More info on Southland Christian School in FL (School that fired teacher for premarital sex)

[The Straight Story]

I called them up and got a link to their website (google/bing had one that ended in .net, but it expired in may. They have a new domain name now, ends in .us)

A few snippets from their site (and some reviews from another).

Yes - they are a private school and can do as they wish in some areas, but like I said before Scott's lawn care company fires people for smoking at home and I won't buy any of their products and discourage people from doing so.

http://www.southlandchristianschool.us/AboutUs/tabid/62/Default.aspx


S elect Godly administrators and teachers
O utstanding curriculum and academic excellence
U nderstand the basic needs of children
T each sound, disciplined study habits
H onor and exalt the Word of God
L ead children to a personal relationship with God
A lways handle problems with Godly principles
N ourish and help our staff's growth through devotions
D etermine to keep our school affordable for all

*The Bible is our source for all matters and the final authority
*Provide a high academic standard by using the best curriculum that is available.
We believe the A-Beka curriculum meets this standard.

*We believe in character development
Respect for authority
High moral values
Loyalty
Responsibility
Work ethic
Unity amidst differences
Teaching people skills


*Staff of born again believers
Passionate
Prepared
Personable
Pleasing the Lord

* Evangelistic towards hurting teenagers in the hope of ministering to their hearts and changing their lives

* Daily devotions with staff members

Exalt Christ
Explain Christ
Experience Christ

reviews from students and parents:
http://www.greatschools.org/school/parentReviews.page?id=4536&state=FL#from..Tab

O my gosh!!!!! I love Shouthland Christian School. The teachers are filled with love!!!!!!!! And I love their love. But with love comes dicsipline. Andd guess What I do... I take that dicsiplineand love it too. Because if I love dicsipline I won't go to jail and if i don't go to jail my life will be sooooooooooo much easier!!!! Southland is the best school I have ever been to in my entire life!!! The Abeka curriculum is soooooooooo advanced, that if you leave the abeka curriculum to go to another it will be like 1st grade. I pray the best for shouthland. Southland is so advanced that i got to skip a grade!!!! how cool is that!?!? I have been going there for this is my 2nd year here i am in 7th grade(i should be in 6th) i reccomend this school for everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by a student

Sadly, the parent who has taken her child out and put them into Heritage has made a big mistake. Heritage has a DARK spirit over the school and church and really needs to be anointed by the Lord. Maybe her son had problems and they were trying to help. We are taking our daughter out of Heritage and putting her into Southland. They ALL believe and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and have wonderful values to help the students both academically and spirtitually. I will be praying for the parent and child that left Southland.
Submitted by a parent

My son was a student at this school for two years. I have withdrawn him. Sadly, the staff is more into the personal lives of the students than in teaching and remaining professional. My son felt very uncomfortable and asked me to help him find another school. He is now enrolled at Heritage. I would not recommend this school. Please do not enroll your child at this school. Thank you for reading.
Submitted by a parent

Southland Christian School is the best school I have ever attended. Some people think tha is is like a prison and you have no freedom,well,all they are just trying to keep you out of prison! Principle Ennis, Mrs. Ennis, Mrs. Weiss, Mr. Weiss, Mrs. Baker, Mr. Williamson, Mrs. Johnson, Ms. Hamilton, Ms. Colon, Mr. Oliff, Mr. Attin, Mrs. Swepman, Mrs. G (Gillespie), all care and want you to prosper in your life, to be unselfish, but the #1 thig is to love God! I would rrecomend this school to everyone!
Submitted by a student

The teacher's are not certified, they use the Abecca cirriculum which is homeschooling materials. The school is extremeley militant! Their primary focus is on discipline, not on teaching. Would not recommend this school!!! My son was there for 2 years. Thank you.
Submitted by a parent


Posted May 30, 2007

Principal Ennis values and beliefs are very old school. He is rude and not very christian like. I have never seen so many 'fundraisers' and such at one facility. Golf tournaments with a goal of $30,000? Come on! We even received flyers about paying for carpeting that was damaged due to hurricaine's asking us to pay for the renovation of the one school bus they have.
Submitted by a parent

well, my opinion of the school is that it could be better. The teachers are to strict and into the students lives too much. If Southland wants to bring people to God they should stop being such bible extremists. The students have no freedom, its like a prison. I dont know how others feel about the school but I'd never let my kids attend if I had a choice. -Angie Suarez



[phone]

[left coaster]

1. That sounds more like a cult than a school.. creepy. nt

[The Straight Story]

2. And WTF does this even mean:

* Evangelistic towards hurting teenagers in the hope of ministering to their hearts and changing their lives

?????

[left coaster]

4. It means beat the devil out of those godless kids? Yeah, that's all kinds of crazy! nt

[Jim__]

19. I would read that as: Evangelistic towards teenagers that are hurting ... - n/t

[Mariana]

30. That's as good a guess as any. nt.

[rurallib]

3. The Bible is our source for all matters and the final authority

How does that work in math and science? Whoops forget the science, I know the answer to that one.

Sounds more like a cult than a school.

[Dappleganger]

5. So it's a fundie school...

and they act like it. Abeka is for teachers who prefer using workbooks for every single subject, even integrating bible verses into the math lessons.

Is this a surprise for anyone? My sister's son has been going to a private christian school for several years and he was just suspended for wearing a t-shirt which had previously been allowed by the principal, who was also fired for allowing it. What? My sister was so upset, but I just laughed. I mean, what do you expect from fundies?? Don't pick up a poisonous snake from the side of the road, take it home and call it your friend then act all surprised when you get bitten!

[The Straight Story]

7. My take on that

There are christian schools and then there are fundie schools.

It is nice to know which is which, and I think this one is obviously a fundie one.

I have, at times, considered a private Christian school for my daughter (can't afford it right now) and there is a decent non-fundie one down the road (currently she is home schooled).

Christian does not mean fundie ;)

[Dappleganger]

26. Oh, I agree with that.

I'm a catholic school graduate. ;)

But there are also schools which start out as 'christian' and then over time, change into fundie schools. That's sort of what happened in my sister's case.

[madfloridian]

6. I have tried to find if they get vouchers from the state.

But I can't find anything. In Florida we send kids to private religious schools with taxpayer money, so I really want to know.

[The Straight Story]

8. I can check into for you. Going to call them back here in a bit

Told them I wanted more info on the school, gave me the website, now I will call back for more info :)

Plus I want the names of all the staff and teachers, cause I want to run extensive background checks on them to see if they ever had sex before marriage - being the nice guy I am I want to help them keep the sinners away from the kids....

[madfloridian]

10. Good for you. Heh heh

I had trouble finding a website that said anything about the school. I tried the state and could not find names of schools with vouchers.

Watch out for those sinners. :rofl:

[The Straight Story]

9. Just called them, yes they take vouchers (nt)

[madfloridian]

11. SO..they get taxpayer money to fire teachers who have sex before marriage.

Thank you so much.

I just love my taxes going to schools like that.

[The Straight Story]

13. Here, try this link I found:

http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org/information/PrivateSchoolDirectory/Default.aspx

They are in the Osceloa district. Lots more info.

[madfloridian]

17. Well, it appears they are not accredited.

Wonder what kind of vouchers they get? Corporate ones that take taxes away from the state, McKay...which I believe is for those with disabilities. Hard to tell. Still doing some looking.

[Catshrink]

18. They are accredited in God

and their teachers are certified by the Lord Jesus Christ. And you're payin' for it.

[The Straight Story]

20. They had a name for the vouchers

And mentioned something about income. So I asked more directly "Well, I am not from FL but I am moving there, I understand the basic voucher system there already, so are you part of that system?" and he said yes.

shoot em a quick call, their website is having issues (which is a good reason to call) and tell them you are thinking about sending your kids there and want to know how to submit a voucher/etc.

407-891-7723

[madfloridian]

21. That might be the corporate voucher, sends poor kids to private schools

The state will lose 31 million in taxes next year alone.

"TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Senate passed a voucher bill Wednesday expanding a corporate tax credit program that lets parents place their children in private schools – the first on a roster of controversial education bills that would have broad import for public schools.

The bill, SB 2126, would boost funding for the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program from $118 million to $140 million and gradually increase the amount of per-pupil funding allocated to the students to 80 percent of what it pays for each child in public schools.

While most Democrats have traditionally opposed expanding so-called voucher programs, Republican Senate leadership turned to two black Democrats in the chamber who support vouchers to make their arguments on the floor.

“I have fought tirelessly to increase funding for our public schools. I believe teachers in public schools are heroes, but I also believe every child is different,” said state Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, who along with Senate Democratic leader Al Lawson broke with their party and voted for the bill, which passed 27-11.

There are also other vouchers being given, and it is very hard to determine what kind.

From last year:

More than two years ago, the state stopped giving tuition vouchers to students who wanted to leave failing public schools for private school. Since then, Florida's other two programs that pay private-school tuition for disabled kids or poor children have grown by 21 percent and 65 percent respectively. Today, 42,000 Florida students attend private school on the public's dime. And a new study touting voucher benefits could trigger more expansion.

Why is the number growing? As more people learn about the programs, more sign up. Low-income families are thrilled they can afford to find a school that meets their children's needs. Why are these 2 programs still allowed?

..."A 1999 lawsuit that challenged vouchers targeted only Opportunity Scholarships, offered to students at public schools that had received two F grades in a four-year period. The Florida Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional to do that.

But no one has fought the two other programs in court. The state's teachers union, one group that sued to kill Opportunity Scholarships, isn't planning to go after those two because of the cost and time involved. Critics argue the court ruling should apply to all three programs because they are so similar. But the Supreme Court justices noted it would be improper to make that assumption.

There are more vouchers than ever now. They all drain money from public education.

8 Catholic schools and one evangelical school in Palmetto turned charter to get public money.

[The Midway Rebel]

23. K and R for this info alone.

A clear violation of the separation of church and state and a misappropriation of public funds!

[madfloridian]

31. I think people are afraid to take it to court....

with the judges still in place from the Bush administration in so many areas.

And I hear some fear the Supreme Court we have now would not rule against it.

[Dappleganger]

28. 'Corporate tax credits'

Part of what is stealing valid tax money from our children.

[Catshrink]

29. That and "private school tuition vouchers"

Here in, where else, Arizona, people can "donate" money to a school for tuition. It's not supposed to be earmarked for specific students and schools claim that it isn't. But...it's a scam. Arizona Republic investigations have shown that the designations do happen. Just the wealthy taking care of their own.

[Dappleganger]

27. Isn't that LOVELY...

so unexpected....NOT! :evilfrown:

[NotThisTime]

25. taxpayer dollars for that??? A homeschool curriculum taught by the crazy...

[get the red out]

12. Correct!

They had the freedom to humiliate the teacher and fire her, we have freedom of speech.

Nice job showing these fundies for what they are, Christo-Taliban!

[The Straight Story]

15. I am a Christian myself - and am tired of fundies. (nt)

[get the red out]

24. I know many Christians like that

They don't want their rights taken by this hate-mongering bunch of theocrats either. These folks get buy with abusing kids too because it's "religion". I am thinking specifically of those concentration camps for gay teenagers they set up. But some of the comments you found about this school don't sound like kindness at all.

[Catshrink]

32. “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

~ Gandhi

[fishbulb703]

14. What do you expect from evangelical Christians?

[Catshrink]

16. I've often thought that vouchers would go away if "average" voters knew where the money goes.

Yeah, yeah, maybe I shouldn't think. But I think you've opened the door on the problem.

The first thought of many people when they hear "private school" is Catholic schools, which have a reputation of being generally pretty good. This makes vouchers not seem so bad. But, if "average" people knew their money was going for the fundie-whack job schools, I wonder if the attitude toward vouchers would change.

[ejpoeta]

22. i bet they have no qualms about taking donations of money from sinners.

maybe you could send them their stuff back with a note... sorry, i am sure you don't want money from sinners since you think you have a right to judge teachers and ask them personal questions and fire them because they don't do what you think they should do.

i would laugh my ass off if a scandal involving that principal or anyone of the people that fired that teacher were to come out.

[knitter4democracy]

33. A word on the Abecca curriculum:

I've looked over it, back when I was desperate for a teaching job right out of college and applied for a Baptist school position (long story). It's crap. I've seen some of their materials in the years since, and I was horrified. I can only speak for the high school English curriculum, but I've never seen anything so awful. No teacher can use those materials and easily meet any state's standards for high school; the teacher would have to massively supplement and directly go against some of the book's materials just to be able to do it. I can't speak for Florida's standards, not having read them, but I was very familiar with Ohio's at the time (and this was in Ohio), and I was horrified. I flat-out told the head of the department that I would need money for new supplemental books (the school's book closet, not room, was pitiful) and would need an entirely new set of books for the AP class they wanted me to develop and teach. The section questions were poorly worded and very low-level, the selected pieces were not representative of American literature at all (I knew very few of the authors in the book, and this after having studied at a Christian college that emphasized the classics), and the selections from the few pieces I recognized were hack jobs. No real English teacher could ever pick up that book at a conference and convince a real English department to make it the new textbook.

I have taught in Catholic schools, I went to an evangelical Christian college (not that I recommend doing that), and I am now in a public charter alternative high school: nowhere I have taught would ever accept that curriculum as anywhere near standard. It's not the Christian aspect as much as it is that it's just plain crap dressed up as Christian.