As one who was educated in DA very briefly, I did not receive a better education in England from which I came!

I will say that the standard of education was excellent then - 30 years ago and leaves much to be desired now. Girls, young women then had very fine examples of what women could accomplish via Ma. Charles - even is we didn’t agree politically.

But instead of us dramatizing one poor man’s view, it is possible for us to come together in any kind of unity to do something in the name of progress for our younger folks - the children.

In this day and age, it is shamefull that preschool education is not given more emphasis.

It is embarassing that pre teen girls think it glamorous and commendable to ‘flirt’ with a bus driver to get a free ride to school because there isn’t a system in place to subsidize or offer free transportation to children to go to school!

Those of us who spend hundred of hours of our time - voluntarily - let alone financially to improve DA need help too.

There are many, many Dominican who don’t understand that it costs as little as $150 US to send a child to preschool for ONE YEAR?

So, excuse my typos - if any. It’s time for Dominicans abroad to step up and do more for those left behind and not in a position to help themselves.

If we cannot do that then the cycle will not be broken - there will always be horrendous poverty in our country and not enough emphasis education.

It really does take a village to raise a child - what village did you leave behind?

Thank you

News crew attacked during report at TiZA charter school

The state Education Department on Monday directed a Minnesota charter school to “correct” two areas related to religion at the school on Monday.

Tarik ibn Zayad Academy, which focuses on Middle Eastern culture and shares a mosque with the Muslim American Society of Minnesota, came under fire after a teacher alleged that the school was offering religious instruction in Islam to its students.

“The Minnesota Department of Education goes to great lengths to make clear to charter schools and their sponsors that, while schools should appropriately accomodate students’ religious beliefs, they must be ‘nonsectarian’ under the state’s charter school law,” said the state’s education Deputy Commissioner Chas Anderson.

The allegations first surfaced after an article by a columnist for the Star Tribune. The Education Department subsequently began a review of the suburban Inver Grove Heights school and released its findings Monday.

The agency said it was concerned about the school, with about 300 students, accommodating communal prayer and providing transportation to an after-school religious program.

“We have directed the school to take appropriate corrective actions regarding these matters and will continue to provide oversight to ensure that the school is in compliance with state and federal law,” Anderson said.

In an attempt to report about the new findings from the Department of Education, 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS went to TiZA. While on school grounds, our crew was attacked by school officials. The two men were able to grab our camera and kept it until police arrived.

Our photographer was treated by paramedics after suffering minor injuries.

The first is all that I have ever asked, and I always do the second. Please understand how annoying it is here in America to find people being “tolerant” with religions that scream “death to the infidels” while being hostile and intolerant to anyone who says he has no religion.

Look at our political process. Although our Constitution stated that there shall be no establishment of religion and there shall be no religious test to hold office, and our customs used to be that one’s beliefs are nobody else’s business, our candidates fall all over themselves being publicly sanctimonious. An atheist can’t get elected here. Unless he or she is quiet about it, like Thomas Jefferson (Tom Paine and Ben Franklin never ran for office). My worry has always been for what happens when religion and politics mix. Theocracy has always been deadly.

I am very fond of civil society and the good morals that Christianity and Judaism have imparted. I also like gospel music.

What I have acted against is religious myths being used to trample the advance of knowledge. This is a human-nature tendency that intrudes upon religion. That is because the hierarchy in religions (as in any system) wish to retain power, and knowledge (or its appearance) is power. Religion paints itself into a corner teaching myths as “facts” and then must use its power to squelch all challenges.

So, while I don’t want to deride another’s sincere beliefs, when someone challenges what I can know and demonstrate to be science or even mathematics, I’m inclined to debate.

Thank you again.

P.s : Dominican women have liberties, we’ve had liberties before alot of other women around the world had. Dame Mary Eugenia Charles is a primary example. Dominican society don’t force anyone into one area. There isn’t much of a selection of jobs, but I know for a fact that we are liberated women. I am 26 and I feel especially blessed. If any woman decides to run for office here it’s not “tabu”, as it is in the United States : ex: Hilary Cinton . Whilst I on that point OBAMA FOR 2008! Yes we can, Yes we can!

I think you should refrain from making general statements about peoples belief. Whatever religion be it muslim , catholic, seventh day adventist I believe makes it capable to have laws that won’t allow someone to kill you when you walk the street, rob you blind of your life savings because its all encompassing.

you don’t have to encourage religion or go around saying i believe . Its okay not to believe!
But when you visit your friends house and they have their own beliefs i hope that you use your manners , be polite!

I never wrote that I know much about Judaism certainly not as much as you apparently do); I probably know more about Christianity. I was born to Jewish parents but they died when I was young and I was adopted and raised as a Christian. What I wrote is that I personally reject every and all religions.

Why should I have to shut up? Missionaries can blather all they want. They can come and tell people that their ancient beliefs are myths, and they do it backed by force of arms.

You have also called me “Anglo”. I don’t have a drop of Anglo-Saxon blood. We know little about each other, and having read what you wrote, I’d like to keep it that way. Just leave me alone with my belief (which you claim to “tolerate”). My belief is to not believe in anything not subject to rigorous test and proof or disproof.