Ark park offers $1 admission to public school kids after field-trip warning

[rug]

JULY 14, 2016 11:41 AM
BY LINDA BLACKFORD

A week after a secularist foundation warned public school officials against taking kids to the newly opened Noah’s Ark, the attraction’s creator offered a new incentive: $1 admission for every public school student on a school-sponsored field trip and free admission for their teachers.

In a blog post Wednesday, Ken Ham, the co-founder of Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum, argued that the Freedom From Religion Foundation was wrong to warn more than 1,000 school districts in Kentucky and around the region that public school field trips to the Ark violated the constitutional separation of church and state.

- snip -

Education Commissioner Stephen Pruitt sent a letter Monday telling districts to make sure they have field trip policies at both the school and district levels. Principals usually approve field trips at the school level.

Legal experts and educators said public schools could visit the Ark only for educational purposes, such as a carpentry class or a comparative religion class.

http://www.kentucky.com/news/local/education/article89557642.html

http://ffrf.org/images/PublicschoolfieldArkParkKENTUCKY.pdf

[guillaumeb]

1. There seems to be some confusion between the various legal experts.

If students can be exposed to religion as part of a comparative religion class, will this not expose them to the danger of "instantaneous or spontaneous conversion" that seems to be a concern of the FFRF?

[rug]

3. Since neither Gaylor nor Barker are lawyers that may explain the confusion.

Being an ordained minister and having a bachelor's degree in journalism really does not qualify them to give legal advice to anyone, let alone to every school district in four states.

If they didn't write the letter, they shouldn't have signed it.

[longship]

11. FFRF has legal staff.

And their litigation record speaks for itself.

Frankly, I rather like Dan Barker and Annie-Laurie. They are pretty reasonable people. And they have a very competent legal staff with a good record, as these things go.

[rug]

13. The attorney who drafted the legal opinion is required to sign it, not his non-lawyer boss.

And their litigation record is not that impressive. Most of their activities, as here, consists of writing threatening letters. Mostly out-of-state. Their m.o., when anything is actually filed in court, is to recruit a local attorney to do it pro bono.

My opinion of them is their car is driven mainly by fumes and publicity.

[Lance Bass esquire]

2. I think it's a good idea to expose kids to all religions

In a learning setting. When I was a kid my mom took us to every kind if church there was to show us what they were,all about. In the long run I chose none of them but it was a good expierence.

Also if they go to learn about the ark that kills any argument when they go to learn about the Koran or Buddah.

They can't have a double standard.

[rug]

4. Since religions are so prevalent, education on them is imperative.

[marybourg]

6. That's why it would be O.K. to take

them there as part of a course on comparative religion, where they might also have a field trip to a Buddhist temple. But it's not O.K. to take them only to the ark as a cultural outing, like going to the aquarium or to an historic site. That would imply government endorsement of the idea and purpose of the ark.

[rug]

9. That's probably why the State Commissioner advised the districts to review their policies.

FFRF issuing multi-state fatwas is simply clouding the issue.

[Ron Obvious]

7. "carpentry class" ?! Phwoaarrr!

This thing wasn't exactly made by carpenting chunks of gopherwood together. It cost somewhere north of $100M and was outsourced to a construction company that used modern tools.

[rug]

8. Don't be so harsh. You can also learn how many inches are in a cubit.

[Hoppy]

10. --gonna be a lot of new woodshop classes in the surrounding area.

[Laffy Kat]

12. And as a parent I would raise holy hell and sue the school. nt

[rug]

14. Don't expect FFRF to take the case.

They write letters.