Secondary Education on a Cusp in NC | Eastern North Carolina Now

    We have a most important matter before our governing officials:

    The comments thus far reflect divisive views around NC. Conservatism seems to thrive on division and a false sense of security it tries to generate to frightened people.

    In the 90's, Southeastern Seminary was drastically changed by Baptist Conservatives who took over the Baptist churches most plenteous in the US. One of their first steps was to come in and destroy my Seminary, Southeastern, in Wake Forest where I graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in 1970. I had moved back to NC in 1986 and it was part of my insurance territory. I had a front row seat on that destruction and change. Now it is part of the coalition of Conservative schools across the South. Included in these are Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC; Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA; Pat Robertson's Heritage University in Chesapeake, VA.

    My commentary to the N&O article: When Southeastern Seminary was turned Conservative by force in the 90's, it was a "Preacher School" and did not bother the general education in NC so only Dr. Bill Friday (then Chancellor of UNC on his Public TV program) observed: "This is, perhaps, the most significant change in NC in the 20th Century because the new products of this institution will enter the pulpits of NC and surrounding states with a new kind of minister, one who wants to absolutely control them." (loosely quoted from memory). He then began an interview with the new President, Paige Patterson, coming from Criswell College in Dallas, TX.

    Now, if we let a super conservative Legislature of Tea Party obsession do this to UNC

    it will not be long until all secondary schools in NC become a slave of Conservatism, in my view. Free education is essential to a thinking populace = be more than careful who you let mold young and trusting minds . . .

    Any who question my observation need only to look at the history of Communism and Fascism from Nazi Germany to modern Russia. Every dictator who wants control submits schools to worship his picture on the wall each day . .

    Paige Patterson got the Position as his reward for being one of two men who led the so-called "Conservative Resurgence of the SBC." Now, a new Professor of Baptist History, Dr. Nathan Finn, is actually redacting the history to reflect "we were always this way . . ." The students nowadays have no reference because most are from non-traditional SBC backgrounds.