little family to conform to that evil society--like certain agencies wish to impose on us today.  As is presently happening with our children, the society of that day probably tried to make Noah's children forsake their religion, ignore the call of God on their lives, and perhaps go to some Godless violence-filled antediluvian school in a misguided attempt to "socialise" and "normalise" these children, who were so obviously different, in a violent world in revolt against God!  "The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.  And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.  And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth" (Genesis 6:11-13).

                 We believe that we are called to a similar task, and we cannot help but look at Noah and his family's example of obedience to God.  "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an Ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith" (Hebrews 11:7).  Jesus Himself warned us that "as the days of Noe [Noah] were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the Ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be" (Matthew 24:37-39).

                Just as it is very obvious that Noah and his sons were not out "eating and drinking" and socialising with the ungodly the day the Flood came, so also we consider it spiritually unacceptable to have our children "eating and drinking" with the ungodly of this world when the day of our Lord's Coming is so rapidly approaching.  We do, however, certainly allow them much opportunity to meet, communicate and witness to people outside our communities.

12. God does not want us to become involved in worldliness.

                God wants people to be happy in life, learn to love Him and others, and rejoice in the wonders of His creation.  Being selfish, materialistic, cruel, rebellious, complaining, unbelieving, proud, unthankful, perverse and worse was not part of God's plan for good clean fun.  In fact, St. James and St. John admonished anyone who loved the world, "Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?  Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15,16).

13. We engage in positive, constructive socialising within our communities and while out witnessing.

                We are not by any means cloistered religious communities.  We are much more involved with all members of society at large than most religious cooperative communities because we believe that each Christian has a spiritual responsibility to personally speak to others about the Lord.  Although Jesus openly proclaimed that this world was not really a fit environment for any child of God, He willed that His children remain here to witness to others.  Jesus prayed to the Father, "I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil.  As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.  And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature" (John 17:15,18; Mark 16:15).

                Like Jesus, we believe in mixing and mingling freely among all classes of people in a witnessing capacity, as long as the activities themselves are not detrimental or corrupting to the members involved.  "And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.  And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto His disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?  But when Jesus heard that, He said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick" (Matthew 9:10-12).

14. Our purpose in life and role in society allows us much contact with people outside our communities.

                We believe God has called each one of us (men, women and children) to serve Him, and to prepare the way of the Lord before His Coming.  Part of this commission is to be a solace and spiritual guide to many, both now and in the difficult times ahead.

                We consider it our moral obligation to know the Scriptures, to live and exercise true faith and to witness the Gospel of Salvation to all whom we can.  We believe it is our calling to preserve and present a living sample of Christianity to the world, and to do all in our power to properly prepare ourselves and our children spiritually and in every other way to be able to serve God.  For us there is great urgency in this matter.

CONCLUSION

                Why are the children of minority religious groups so often the victims of faith-breaking "socialisation" attempts?  One only has to look at the history of religious persecution to see that where conflicting ideologies are involved, the children of the smaller, weaker party are often attacked in an attempt to forcibly "change" them to conform to the attackers' beliefs.  This is such a universal ploy that the General Assembly of the United Nations addressed this very issue in "The Convention on The Rights of The Child," November 20, 1989, which was signed by all leading nations of the world:

                "State Parties shall respect the right of the child to freedom of thought, conscience and religion." (Article 14:1)

                "State Parties shall respect the rights and duties of the parents and, when applicable, legal guardians, to provide direction to the child in the exercise of his or her right in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child." (Article 14:2)

                "Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health or morals, or fundamental rights and freedoms of others." (Article 14:3)

                "In those States in which ethnic, religious or other minorities or persons of indigenous origin exist, a child belonging to such a minority or who is indigenous shall not be denied the right, in community with other members of his or her group, to enjoy his or her own culture, to profess and practise his or her own religion, or to use his or her own language." (Article 30) (The underlining is our added emphasis.)

                There are many thinly veiled ways to attack the religious beliefs, religious practices and religious freedoms of those who choose to obey God and keep His commandments.  Few are as repugnant as State-sponsored repression, police harassment and interference in the lives of peaceful Christian missionary families.  Ordering the children of any faith, especially those born and raised in that faith, to be forcibly "socialised" by dictatorial or authoritarian State agencies cannot be tolerated!  Yet we have experienced State-appointed agencies ordering children in our religious communities to either "be conformed to this world" or else be punished and persecuted!--What flagrant religious intolerance and what an inexcusable abuse of power, especially in today's supposedly civilised modern society!  What rebellion against the very Word of God, which cries out this commandment to all Christians, "Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:2).  If this contempt for the rights of others is not immediately checked, it will soon know no bounds or restraints.  No child of any faith will be safe.  We beg you to consider carefully what irreplaceable civil and religious liberties are being thus lost, and stand with us in this battle!