Why do LDS students in southeast Idaho get school credit and grades for attending a LDS class off campus?

Question

This is during school time. They actually get credit for it. I saw the report card. Isn't there something called separation of church and state?

Yes, these are public schools not private, although the LDS are in control of the government and public schools there, being a majority,and the preference they have to their own. I guess they might as well be private.

Could there be another class other than Seminary, if it was called a common word like that, I don't think I would have had trouble pronouncing it. Maybe this is another question. We have release time in our elementary school for Christians and it is 1/2 hour.

Micheal's answer is a typical view of non-mormons outside of his tiny bubble.

Answer 1

It's called Seminary and it's for High School aged LDS youth. It is religious education, therefore it must be held off campus from the regular HS campus, but in areas where there are high populations of LDS the building is usually adjacent to the HS campus. It is allowed , meaning the students get credit and grades for it, because it is considered an elective, just like taking a cosmetology class or something like that is considered an elective even though they are off campus and get grades for it.
HOW did this come about? I don't know, but it probably does have to do with the long standing, high LDS population in your area. Typically it is found in southern ID, UT, western CO, and possibly around the Mesa area in AZ, it could also be in CA but I'm not sure. Everywhere else in the US at least, it is called Early Morning Seminary and is held at the church building prior to school (6:00am - 7:00am).

UPDATE: For Elementary aged kids we have Primary, but that's held on Sundays. There's also Achievement Days that's for kids 2 - 11, and that's held during the week. I don't know if they have release time for that or not, but I don't think they would get grades for that anyway. I don't know of any acronyms for Elementary School aged kids that might be hard to pronounce (we're big into acronyms). Umm, I don't know, you've stumped me.

Answer 2

I live in Utah and attended public high school...it's called "released time" by the school and counts as an elective (each student has to have so many electives and required classes) and is for one hour a day just like a normal school class... the school teachers are not teaching it so it is not part of the school system, LDS members teach and it is called "Seminary" by the church. I attended Seminary for 4 years 9th-12th and I loved it. I learned a lot and had some amazing teachers. Some of the lessons I am sure I will remember my whole life.

Answer 3

They go to Seminary. It's called "released time." They are released from their Idaho public school for that hour. Their parents and the principal have to sign a release form each school year. They do not get school credit. They do get report cards from the Seminary, and a letter grade. This grade is not reported on the school report card however. It is only useful if they are going to an LDS college such as BYU or BYU-Idaho, and they need to show they have graduated from Seminary.

Seminary is a 4 year program, each year they study a different set of scriptures, such as the Old Testament one year, the New Testament another year, the Book of Mormon a 3rd year, etc. They don't get school district credit for Seminary. They get Seminary Credit for Seminary, through the church, not the school district. You saw a Seminary report card.

Answer 4

How is it any different than the students that go off campus to take college courses? It's an elective. They choose religion, other kids choose art. It's a personal choice.

It also depends on the state you are in. I did not live anywhere that made seminary available during school hours. When I lived in North Dakota, we had seminary at 5AM so that we could get to school on time at 7AM (it was a 45 minute drive to school).

Answer 5

i'm from PA and that i went to BYU-Idaho. I additionally went to Penn State for Graduate college so i comprehend some thing of the non-LDS college ecosystem to boot. the explanation why I went: a million. The Church subsidizes approximately 75% of the training for participants. which ability you pay approximately 1600 money a semester while it might desire to have value approximately 7k or greater. 2. custom. My brother went there and that i wanted to pass there to boot. My sister would be going there too.. 3. while you're LDS i might reccommend you pass. while you're no longer LDS, you will pay greater training than LDS and in case you have some thing against the Church you will in all risk land up being unhappy. 4. Church faculties (no rely if every physique needs to confess it or no longer) are (i think of) the final place to fulfill your better half. I did and so do hundred of hundreds of BYU grads. 5. I certainly have seen stricken LDS extremely turn their lives around at BYU. I certainly have additionally seen LDS that don't yet i might say the latter happens much less many times than the former. 6. i might reccommend BYU to every physique it incredibly is LDS, and that i actually think of that's the final place for LDS childrens to pass. 7. and how ought to I ignore, the common of training is 2d to none for the cost which you pay!!!

Answer 6

Out of all the classes in High School, these classes probably will be a greater influence on their lives than any other. So, what's the problem?

Besides, most colleges offer religion classes these days. Do you want to make those not for credit as well?

I teach College and High School Students. Kids these days need some religion in their lives. If nothing else, it teaches them morals to live their lives by. From what I can see, not even some of their own parents are teaching them these things.

I attended this class you are talking about. Except, mine was in the early morning before high school.

Answer 7

If it's a private (religious) school, the separation of church and state doesn't apply.

Answer 8

Is this a public school?

Answer 9

Mormons are a dangerous cult. They are terrible, awful, ugly people who will do anything to get ahead of non-Mormons. There should be a bounty on them....a buck an ear, somethng like that.

Answer 10

maybe because you answer your own question.