A storm around a day care centre in Valby

Part of Tax-exempt Child Abuse and Neglect by Mike Gormez

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From: rkeller@netaxs.com (Rod Keller)
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Subject: Jyllands-Posten: Day care center
Date: 3 Mar 2002 22:24:09 GMT
Message-ID: <a5u7q9$r1a@netaxs.com>


A storm around a day care centre in Valby
Jyllands-Posten
February 27, 2002
By ASGER WESTH
http://www.jp.dk/dbp/internetavisen/kbh/artikel&art_id=3610894
(registration required)

The Scientology-church in Denmark disclaims any connection with the day
care centre 'Lillekilde' in Valby, which has been in the spotlights of the
Municipal of Copenhagen and where it is now being decided if the State aid
to the institution should be terminated. 

"It was started as a private care facility by some parents. Those, who I
know using the kindergarten, are quite fond of it, but we have no
connection whatsoever with them," says the PR chef Annette Refstrup,
Scientology. 

"But if the Municipal of Copenhagen is anxious, it would be preferable if
they visited the place or us. We like to tell what we stand for," she
says. 

Kerstin Bergendal, who has a child in 'Lillekilde', thinks that the
Municipal of Copenhagen are on the wrong track. 

"I have no sympathy for Scientology and my child would never be in the
institution if there was any connection," says Kerstin Bergendal. 

"'Lillekilde' has maybe been pedagogically inspired by L. Ron Hubbard, but
the Bible is also being used. The City Counsel should have set some strong
demands. I am sure they would have lived up to them. If we get aid, we can
also get pedagogical trained staff, which is what we wish as parents," she
says. 

Pedagogical guide-lines

Lennart Gottlieb is a parent, who certainly does not want to be mixed up
with Scientology. 

"The moment something like Scientology turns up, I'll take my daughter out
of there. I cannot judge if the staff is well trained, but I see my child
feeling fine. It's a great place. The only problem is that the children
get too many pop-corns on Fridays," he says. 

A member of the family- and labour market commission, Manu Sareen (R),
turns down the criticism of parents that the municipal holds a prejudiced
opinion about 'Lillekilde'. 

We have been extraordinary honest and taken great care not to mix the
things up and we have exclusively looked if the pedagogical guide-lines
for an institution in the community of Copenhagen have been followed. If
the parents or the staff are of the opinion, that it is unprofessionally
done, it is the parents, who has preconceived ideas,"  he says. 

Majbritt Mamsen (K) acknowledges, that it is difficult to find a balance. 

"I have nothing against the institution, but I have against Scientology. 
Therefore, I have asked the pedagogical adviser in Valby, who has given
'Lillekilde' good marks, to explain his impressions.," she says. 

It is about the law

Bente M¿ller (EL) is sceptical. 

We are considering whether it is a place, which the Copenhagen Municipal
wishes to give a working permit. What in any case is needed, is that the
institution accepts the rules of the service-law, agrees to a supervised
inspection and is open for common accommodation. 

Family- and labour market mayor Bo Asmus Kjeldgaard (SF): 

As politicians we should not interfere with people's religion. This here
is exclusively about whether the institution runs according to the
service-law and the pedagogical goals, which are set by the Copenhagen
Municipal." 

"I have asked the city ownership to come up with a exposition to get the
thumb up or down for a State aid. There must be a profound base and
argumentation from which we can make a stand. 

asger.westh@jp.dk



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