P age B ö
A ugust 14, 1996 • T he P ortland O bserver
'Taught carefutty, Retigion needn't be taboo in cCassrooms
by
M ark F i ,OVD
American students may lag be­
hind much ofthe world when it comes
to learning about math, science and
geography, but they are virtual
Einsteins in those fields compared to
their knowledge about religion.
The teaching o f religion in the
United States hasn’t completely dis­
appeared, educators say, but it may
be the most under-taught--or poorly
taught-subject in the curriculum o f
most American Schools.
Many teachers either ignore the
controversial topic for fear o f politi­
cal backlash, or resort to tokenism -
for example, covering Judaism by
including a single Hanukkah song
during the annual holiday pageant.
“There is a noticeable gap in the
inclusion o f religious topics as part
o f a standard curriculum,” said Bar­
bara McEwan, an associate profes-
sor o f education at Oregon State
University. "M ost teachers go into
the classroom woefully unprepared
to deal with many legal issues, in­
cluding the teaching o f religion
“ We are alarmingly ignorant o f
the laws affecting education,” she
added. “As a result, we make it up as
we go. And, as a result, we get into a
lot o f litigation.”
McEwan, a nationally recognized
author in the areas o f educational law
and classroom discipline, said teach­
ers can respect religious diversity
while avoiding bias and tokenism.
The Supreme Court has never man­
dated the exclusion of religion from
American classrooms, she added,
merely and advocacy role.
“ I don’t see how you can teach
history and culture without teaching
about religion,” McEwan said. “ Re­
ligion played a role in the Pilgrims
coming to this country in the first
place and, in part, motivated the
westward settlement.
“ Failure to include religion as an
integral part o f how societies define
themselves would leave students with
a shallow and very limited under­
standing o f human history and cul­
tures,,” she said.
McEwan has developed a series
ofguidelines for teachers to integrate
religion and diversity into the curric­
ulum Published in a recent issue o f
the M iddle School Journal, the guide­
lines focus on maintaining an atmo­
sphere free from cultural and reli­
gious bias.
Most important, she says, is for
teachers to integrate religion and cul­
ture into the year-long curriculum, and
not to use Christmas-or other holi­
days --as the basis for a celebration in
a public school classroom.
“ We need to avoid giving students
the impression that everything there
is to know about Native Americans
should be taught in November, or
that everything there is to know about
African Americans should be taught
during B la c k H isto ry M o n th ,”
McEwan said.
McEwan said that comparative
religion courses are important, but
shouldn’t be implemented until at
least middle school, and probably
high school. Students at a younger
age may be unable to make up their
own minds about complex concepts.
Many educators prefer not to delve
into the teaching o f religion for fear
o f igniting controversy among stu­
dents or parents. McEwan, author o f
a book called P racticing Ju diciou s
D iscipline An Educator s G uide to
a Dem ocratic Classroom , said the
Supreme Court is clear on what can
and can’t be done regarding religion
in public schools.
“ Some teachers like to share their
own religious perspectives with stu­
dents because that can be an effective
way to teach,” McEwan said. “ The
Supreme Court has a different opin­
ion. It advocates a policy o f ’ whole­
some neutrality’ which says that the
state cannot promote or prohibit reli­
gion.”
“ In other words, you can give a
moment o f quiet to students and some
o f them may choose to pray,” she
stated. “ That’s okay. But you can’t
establish a prayer time. It’s all about
providing students with choices.”
Providing alternatives is why many
public school districts around the
country are forgoing Halloween par­
ties and decorations in favor o f “ har­
vest parties”- i n deference to stu­
dents and parents who dislike the
‘Rome's Jewish “g h etto ” stunned
BY P l l l t l f P t I.I.U.I.A
B itte rn e ss and anger swept
through Rome's Jewish quarter after
stunned residents heard that former
SS captain Erich Priebke would not
be punished for Italy’s worst war­
time atrocity.
R esidents o f the quarter on the
banks o f the T ib e r still known as
the “ G h etto ” poured into the
streets from homes and bu sin ess­
es on Thursday night when they
learned that a m ilitary court had
thrown out war crim es charges
against Priebke, 83.
It was from the same pavements,
shops and homes in the Ghetto that
in 1944 German soldiers rounded up
some o f the 75 Jews who died in the
A rdeatine Caves massacre along with
260 other men and boys.
“ We the living are in pain. You
have to realise that,” one angry man
told deputy prime minister Walter
Veltroni, who donned a Yarmulke
(skull cap) and took part at a prayer
service in the synagogue.
An 8 7-y e a r-o ld man named
Moses, his hands trembling and his
head shaking, said as he entered the
synagogue for the service: “ With
this verdict they have killed these
people twice.”
Veltroni was one in a constant
flow o f politicians who went to the
Ghetto to express solidarity with It­
aly’s outraged Jewish community,
the oldest in the diaspora.
As the Jews poured out o f the
synagogue after the service, some
could not contain their anger or their
emotion as they tried to dissect the
MISSING
Lennon Drew Smith - 3 5 yrs. old
6 0 " - 1 3 0 lbs.
Med Complexion (Black)
D.O.B. 1-2 6-6 1
Eyes: Brown
Hair: B la c k /W a v y /S h o rt Cut
Missing
court’ s verdict.
“ Tonight we are praying for all o f
the victims, Jewish and non,” said
Angelo Spizzichini, who lost sever­
al members o f his family when G er­
man soldiers killed the 335 men and
boys in retaliation for a partisan bomb
attack.
Prosecutors had accused Priebke
o f playing a leading role in the
organisation o f the massacre and
sought a life sentence.
“ This is a terrible verdict,” said
T u llia Z e v i, president o f Italy’ s Jew­
ish communities. “ A great opportu­
nity was lost which could have been
a definitive condemnation of a re­
gime that turned Europe upside down
50 years ago.”
M ayor Francesco Rutelli con­
demned the military court’ s ruling
Bachi togospeborigins
and ordered that the capital’s main
monuments remain in the dark on
Thursday night in a sign o f mourn­
ing.
“ Turning the I ights off monuments
does not resolve anything. This is a
n ice gesture bu, what happend today
was a farce, a shameful farce,”
Spizzichini said.
"W e are making the whole world
laugh at us. This is shameful, dis­
gusting.”
G razia n o D ise g n i, a merchant
with a shop in the Ghetto said:
“ Italy did not have the courage to
punish a delin q uen t like this.
They found this form ula to wash
their hands o f it lik e Pontius
Pilate (the Roman governor o f
Palestine who refused to save
C h rist from c ru c ifix io n ).”
( D b itu a r te s
Suzette Sanders
November 14, 1965 - August 3, 1996
The Funeral for Suzette Sanders
was held at 1:00pm on Friday, August
9, 1996 at the Vancouver Avenue
First Baptist Church, Portland, Ore­
gon.
Suzette Sanders and Ronnie Burns
were cousins, and both died in an auto
accident in SeaTac, Washington on
August 3, 1996.
Suzette lived in Portland, Oregon
all o f her life.
Suzette leaves to mourn: Minnie
Sanders, Mother (Portland); Joseph
West, Son (Portland); Patricia Sand­
ers, Sister (Portland); Frederick Davis,
Brother(Portland); Geneva Blake, Grandmother(Portland); Eddie Augustus,
Fiance (Portland); Sharnette Hunter, Niece (Portland).
Ronnie Duane Burns
July 2 1 ,1 9 6 7 - A ugust 3,1996
Last seen in Eugene and Portland driving a white Chrysler
New Yorker-Newer model 4 dr. 1984
His other car is here in Portland, It has been seen around town
a 1985 Olds. 4 dr. Line # BVB-195. Tan in Color all over.
A.P.B-Contact Portland Police or 497-8427 ask for Diann.
d/lit/fi '(fnHouncewwn/
f Mahd/w Tbeneua
Born: August 10, 1996
Weight: 61b 12oz
Length: 20 inches
Mother: Kathleen Lynette Mitchell
Father: Marsel Darvis Upton Sr.
Brother: Marsel Parvis Upton Jr.
Abdul M. Hasan
3855 S.W. Hall Blvd.
P.O. Box 567
Beaverton, OR 9 70 75
Insurance-Funded
Prearranged-Funeral
Programs
•
•
•
•
•
M.G. Insurance Services
Group-Life
Group-Medical and Health
Group-Disability
Annuities
Ther Funeral for Ronn ie Burns was
held at 1:00p.m on Friday, August 9,
1996 at the Vancouver Avenue First
Baptist Church, Portland, Oregon
Ronnie Bums and Suzette Sanders
were cousins, and both died in an auto
accident in SeaTac, Washington on
August 3, 1996
Ronnie lived in Portland, Oregon
all o f his life.
Ronnie leaves to mourn: Jesse R.
Bums, Sr., Father (Seattle, W A);
Donna Fraser Mother, (Portland);
Jesse Bums, Jr., Brother (Portland);
Richard Bums Brother, (Portland);
Christopher Fraser, Brother (Auburn, W A ); Gwen Haskins, Sister(Portland);
Geneva Blake, Grandmother (Portland); Marie Smith, Grandmother (Port­
land); Joe Bush, Great-Grandfather (Portland).
Interment was at the Rose City Cemetery
r
fc s .
Mt Olivet
Baptist Church
Abdul M. Hasan
Advance Planning
Counslar
Res. (503) 286-8671
Pager (503) 818-7138
Toll Free (800) 526-9608
Fax (503) 646-5855
holiday’s pagan origins.
“ Some parents feel that’ s nitpick­
ing, but when a student - especially a
very young one - has to walk into a
classroom ft I led with dangl ing ghosts,
cobwebs and witches, it can make
them uncomfortable,” M cEw an said.
“ And there are some families - Jeho­
vah’ s Witnesses, for example - who
don’t believe in the celebration of
any holidays.”
And that is why the traditional
Christmas pageant has all but disap­
peared from many American Schools,
in favor o f “ holiday” pageants, or
“ winter fests.” That may not be
enough, McEwan said.
“ I f you call it a Winter Festival
and then turn around and sing 39
songs about Santa Claus and Christ­
mas, then one song about snowflakes
and one about Hanukkah, you still
have a problem.”
8501 N. Chautauqua Blvd.
at Willis Blvd.
Worship Services 8:00am & 11:00am,
Church School 9:30 to 10:30am,
Bible Study, Wednesdays, 10:30am & 7:00pm
Radio Ministry each Sunday, 8:00am on KBMS
A Teaching Church frith A Reaching Ministry
Dr. James E. Martin, Senior Pastor
(503) 240-PRAY
by
F ranklin P avi .
Talented, energetic and driven,
vocalist Ann Nesby is just the wom­
an to break down the barriers that
exist between the Contemporary
Gospel and R & B genres.
O f course, it really doesn’t make
any sense in the first place that such
a division exists.
After all, Contemporary Gospel
is doing brisk business these days,
boosted by gifted artist like Kirk
F ran k lin , Fred Hamm ond and
Yolanda Adams. They have updat­
ed “church” music by injecting live­
lier grooves and a hip vernacular,
giving the Christian message a
uptempo sound for the 1990’ s.
And while secular artists like
Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston
and K -C i Haley rarely mention God
in their tunes, you can be sure he’ s
the first one they thank when ac­
cepting that Grammy or Soul Train
Music Award. Truth be told, many
o f today’s soul singers took their
first bows at their local church.
Yet, there stands a rock solid
barrier between the two genres,
despite their demographically-sim-
ilar audience. Don’t expect to hear
a gospel tune in regular rotation on
urban radio. And if you’re a secular
artist, please don’t waste your time
recording a gospel album. Chances
are it won’ t sell.
Nesby says that a change is due,
and she’ s uniquely qualified to make
such a request. She’s witnessed the
spirits on both sides o f the fence, a.
the lead singer for “ The Sounds o f
Blackness,” the popular Minneap­
olis-based inspirational group, and
as the writer o f tunes recorded by
the likes ofG ladys Knight and Patti
Labe lie.
According to her, there is a com­
monality o f ideals in the two styles
that goes beyond beat structure and
vocal delivery — that is, people
working to deal with one another.
So this year when she crafted her
debut solo album “ I ’ m Here For
You,” (Perspective) she focused on
that common thread.
“ I knew that I wanted to make an
album about relationships,” she re­
cently recalled. “ The broken-ness
and even the jo y o f family. Rela­
tionships as it relates with God,
husband and wife and our friend­
ship relationships.”
The result is a 7 1-minute emo­
tional examination o f the complex
feelings that we face each day, up­
lifted by Nesby’s masterfully rich
and powerful voice. The impres­
sive 14-song C D was written in
large part by Nesby and Sounds’
keyboardist Big Jimmy Wright,
under the watchful eye (and mixing
boards) o f super producers Jimmy
Jam and Terry' Lewis.
While the album is thick with
Nesby’ s spirituality, it also delves
into the kind of real world issues
that don’t focus on guidance from
on high. That’s what makes it un
usual.
That’s also where her problems
begin.
“ I knew that I would be criticized
for doing R & B and Gospel on the
same album,” she explained, her
voice as confident as it was invigo
rated. “ But I felt that it would take
that to talk about relationships, the
good side and the down side. It’s all
the truth.”
“ I wanted to talk about (life) not
always being a bed o f roses , and
didn’t see a way where a traditional
gospel song could explain that.’
One such issue she wanted to
address was the anguish and every­
day reality ofdivorce. So she penned
a song which stated, “ I ’ m st i 11 wear­
ing your name/But things are not
the same/l found me a better man/
Someone who loves me and under
stands.. ./The papers are on the way/
You can be looking for them any
day.”
Certainly not the traditional fare
that w ould have come from her most
powerful influences, The Reverend
JamesClevelandandShirleyCeasar.
But it is reminiscent ofanotherof
her idols. Aretha Franklin, who, like
Nesby, came o f age singing in her
church choir, was known to stir
audience with rousing tunes rang­
ing from “ (You Make Me Feel Like)
A Natural Woman,” to “ W holly
Holy,” without skipping a beat.
Audiences around the globe are
growing to recognize and appreci­
ate Ann Nesby’ s special blend o f
music.
Last month, she traveled to Bra­
zil, where she did a pictorial spread
for Vogue magazine and performed
at a local church. Last week, she
sang at the Atlanta Olympics. And
in June, the mayors o f Bloomington
and Minneapolis, Minn., declared
June 8, “ Ann Nesby Day.”
Still, Nesby sees that wall be­
tween the musical worlds remains
standing. She’s succeeded so far in
satisfying both audiences ("L o rd ,
How I Need You,’ ’ a self-written
traditional song, is already a gospel
favorite, and I ’ ll Do nything For
Y ou,” her current single, is one o f
the greatest airplay and sales gain­
ers on Billboard Magazines Hot
R & B singles chart).
But she’s driven to inspire more
artists to strive to diversify their
tastes, thereby giving these precious
musical forms a platform to live and
breathe. And come together.
“ I think that if we continually
pound away,” Nesby said, ” we will
make our own way.”
& irth ^y4nno ancementó
Nicole Marie Gamble
Birth date 7-8-96
71b 8.5oz
20.5 inches
Mother: Diane Marie Gamble
Father: Steven Dee Gamble