* SA ENGLISH EXAM TESTS SEX KNOWLEDGE – The recent government 12^th Grade examination (first-language paper, higher grade) somehow managed to have all the questions related to male sexuality. Every section of the Comprehension and Language paper, written by many thousands of pupils in Gauteng, tested pupils' colloquial knowledge about sexual terminology. The 13 page exam set new lows in moral standards and, as some teachers complained, "had very little to do with testing first-language English skills."
Pupils writing this compulsory exam were expected to answer from texts which included phrases such as: "I cannot wait to lather up my naked hairy body"; "inside I long to sleep around"; "porn watching"; "testosterone gel"; "wild flings"; "kick some ass"; "explosive sex". (Gauteng Provincial Department, Senior Certificate Examination, English HG, Paper 1, October 2002) (to index)

* TRIBUTES POUR IN FOR SA CHRISTIAN LEADER - The passing away of Dr Ed Cain, editor of signposts, was mourned by friends across the world. Dr Cain, who was buried on 13 November in Pretoria, had produced many seminal research papers on the need for Biblical democracy and had been a world leader in exposing the error of liberation theology. Tributes from Christian leaders in South African and overseas were read at the funeral.
In its tribute CFT President Fano Sibisi said: "Dr Cain. We just called him Ed. The verses that came to my mind as I thought of him were,
'Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.' (Matthew 24:45-46)
For years Ed has served us with his special analytical skills. His interpretation of current events and issues in the light of Biblical principles has profited many.
Apart from hearing him at conferences, we would sometimes visit him, Deana his wife, and Miriam his daughter at home just to sound him on different issues. It was a treat to see him like a skilled surgeon dissects whatever topic you gave him. In all these years that we knew him we found him to be steadfast and unshakeable. Such a man of God leaves behind a big gap."
(To read more about Dr Cain's publications visit the webite: http://www.signpostspublications.com) (to index)

* BUSH SIGNS SUDAN PEACE PACT - On Monday, October 21, President George W. Bush, in the company of former Sudanese slaves and religious freedom and human rights activists, signed the Sudan Peace Act. According to the White House, "the Act is designed to help address the evils inflicted on the people of Sudan by their government -- including senseless suffering, use of emergency food relief as a weapon of war, and the practice of slavery -- and to press the parties, and in particular the Sudanese Government, to complete in good faith the negotiations to end the war."
Throughout the Sudanese war, millions of people have died. One minority in particular has long been faced with the dark reality of persecution and suffering as a consequence of the war - Christians. In fact, millions of Christians, not only in Sudan but also many countries around the world, face severe consequences for their faith. Noted scholar and human rights monitor, Paul Marshall, estimates that roughly 200 million Christians today face persecution (physical abuse, family separation, incarceration, and martyrdom). Nearly 400 million more face discrimination and restriction as a result of their Christian faith.
For Christians in countries such as North Korea, Saudi Arabia, China, and Pakistan, followers of Jesus Christ face torture, imprisonment, and even death.
In response to the persecution that is a harsh reality for so many, Christians around the world will be gathering Sunday, November 10 to commemorate the 7th annual International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP). IDOP is one of the largest prayer movements in the world, and coordinators estimate that 200,000 churches in the United States and abroad are expected to unite in prayer for those Christians suffering persecution. On November 10, 2002, churches and lay leaders in cities across America and around the globe will unite and focus their prayers on suffering Christians around the world. As John Tuitele, Chairman of the Board for Prayer for the Persecuted Church, says, "We maintain that these prayers encourage those who are suffering for their faith, changing physical and spiritual climates where they live, so that they may more openly exercise religious freedom and practice their Christian faith without fear of punishment." (Prayer for the Persecuted Church, 5 November) (to index)

* PRISONERS RIGHT TO VIEW PORN (London) - British prisoners will be allowed to receive hardcore pornography after a serial murderer used European human rights law to overturn a ban by prison authorities, The Sunday Telegraph reported.
The British prison service is now drafting new regulations giving wardens discretion to allow inmates to receive pornography after a number of prisoners argued the ban violated the Human Rights Act which guarantees freedom of expression and the right to receive information.
In particular the change stems from a campaign by Dennis Nilsen, jailed in 1983 for murdering six young men, for the right to receive explicit homosexual pornography, said the newspaper.
British prisoners had been allowed to receive only soft pornography available from regular news stands, and guards would sometimes tear out pages containing pictures deemed too explicit.
An advocate for victims of crime criticised the decision by the prison service. The newspaper quoted Norman Brennan, the director of Victims of Crime Trust, as saying: "It is not a human right to look at hardcore pornography." "Soon we will be apologising to prisoners for sending them to jail"
"I believe that even serving prisoners who have committed terrible crimes should be allowed their human rights but this makes a mockery of the whole system," he told the newspaper.
The European Convention on Human Rights was incorporated into British law as the Human Rights Act in 2000 by the Labour government of Prime Minister Tony Blair. (Sapa-AFP) (to index)

* GOODNESS GRADING (Bangkok) - In an effort to steer students toward morality and away from materialism, Thai high schools and colleges will be asked to grade them based on their "goodness", a government official said on Monday. The "goodness report book" will record students' community service as well as their emotional and intelligence quotients, said Suchart Muangkeow, deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of University Affairs.
He told The Associated Press that the new grading system, which has been long in the planning, will come into effect in June 2003 in state-run as well as private schools and colleges.
The announcement coincided with recent news about an academically successful doctor killing his doctor girlfriend, and a famous gynaecologist accused of murdering his wife. The two slayings have led Thai government officials and medical professionals to question the society's emphasis on academic accomplishment rather than moral values.
"It's very easy for those students to get stressed out because of the highly competitive nature of medical school," said Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand, Thailand's famous forensic pathologist.
"Our education system only breeds competition but never teaches them how to manage emotions."
Suchart said admissions committees at Thai colleges and universities will start taking into account the goodness report books starting 2004 while evaluating potential students.
Suchart said students graded on goodness would be less likely to be drawn to materialism and corruption. Critics of the project say the concept is well meaning but may be impractical. Goodness is an abstract idea and without tangible criteria for evaluation, teacher biases could slant assessment, Thanit Thongthanya, assistant director of Suksanaree School, was quoted as saying by the Nation newspaper.
"In terms of applying a measuring stick to students' growth and development, it's pretty tough," David Miller, high school principal of Ruam Rudee International School, said. (Sapa-AP) (to index)