Nope I have a beard
Dave Hansen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Dave Hansen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
DAVEH: Hmmmmmm.....wonder if any of them are on TT.......? :-\
Now that I think about it, this......
*
** **Men must be clean-shaven, keep hair short and not wear ties,
*
...........and..........
*cuts itself off from the outside world, which it regards as evil.*
.....Sounds like Kevin. Do you suppose he's one of the
Brethren........ ;-)
ShieldsFamily wrote:
> Britain
>
>
> March 21, 2005
>
> *Top marks for sect schools that shun the modern world*
> By Tony Halpin, Education Editor
>
> A SECRETIVE religious sect that bans children from using computers or
> reading fiction has won praise from Ofsted for the quality of
> education provided by its schools.
>
> The Exclusive Brethren, which also believes that members should not go
> to university because it is too "worldly", runs 43 private schools
> educating 1,400 children.
>
>
>
>
>
> The group, an offshoot of the Evangelical Protestant Plymouth
> Brethren, cuts itself off from the outside world, which it regards as
> evil. Members are not allowed to have friends from outside the
> Brethren. They work only in Brethren-owned businesses, and their
> meeting halls have no windows. They must follow a rigid code of
> behaviour set down by their leader, known as the "Elect Vessel".
>
> Television, radio, mobile telephones, newspapers and going to places
> of entertainment are all banned. Computers and the internet are
> regarded as tools of the Devil.
>
> All private schools are now required to register either with Ofsted or
> the Independent Schools Council to show that they satisfy minimum
> criteria for education, although they are not required to follow the
> national curriculum. Ofsted has already accredited six of the
> Brethren's schools through the Focus Learning Trust, an educational
> group established by the church.
>
> A spokesman for the trust said it hoped to have all of them registered
> by the summer. He said that the schools observed the same rules as the
> Brethren on the use of computers and modern technology.
>
> "We don't have such things in our homes, we don't have them in our
> businesses and we would not have them in our schools," he said.
> "Children were educated extremely well, some would say better, before
> such things were dreamt up. There is a general perception in the
> educational world that the teacher who needs to employ such gimmicks
> to get their message across is clearly not the most committed teacher."
>
> David Bell, the Chief Inspector of Schools in England, praised the
> Exclusive Brethren in his annual report last month, in which he also
> criticised Islamic schools for teaching a narrow curriculum that posed
> a potential threat to Britain's sense of national identity.
>
> The sect, which adheres to a strict interpretation of biblical
> teaching, has most of its schools in the South of England. They were
> set up to keep children "away from damaging influences" in the state
> system.
>
> Mr Bell said in his report that teaching in the Focus Learning schools
> visited so far by inspectors was generally good. He went on: "Focus
> Learning provides good support to its schools and has developed a
> number of common policy documents that are of very good quality . . .
> The quality of teaching, most of which is done by experienced
> practitioners, is generally good."
>
> Most of the schools, which cater for pupils aged 11 to 17, had
> operated previously as tuition centres for children who were otherwise
> taught at home. They rely on fees from parents or donations from the
> Exclusive Brethren. Pupils are entered for GCSE and vocational
> qualifications.
>
> The Exclusive Brethren was founded in the mid 19th century. It
> believes the world is the domain of the Devil, and members spend most
> of their time in "safe places" such as meeting rooms and their own homes.
>
> Ofsted's praise of education standards at its schools has drawn
> criticism. Keith Porteous Wood, executive director of the National
> Secular Society, said: "Denying children access to knowledge that
> would help them to cope in the modern world is tantamount to abuse.
>
> "It will leave them ill-equipped to cope if they later decide that
> life inside the Brethren is not for them. It is alarming that Ofsted,
> in its keenness to accommodate religion, appears to have suspended its
> critical faculties."
>
> Doug Harris, director of the Reachout Trust charity, which provides
> support for former members of religious sects, said: "The basis of
> Exclusive Brethren belief is separation from the rest of the world. It
> can be distressing for them if they try to leave."
>
> **SEPARATE LIVES**
>
> � Members believe that the world is full of wickedness
>
> � Main group of Exclusive Brethren are called "Taylorites" after
> James Taylor Sr and Jr, who led the sect for much of the last century
>
> � There are up to 15,000 Exclusive Brethren in Britain, with
> congregations in 98 towns
>
> � Until recently, Brethren who left the sect, or "leavers", were
> ostracised
>
> � Members must keep away from others who do not follow the teaching
>
> � Members must marry young and have big families
>
> � Men must be clean-shaven, keep hair short and not wear ties, while
> women should keep hair uncut and wear blue or white headscarves
>
> � Worship is very simple with no ritual
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dave Hansen
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.langlitz.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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