Profanity revisited- 8/03/96

August 03, 1989

Editor
Englewood Independent
107 W. National Rd.
Englewood, OH 45322

Dear Editor
I am sending you a copy of my letter to the school board. This is for you information only. I am not asking you to print this as a letter to the editor. I think most of your readers are intelligent enough to come to the same conclusion.

By His Grace and For His Glory

Pastor Charles J. Arnett Union Baptist Church
528 N. Main St. Englewood OH 45322

August 03, 1989

Northmont School Board
4001 Old Salem Road
Englewood OH 45322

Dear School Board Members
"There you go again." That was a very humorous phrase during the last presidential election, but it is a very serious accusation. I feel I must use it to point out an attempt by some on the School Board and the Northmont School administration to blow smoke and cloud the language issue. I am referring to the Englewood Independant editorial of July-26 in which the Superintendent was quoted as saying that students could not say anything they wanted. It has been stated that profanity was covered under the existing "Rules of Student Conduct." The truth is that language is not covered at all. There is no section dealing with inappropriate language. There is no rule against profanity or against obscenity. In the mentioned editorial, the Superintendent was quoted as saying that if a student said, "God damn you," that would be punished. That only substantiates what I said in my letter to the editor. (Same issue) That is, if a person insults another creature then that is against the rules. It would appear very instructive that He didn't say if a student said, "God damn it." The rules do not allow for any discipline for that. As usual the liberal hides behind smoke screens, and do not want the public to know the facts. There has to be some on the school board that believe that there is inappropriate language for students. Language can be inappropriate in and of itself and not as it is related to or directed to the creature. My request to the school board is that you incorporate a section in inappropriate language or else be honest. Integrity would dictate that this present School Board say they do not care how the students talk as long as it does not "intimidate, insult, verbally abuse" another person. By the way, I think it is very instructive that the rule stating that a student shall not intimidate, insult, verbally abuse" another person is found twice in the aforementioned code; while, there is no rule against profanity or obscenity. It is obvious that the school is taking, either unwittingly or knowingly, the religious humanist stand. Is that really what this board wants? The letter in the Aug. 3 Independent by Dr. Anderson was typical of the liberal mind-set. He really showed himself by making an attack against fundamentalist in general and did not deal with the issue at hand. The issue at hand is, SHOULD THE PARENTS OF NORTHMONT DEMAND THAT INAPPROPRIATE LANGUAGE BE INCORPORATED IN THE RULES OF CONDUCT. I trust that the other members of the School Board are not influenced by the callow, infantile, sophomoric rantings of one of its members. Certainly you can recognize the obvious attempts at the psychological manipulation of this Board. [ By the way, Dr. Anderson, my letter to the editor did not mentioned "upstate" theologians but spoke of "apostate" theologians. Upstate was a typo of the Independent. Also, Dr. Anderson, my view of the scripture or of God is no different than the Westminster Standards; which I presume that you are aware of. The Standards are the historic and orthodox Presbyterian Standards. Present day vows by Presbyterian clergy include a vow accepting those standards. Dr. Anderson, as you know the liberal has no conscience about saying one thing and meaning something else. ] The only reason that I appeared to the School Board was to ask the board to include a statement about profanity. That whole issue has been covered over by flattering my faith or arguing about a single incident. Again I think, that truthfulness demands an admission that there is no rule against profanity or verbal obscenity in the Northmont Schools. Also, candor mandates that you tell the parents and citizens your opposition or acceptance of profanity and/or obscenity. If the Lord wills (James 4:15), I will be at the School Board meeting in September. Thank you for your consideration. I anticipate your response on this matter.

By His Grace and For His Glory

Pastor Charles J. Arnett Union Baptist Church
528 N. Main St. Englewood OH 45322
cc. Englewood Independent Editor, et. al