They Can't Read When They Graduate.....

... but, hey, as long as they git sum uf that ol' time relijun, Georgia is happy.

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Georgia lawmakers have approved a measure to fund elective Bible courses in public schools, raising concern among civil liberties groups the classes could violate the U.S. constitutional separation of church and state.

Isn't this what Sunday School is for? It's been a while since Hellena was darkening the doorstep of any high school, but she does remember this: there were precious few enough hours to squeeze in the necessary courses. And with Georgia consistantly falling at the bottom of the charts in education in a state to state comparison, seems they can hardly afford the distraction of another elective course.

If this is to be enacted as just a historical teaching of Biblical history & archeology, and not as an indoctrination for students as the legislators say, then Hellena proposes that ALL religions be included in a comprehensive course that covers the world's belief systems.

And the Conservative Push Begins...

...against adoption by gay parents. At the forefront of the debate emerges one Debra Maggart, Republican Rep in Sumner County, TN. According to Maggart, most gays and lesbians are unfit to parent because they have "emotional dysfunctions and psychological issues." Yeah, Hellena doesn't know any heterosexual women or men who are dysfunctional. There's no soccer moms doped up on mood inhibitors in this God-fearing country.

Is anyone else thinking of SNL's Church Lady here?

Turns out Ms. Maggart is divorced, which makes her oh-so-stable and qualified to be a single parent, yet she believes children need "the optimum family unit, and that is a mother and a father." Apparently, Maggart hasn't checked the divorce rate of heterosexual couples lately.

An excellent write-up from Guerilla Women TN here.

Isn't that special?