Christian Love in Public SchoolsThe hallmark of Christianity is love. What better day to express this love than on Valentine’s day. Sure, there’s nothing wrong with all the cute Valentine’s cards and messages but there’s also nothing wrong with adding Christian messages such as: Be Mine John 3:16 God is Love! 1 John 4:1 Jesus loves you! Romans 5:8 You are loved and cared for! 1 Peter 5:7 True Love Jeremiah 31:3 Sweet Talk Psalm 119:103 First Amendment’s Free Speech RightsStudents are protected by the First Amendment’s Free Speech Rights which includes religious rights. Because teachers’ rights are limited most people assume that students’ rights are limited too. The only reason why teachers’ rights are limited is because teachers and staff could possibly violate the Establishment Clause which states that no religion should be officially established in Public Schools. The Establishment Clause doesn't apply to StudentsHowever, students don’t have that authority and therefore can never violate the Establishment Clause. For teachers, the Establishment Clause takes precedence over the Free Speech Clause. However, students don’t have to worry about that and can fully enjoy the unlimited Free Speech rights. They can hand out any Christian material any day. Valentine’s Cards are the perfect occasion. Not only via cards but class discussions, homework, presentations, or projects are wide open to bring up God. Valentine’s Day is a reminder to love our neighbor as ourselves, the core of our Christian Faith. Love is the ultimate recommendation by God himself when it comes to treating others. Christian Valentine PrintablesHere are some websites with printables:
https://teachsundayschool.com/i/printablevalentines/ https://www.reallifeathome.com/religious-valentine-cards/ You’ll find much more information here and in the book: Bring the Light to School. POSTED ON 19 SEP IN ELEMENTARY, HEART WORK BY SCOTT TURANSKY
Guest Blogger: Ingrid DeDecker heads up the organization Partner with Schools. She also is the author of the book, Bring the Light to School. I, Scott Turansky, have read this book and found it to be a great resource for Christian families. Some choose Christian schools, and some choose to homeschool, but most Christian kids attend public schools. Here’s how you can empower your children to grow in their faith during their public school experience. 75% OF CHRISTIAN STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS LOSE THEIR FAITH IN GODGender identity retraining begins in many locations beginning in Kindergarten. Parents are not allowed to opt kids out. Recently a teacher decided to have students do a relay race with condoms in the hallway. What’s even sadder is that the more this behavior takes over, the more atheism gets a foothold because that lifestyle is primarily promoted by atheism. No wonder 90% of our middle and high schools now have Gay/Straight Clubs; the new cool clubs in schools. Schools are often catalysts to change society. I wish that we as Christians would have as much zeal as the Gay/Straight supporters. Imagine sitting in a class where science and history are explained without God; downright ignoring God. Even actively speaking against faith and creation starting in elementary school and continuing through high school. Would you doubt your faith just a little bit? After all, scientists must know something. Remember, you’re locked down and can’t leave. Aside from atheism, your child runs into many other faiths. This religiously pluralistic setting hosts all kinds of beliefs in various gods, self, and the universe. No matter how much you uphold the faith at home; it’s not easy to undo that teaching. SMALL GROUPS IN SCHOOL It’s hard to change the macroenvironment of the school; but what about the microenvironment of your student? If you surround your kids with other believers, would that help? Faith and God would not be banned at their lunch table. Mutual encouragement and accountability can keep them aligned with the family faith. Students would learn from each other and that they are allowed to bring up God in a class discussion. And that they can write reports and do class assignments freely mentioning their faith, or wear that Christian t-shirt. Even that they can have a Christian club and advertise it via the intercom, bulletin board, or handouts just like the chess club, drama club or any other club. Plus invite speakers and talk about God all they want. Wouldn’t that give you peace of mind? Not just in high school; in elementary schools, they can sing a Christian song at the talent show or do a Christian skit. Better yet, parents can set up Christian clubs since the kids are too small to do it themselves. As long as the club is voluntary and offered during non-instructional hours, such as lunchtime or after school, it’s perfectly legal. The school even has to let you send out a flyer with a permission slip, so parents can sign up their kids for your Christian Club. This would be a perfect platform to find other Christian friends. The Bible tells us not to forsake fellowship. That’s because there’s power in the community. Church and youth group are great and needed, but our kids need more support in public school too. Why not recruit the youth pastor or children’s director to help with school outreach. We often hear that Christian clubs have to be student-led; however, that’s not always the case. Only if the club is set up using the Equal Access Act in High Schools. However, you can set up a club using the Free Speech Clause and have adults teach the club from elementary through high schools. WHY NOT BLESS THE SCHOOL AT THE SAME TIME If you offer to teach a character trait in addition to Bible stories, elementary schools will welcome you with open arms. And if you make it a fun club with a cool name, kids will run to it and parents will send their kids for character and friendship building. What a great opportunity to gather Christian kids while at the same time reaching out to others with the love of God. Thousands of schools, even elementary schools, already have Christian Clubs. Why not join them. No need to run off to a far mission field when our kids right at home need us. Let’s get involved while schools are still wide open. The Dept. of Education, even the ACLU endorse Christian Clubs. None other than the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Christian Clubs in the Milford case in 2001, which is still our precedent. IT’S INCREDIBLY REWARDING So what’s holding you back? It doesn’t have to be a strict commitment. In elementary schools, you can run a one-hour-per-week club for six weeks in fall and spring. You’ll be energized after each club session because you know how many lives you’ve impacted. It’s a great feeling you can live off for a long time. And high schoolers can do it themselves unless they want to recruit a cool youth pastor or parent. Want more information about the rights Christian students have in school or how to start a club? Get your free ebook at www.partnerwithschools.org Dr. Scott Turansky from the National Center of Biblical Parenting published this guest post from Partner with Schools in his newsletter and blog. BiblicalParenting.org is a powerful resource with effective and pragmatic tips ready to apply and empower our Christian families. I highly recommend subscribing to his blog. Also they will have a great seminar coming to our Canton, OH area at the Summit Church in North Canton early next year. The world recently learned that the American Psychological Association promotes “polyamory,” “swinging,” and “relationship anarchy.” Their experts say it’s healthy and ethical. They’re crazy.
Leftists who run our nation’s public schools love to hide behind the skirts of the APA when it comes to crazy Sex Ed. So in a recent column I wondered how long it would take for them to push polyamory on the pubertal. Then I learned they already do. Targeting California Kids It was a California teacher who discovered the “LGBT Consensual Non-Monogamy Task Force.” She was reviewing the state department of education’s “health” lesson mandates for the fall and stumbled across a term she didn’t know. She went to look it up, and was led to the APA. California instructs teachers to talk to youngsters about sex “partners.” They are to avoid terms like “boyfriend” and “girlfriend” because “some students may be non-monogamous.” This is in the lesson plan for 12-year olds. There it is. The APA reaching its crusty paw all the way down to pre-pubertal kids. For a stomach-churning exercise, read through all of the California Revised Draft Health Education Framework (April 2019 revision, the final version comes out this Fall). The education department tells teachers that 14-year-olds “may have various gender identities and sexual orientations.” Indeed, “there are an infinite number of ways an individual can express their individuality and sense of self.” Special emphasis is to be given to non-heterosexual ways, however. “Teachers should affirmatively acknowledge the existence of relationships that are not heterosexual by actively using examples of same-sex couples in class discussions.” All of this is to ensure the classroom is a “safe environment.” Though it most certainly is not safe for the innocence of children. California urges teachers to bring outside sexperts into the classroom. Provided they are “vetted.” Planned Parenthood is apparently pre-approved, as it is given a special plug in the directives: “By the seventh and eighth grade, students are often more willing and eager to engage with guest speakers” from “local nonprofit organizations, such as Planned Parenthood.” Talk about the fox guarding the chicken coop… “Polysexual” and “pansexual” are “common” sexual orientations for high schoolers, teachers are told. But they are to keep in mind that “gender and sexuality are often fluid and do not always fit neatly into these categories.” That might be funny if they weren’t talking about kids. Using Kids as Lab Rats California schools aren’t the only ones intentionally sexualizing kids. Northern Virginia schools are also used as “laboratories” for LGBT policy experimentation. The Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network admitted that to the Washington Post last year. After reading my column, a mom in Fairfax wrote to me about the “thruples” and “quadruples” (rhymes with couples) her kids encountered at a Fairfax County high school. These are polyamorous groups of 3 or 4. “These groups are allowed to openly ‘be together’ (hold hands, kiss, wrap arms, etc.), just as standard couples are in the halls,” she said. She also told me there are “furries.” Rhymes with insane. Poor souls who believe they are animals and self-identify as such. “This year, we have some cats and a fox.” There is a very good chance that most moms and dads are not even remotely aware of the insanity going on in government schools today. None of it is by accident. All of it is by design. All of it funded by you and me. Children are being used as lab rats in a social experiment. Without the consent of their parents. But with the encouragement and approval of the American Psychological Association. Sickness is health, bad is good, wrong is right. And there is no tolerance for those who might disagree. It’s past time to take back our public schools, where 86% of American kids are sent, supposedly for an education. Justice demands that we rescue these children. But wisdom demands it, too. Because, as Abraham Lincoln said, “The philosophy of the school room in one generation, will be the philosophy of government in the next.” By Cathy Ruse Senior Fellow and Director of Human Dignity Cathy at Family Research Council. This article appeared in The Stream on July 15, 2019. NO NEED TO LEAVE GOD BEHIND IN THE BUS. FAQs on how to keep your child’s faith alive. Christian parents and students are starting to think about school again and wondering how their faith can survive in an atheistic environment. Since 75% of our kids loose their faith in public school, many parents are becoming more proactive in protecting their kids faith. One way is to know the rights Christians have in school. Because teachers are much more limited in their rights, many people assume that students are just as limited. But only teachers can violate the Establishment Clause which states that religion cannot be officially mandated by schools. However, parents and students are not in any authority position and can never violate this clause. But they fully enjoy the Free Speech Clause which gives full rights to express their religious belief. Here are some frequently asked questions: Can students pray in school? Students can pray in school as long as it does not disrupt the class. Prayer before lunch or a test is certainly allowed. Students can also pray in groups during non-instructional time. Can students express their religious beliefs in class, a talent show, or an assignment? Students are welcome to express their religious beliefs in a class discussion or as part of an assignment when it pertains to the topic. They can sing and dance to Christian music or recite Christian poems. May students bring their Bible to school and read it in school? Both carrying a Bible and reading it in school are constitutionally protected Free Speech rights routinely upheld by courts. Students’ Free Speech rights would be violated if the students were not permitted to bring a Bible to school or to read it at appropriate times in school. Schools are not religion-free zones. Can parents or students start Bible clubs in school? Public schools are prohibited from discriminating against Free Speech which includes religious speech. A school may not prohibit student expression or a Bible club, solely because others might find it offensive. Bible clubs are an excellent way for Christian students to get together and support each other. Making the right friends early on can prevent faith-shaking situations later. Clubs throughout elementary, middle and high school years provide the encouragement, stability and fun Christian kids need to stay strong in their faith. Which school rules have to be observed for a Christian club using the First Amendment Free Speech Clause? Clubs need to: 1. Be voluntary 2. Meet during non-instructional time Can a Christian club use promotional materials to spread the word about meetings or activities? The right to freedom of speech has always included the right to communicate, promote and advertise. All student clubs, including religious clubs, have the right to distribute materials, use bulletin boards, the school newspaper and even use the public address system to advertise their meetings and events. Schools may request a clarifying statement such as “this is not a school-sponsored event.” Can Bible clubs be formed in elementary schools? Yes, even in elementary schools, students have the right to clubs. These clubs also need to be voluntary and have to be offered during non-instructional time. In elementary schools, parents make the decision about joining and teaching the club. Who can establish an elementary school faith-based club? Typically a parent, pastor, grandparent or any concerned adult establishes the club. Only school staff are prohibited from teaching these clubs. How are elementary school Christian clubs formed? Elementary school Christian clubs are organized as community groups via the First Amendment’s Free Speech Clause. The club leader obtains approval from the principal for an after-school faith-based club according to Free Speech rights. The principal will approve the proposed flyer so it can be distributed to all students. A parental sign-up portion is part of the flyer which will be returned to school. This sign-up signature also constitutes permission from the parent to faith-based teaching in the club. You can find a sample flyer with a permission slip at partnerwithschools.org Can a Christian club meet in the classroom or other school facility? You can request the library, cafeteria, gym, classroom, etc. The school administration has to make every effort to accommodate the club within the requirements of other school activities. Non-curriculum related clubs are allowed to meet on campus during non-instructional time such as before/after-school, free time, or lunch time. Our kids in public schools need us more than ever. Not just in high schools, but even elementary schools. If done right, we can reach our public schools with the love of God. |
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