LLee
March 5th, 2007, 11:28 AM
Do you understand Hegelian dialect, values clarification, consensus building? Or familiar with the whole liberal agenda or teaching kids to be members of a global society? If so, and if you have time to help me, could you take a look at this?
My daughter has been chosen to represent her Lutheran school at the Wisconsin Leadership Seminar. She's a very smart girl, and, of course, it's a great honor for her to be picked out of 600 kids. However, she's only 15, and looking at the schedule, I'm getting really nervous about this. She's a normal kid and likes to fit in. I'm not sure if she's going to be able to separate the good from the bad here, and honestly, I'm having a hard time finding any redeeming value at all. Am I being concerned for nothing? What do you think?
http://wils.us/seminar.htm
(the red are my comments)
Friday, June 15th
7:30-9:00 AM Registration
9:00-9:30 AM Welcome to WILS
9:30-11:00 AM Motivational Speaker Paul Wesselmann
www.PaulWesselmann.com
www.TheRipplesProject.org
Paul Wesselmann, an active member of the GLBT (Gay Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender) community in Madison, Wisconsin, where he began Stone Soup Seminars, and the director of Volunteer Services at the Madison AIDS Support Network
"It's really a topic of understanding," Wesselmann said. "If the discussion of sexual orientation continues outside of this room in offices and classrooms, then more understanding can be achieved."
Topics from teaching children about sexual orientation to religion were tackled and Wesselmann's answer was simple in each area; understanding and love.
"We can teach children about sexual orientation," Wesselmann said. "There are age-appropriate methods of explaining homosexuality to children."
(From http://www.siue.edu/ALESTLE/library/spring1998/apr.02.98/life2.html)
Lots more on Wesselmann:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22Paul+Wesselmann%22+gay
Part of my concern is that Wesselmann makes a point of teaching that being a gay Christian is perfectly OK:
http://media.www.cm-life.com/media/storage/paper906/news/2006/04/12/WebFeatures/Wesselmann.Speaks.Of.Life.As.A.Gay.Christian-2502470.shtml
I do not believe that. I believe you can be Christian and be struggling with homosexuality or many other sins - but to be actively promoting it is to be completely unrepentent. It goes against what our family, our church and my daughter's school believes and teaches. I hear this guy is very, very persuasive, though.
11:00-12:00 PM Team Building Exercises Sarah Perkins
Maybe this is OK, but I'm wondering if these are just consensus building exercises?
12:00-1:00 PM Lunch
1:00-3:00 PM Group Time, Photos, Ice Breakers
A former attendee said on her Xanga site that the ice breakers were "Ride that Pony" and "Train Wreck." Ever heard of those?
3:00-4:15 PM Panel - Our Role in Iraq/Conflict in the Middle East
OK, given that I can already tell there is a very liberal slant to this conference, what do you think she might hear with this one? Is it going to be ranting against our country or president? I just don't know how this might go - and I'm concerned that it would be very one-sided
4:15-5:00 PM Small Group Time - Talk with a Vet
Whatever slant the one above has, they probably found a vet to support that - and that could be very emotional. Again, she's only 15.
5:00-6:00 PM Dinner
6:00 - 7:15 PM Take-a-stand Exploring your Ethics
This is a values clarification exercise. Berit Kjos defines values clarification as "a process which uses ‘facilitated dialogue to replace old beliefs and values (first) with moral relativism and self-made choices, then (second) with new global beliefs and values. It shatters faith, destroys modesty, desensitizes to evil, and frees children to follow their feelings." More here: http://www.lightforthelastdays.co.uk/view_page.asp?page_id=178§ion_id=1&menu_id=231 and tons more at Berit's website: www.crossroad.to
From a former nominee's Xanga site:
http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=RacheeDB&nextdate=6%2f21%2f2004+22%3a39%3a9.733
Then we did this really cool thing called Take-a-Stand. It was awesome because there were questions like Homosexual Marriage should be legal. And if you agreed you would move one way, but if you disagreed you would move another. It was neat to see the way people thought, and why they thought that. Then for oe of the arguments you had to switch... So if i was on the agree side, i would have to switch my mind-set and pretend that i was on the disagree side, and then iwould have to voice their (which was the opposite of mine) opinon to them. I know it sounds confusing, but it really made you think abouty the other side.
7:15-7:45 PM Change for Dance
7:45-10:00 PM Hawaiian Dance DJ Dan Kender
10:00-11:00 PM Group Reflections
11:30 PM Lights Out!
Saturday, June 16th
7:00 AM Wake Up
7:30-8:15 AM Breakfast
8:15-8:30 AM Morning Announcements (Cafeteria)
8:30-10:00 AM Conflict Management Styles Interactive Group Session
This is almost certainly led by Paul Wesselmann. That is part of what his group does. I'm guessing this is more consensus building, possibly values clarification. Or maybe it's just fine?
10:00-10:15 AM Alumni Info Session
10:15-10:45 AM Volunteer Organization Panel
10:45-11:00 AM Get Ready for Volunteer Tours
11:00-2:30 PM Volunteer Tours
The former nominee pulled weeds for several hours. Nothing wrong with that, but seems odd to spend that much time out of a weekend leadership conference doing that.
2:30-3:45 PM Group Time ????
3:45-5:00 PM Workshops (Medical Ethics, Law, Nutrition, Green Living)
From that same Xanga site:
Then we had a Criminal Investigation and Prosecution Panel. it hade a Professor of law. and a DA. it was interesting to see the ethics tossed around.
Then when we returned (i was scratched and burned from being outside pulling weeds) we had a Bio-Medical Ethics Panel with a Health Attorney, and a Mecial Geneticist. That was fun because it was stuff (much deeper than, but on the same track) like is it moral to choose the sex and genetic makeup of your baby?
5:00-6:00 PM Dinner
6:00 - 7:30 PM Thank You Letter Writing
7:30-8:00 PM Small Group Time
8:00-10:00 PM Talent Show
10:00-11:00 PM Group Reflections
11:30 PM Lights Out!
Sunday, June 17th
7:00 AM Wake Up
7:30-8:15 AM Breakfast
8:15-8:30 AM Morning Announcements (Ballroom)
8:30-9:30 AM Morning Activity (Choose One)
Nondenominational Service
Educational World Religions Forum
9:30-10:00 AM Diversity Workshop - Analyzing Stereotypes
I can only imagine.
10:00-11:00 AM Diversity Panel
Same with this one.
11:00-12:00 PM Closing Motivational Speaker Darin Eich
www.collegemotivation.com
This is the same guy who does the "Take a stand" stuff, apparently. So, also very liberal.
12:00-1:45 PM Parents Luncheon
1:45-3:00 PM Closing Ceremony
3:00 PM Check Out!
Like I said, I'm having a hard time finding the redeeming value in this conference. I'm meeting with one of the pastors at my daughter's school Wednesday to talk about it, and I'd like to go with as much information as possible. I'm not sure why her school (conservative Lutheran) even participates in this.
Again, it's a great honor. It will look good on her resume. But, is it worth it?
My daughter has been chosen to represent her Lutheran school at the Wisconsin Leadership Seminar. She's a very smart girl, and, of course, it's a great honor for her to be picked out of 600 kids. However, she's only 15, and looking at the schedule, I'm getting really nervous about this. She's a normal kid and likes to fit in. I'm not sure if she's going to be able to separate the good from the bad here, and honestly, I'm having a hard time finding any redeeming value at all. Am I being concerned for nothing? What do you think?
http://wils.us/seminar.htm
(the red are my comments)
Friday, June 15th
7:30-9:00 AM Registration
9:00-9:30 AM Welcome to WILS
9:30-11:00 AM Motivational Speaker Paul Wesselmann
www.PaulWesselmann.com
www.TheRipplesProject.org
Paul Wesselmann, an active member of the GLBT (Gay Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender) community in Madison, Wisconsin, where he began Stone Soup Seminars, and the director of Volunteer Services at the Madison AIDS Support Network
"It's really a topic of understanding," Wesselmann said. "If the discussion of sexual orientation continues outside of this room in offices and classrooms, then more understanding can be achieved."
Topics from teaching children about sexual orientation to religion were tackled and Wesselmann's answer was simple in each area; understanding and love.
"We can teach children about sexual orientation," Wesselmann said. "There are age-appropriate methods of explaining homosexuality to children."
(From http://www.siue.edu/ALESTLE/library/spring1998/apr.02.98/life2.html)
Lots more on Wesselmann:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22Paul+Wesselmann%22+gay
Part of my concern is that Wesselmann makes a point of teaching that being a gay Christian is perfectly OK:
http://media.www.cm-life.com/media/storage/paper906/news/2006/04/12/WebFeatures/Wesselmann.Speaks.Of.Life.As.A.Gay.Christian-2502470.shtml
I do not believe that. I believe you can be Christian and be struggling with homosexuality or many other sins - but to be actively promoting it is to be completely unrepentent. It goes against what our family, our church and my daughter's school believes and teaches. I hear this guy is very, very persuasive, though.
11:00-12:00 PM Team Building Exercises Sarah Perkins
Maybe this is OK, but I'm wondering if these are just consensus building exercises?
12:00-1:00 PM Lunch
1:00-3:00 PM Group Time, Photos, Ice Breakers
A former attendee said on her Xanga site that the ice breakers were "Ride that Pony" and "Train Wreck." Ever heard of those?
3:00-4:15 PM Panel - Our Role in Iraq/Conflict in the Middle East
OK, given that I can already tell there is a very liberal slant to this conference, what do you think she might hear with this one? Is it going to be ranting against our country or president? I just don't know how this might go - and I'm concerned that it would be very one-sided
4:15-5:00 PM Small Group Time - Talk with a Vet
Whatever slant the one above has, they probably found a vet to support that - and that could be very emotional. Again, she's only 15.
5:00-6:00 PM Dinner
6:00 - 7:15 PM Take-a-stand Exploring your Ethics
This is a values clarification exercise. Berit Kjos defines values clarification as "a process which uses ‘facilitated dialogue to replace old beliefs and values (first) with moral relativism and self-made choices, then (second) with new global beliefs and values. It shatters faith, destroys modesty, desensitizes to evil, and frees children to follow their feelings." More here: http://www.lightforthelastdays.co.uk/view_page.asp?page_id=178§ion_id=1&menu_id=231 and tons more at Berit's website: www.crossroad.to
From a former nominee's Xanga site:
http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=RacheeDB&nextdate=6%2f21%2f2004+22%3a39%3a9.733
Then we did this really cool thing called Take-a-Stand. It was awesome because there were questions like Homosexual Marriage should be legal. And if you agreed you would move one way, but if you disagreed you would move another. It was neat to see the way people thought, and why they thought that. Then for oe of the arguments you had to switch... So if i was on the agree side, i would have to switch my mind-set and pretend that i was on the disagree side, and then iwould have to voice their (which was the opposite of mine) opinon to them. I know it sounds confusing, but it really made you think abouty the other side.
7:15-7:45 PM Change for Dance
7:45-10:00 PM Hawaiian Dance DJ Dan Kender
10:00-11:00 PM Group Reflections
11:30 PM Lights Out!
Saturday, June 16th
7:00 AM Wake Up
7:30-8:15 AM Breakfast
8:15-8:30 AM Morning Announcements (Cafeteria)
8:30-10:00 AM Conflict Management Styles Interactive Group Session
This is almost certainly led by Paul Wesselmann. That is part of what his group does. I'm guessing this is more consensus building, possibly values clarification. Or maybe it's just fine?
10:00-10:15 AM Alumni Info Session
10:15-10:45 AM Volunteer Organization Panel
10:45-11:00 AM Get Ready for Volunteer Tours
11:00-2:30 PM Volunteer Tours
The former nominee pulled weeds for several hours. Nothing wrong with that, but seems odd to spend that much time out of a weekend leadership conference doing that.
2:30-3:45 PM Group Time ????
3:45-5:00 PM Workshops (Medical Ethics, Law, Nutrition, Green Living)
From that same Xanga site:
Then we had a Criminal Investigation and Prosecution Panel. it hade a Professor of law. and a DA. it was interesting to see the ethics tossed around.
Then when we returned (i was scratched and burned from being outside pulling weeds) we had a Bio-Medical Ethics Panel with a Health Attorney, and a Mecial Geneticist. That was fun because it was stuff (much deeper than, but on the same track) like is it moral to choose the sex and genetic makeup of your baby?
5:00-6:00 PM Dinner
6:00 - 7:30 PM Thank You Letter Writing
7:30-8:00 PM Small Group Time
8:00-10:00 PM Talent Show
10:00-11:00 PM Group Reflections
11:30 PM Lights Out!
Sunday, June 17th
7:00 AM Wake Up
7:30-8:15 AM Breakfast
8:15-8:30 AM Morning Announcements (Ballroom)
8:30-9:30 AM Morning Activity (Choose One)
Nondenominational Service
Educational World Religions Forum
9:30-10:00 AM Diversity Workshop - Analyzing Stereotypes
I can only imagine.
10:00-11:00 AM Diversity Panel
Same with this one.
11:00-12:00 PM Closing Motivational Speaker Darin Eich
www.collegemotivation.com
This is the same guy who does the "Take a stand" stuff, apparently. So, also very liberal.
12:00-1:45 PM Parents Luncheon
1:45-3:00 PM Closing Ceremony
3:00 PM Check Out!
Like I said, I'm having a hard time finding the redeeming value in this conference. I'm meeting with one of the pastors at my daughter's school Wednesday to talk about it, and I'd like to go with as much information as possible. I'm not sure why her school (conservative Lutheran) even participates in this.
Again, it's a great honor. It will look good on her resume. But, is it worth it?