To replace flasehoods and myths with facts education will always have a need.

What counts as education? If it's simply imparting a view of the world, is there a real difference between dogmatic religious indoctrination and objective scientific information-passing? Yes, but, while I am sure there is a clear dividing-line between the two, it is not easy to define it or to say who gets to draw it.

Never

It's never more important. Ever.

The writer's educational, or rather indoctrinational, experience should be the greatest testimony to why even religious schools must meet the standards set by the state. Exempting them is a travesty and a disservice to the students.

Never

Wow. I had no idea… This is terrible… again, child abuse sanctioned by religion. Ugh.

Education is ALWAYS more important than religion.

This isnt new. The AMISH and I believe THE MENNONITE communities have been granted exemptions for their youths and education. Eight grade or so is the only level that they have to achieve.

When I was going through grade school, I believe there was widespread agreement on what constitutes a good education. And I feel, increasingly, that I did get an excellent education although in a rural area. Relligion was Nowhere to be found except when in 1953 they added "under gawd" to the Pledge of Allegiance, and I distinctly remember many adults being greatly upsey by it. It was the McCarthy witchhunt era. One of the things we got, at every grade level, was a firm understanding of Why separation of church & state was so important....yet here came Gawd (whose gawd?) into the classroom!

Wow. Had no idea the Hasidic community had schools not providing adequate high school courses and that the community relies on federal and NY social programs to exist. In Israel the Chasidim used to be excluded from paying taxes and serving in the military. I do not know if these requirements are still being waived. I call on NY state to do something to fight the lobbyists and get these kids a quality academic education.

Education is the foundation for everything

Catholics seem to think they are inseperable.

Its Not