Message #8956 - Wicca (Magicknet) Date : 27-Sep-90 09:54 From : Tandika Star To : Rowan Moonstone Subject : News Article ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- @MSGID: 1:308/0.4 9d89a23d The following article appeared on page 1 in the "El Paso Times, New Mexico edition" on September 27, 1990: Title: "NM critics say schoolbooks might teach about occult" Source: Associated Press Body: "SANTA FE -- The state Department of Education is getting complaints from reviewers that a series of books being considered for elementary school children -- including works by A.A. Milne, author of "Winnie the Pooh" -- could teach children about the occult. "Most of the 400 people who reviewed the books, published under the series titile "Impressions," opposed adopting them. "Some of the reviewers said they believe the material contains writings that could teach students about the occult. "Cathy Blaschke, mother of three Santa Fe schoolchildren, said the books are "basically teaching children a Satanist religion. It's not free from religious bias." " "There really are witches," she said. "It is a religion. We're... The article is continued on page 2 with the title: "Occult" "not supposed to teach religion, whether it's Christian or witchcraft of Mormonism." "She also said some of the stories are scary and could give children nightmares. "Mary Helen Garcia, principal of a Las Cruces elementary school where the books are being used in a pilot project, said her students have suffered no ill effects. "Garcia said kindergarten, second-grade and fifth-grade classes are participating in the project and that teachers have been impressed by the material. " "I think it's one of the best developmental kindergarten programs I've ever seen," she said. "Beth Noland, director of instructional materials for the Education Department, said the materials teach about literature, not witchcraft. "The stories and poems in the series include works by folk singer Woody Guthrie, science fiction author Ray Bradbury, Milne and 19th century poet Christina Rossetti. "A Department of Education subcommittee is to decide Friday whether to recommend that the state Board of Education approve the books. Approval would mean the books would be included on a list school districts can buy with state money. They would not be required books. "Garcia said she will defend the material at Friday's meeting. "Beth Steinhaus, a Santa Fe sixth-grade teacher, said the key to the effect of the texts is how they are used in class. "She is a member of the screening committee that reviewed "Impressions." The committee looks at such things as whether a book has representations of many cultures in its characters and if it is free of negative stereotypes of race, religion, sex or culture. "Steinhaus said teachers can determine what is appropriate to present to their class and what material should be avoided." End of Quote --- FD 1.99c * Origin: Dimension Nine, Alamogordo NM (1:308/0.4)