A LETTER

Dear Pastor W, Mr. V, Mr. W and readers of "The Age",

It is out of the sincerest respect and deepest appreciation of Milton Hershey School, having provided me with both academic and social education which I could not have received at home, that I am discontinuing my "The Age" e-mails. 

Earlier today I received the following message from Pastor W in response to one of my "The Age" e-mails:

"Laura - You will stop this inappropriate use of your e-mail privilege right now.  You are free to believe whatever you want about God, prayer, and all spiritual things, and, when your not on the MHS campus, you can practice your belief system any way you would like.  But on our campus, belief in the reality of God will be taught and faith in God will be encouraged.  If you choose to continue to abuse your e-mail privilege by promoting what is diametrically opposed to the beliefs of the school, your e-mail will be taken away from you.  If you want to talk privately about your beliefs, let me know!"

The purpose of these e-mails – as the recipients were well aware - was to explore Bible verses and other religious themed materials.  With the disbandment of the high school philosophy club "Truth Seekers", I wanted to create an opportunity for my friends to explore both their personal views and alternative ideas with each other. The students involved come from various faiths and each has a different religious history.

I used e-mail because it was the easiest and most direct form of communication for busy students.

Even the most faithful Christian teenager (as responses to my "The Age" e-mails have proven) will have questions and concerns about their own faith. These could lead their thoughts toward another system of beliefs or even Atheism (the belief that god does not exist). Should these questioning students be shunned? Isolated? Out rightly ignored? Should these students be denied the opportunity for unbiased discussion/debate on the subject with their peers?

Many times, I have found that my comments – should another person find them faulty – have done nothing but strengthen their resolve in their own faith.  I highly doubt that the goal of MHS is to lead students to faith through uneducated blindness and fear. The views of the school and my own may be polar opposites, but I am confident that the intentions of both are of the purest quality. Despite the undeniable reality that MHS solely supports Christian beliefs, I still hope to create a peaceful awareness of alternative views – even those that I do not share. Simply, we are each passionate about what we feel is right, and we take the responsibility of communicating that truth personally.

The greatest asset a school can bestow upon its students is the opportunity to develop a true sense of self. All the memorized math equations in the world cannot compare with the confidence and success that comes with knowing who you are, what you stand for, and why.  The consequences of silencing these students will be far more devastating than exposing them to what is a "diametrically opposed" belief.

With Respect, Integrity, and a Positive Spirit,

Laura L. Gamari

Studenthome: Clearview