The True Meaning of St. Patrick’s DayWhen we think of St. Patrick’s Day, images of green shamrocks, leprechauns, and festive parades often come to mind. However, the real story of St. Patrick’s Day is deeply rooted in faith, evangelism, and a love for God. As Christian parents, we have a unique opportunity to teach our children the true meaning of this holiday and use it as a tool to share the Gospel. St. Patrick was a missionary who dedicated his life to spreading Christianity in Ireland. His passion for God and heart for the lost serve as an inspiring example for our families today. This article will explore the Christian significance of St. Patrick’s Day, provide activities for kids, and give practical ways to teach children how to share their faith with others. Who Was St. Patrick?St. Patrick was born in Britain in the late 4th century. At the age of 16, he was captured by Irish raiders and taken to Ireland as a slave. During his years in captivity, Patrick turned to God and strengthened his faith through prayer. After six years, he escaped and returned home, but God placed a burden on his heart to return to Ireland—not as a slave, but as a missionary. With great love and obedience, Patrick went back to Ireland and spent the rest of his life preaching the Gospel, converting thousands to Christianity, and establishing churches. He used the three-leaf shamrock to illustrate the concept of the Trinity—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Because of his dedication, St. Patrick is remembered as a key figure in Ireland’s Christian history. Teaching Kids About St. Patrick’s Love for GodSt. Patrick’s life demonstrates what it means to love God with all our hearts and to follow His calling. Parents can use his story to teach children about: - Faith in difficult times** – St. Patrick trusted God even when he was enslaved. - Forgiveness and love** – Instead of seeking revenge, he returned to Ireland to bring the Good News. - Obedience to God’s call** – Patrick left his comfortable life to spread Christianity. - Sharing the Gospel with others** – He dedicated his life to evangelism. Fun and Faith-Filled St. Patrick’s Day ActivitiesHere are some creative ways to engage children in the meaning of St. Patrick’s Day while reinforcing their faith: 1. Shamrock Trinity Craft - Cut out shamrocks from green paper. - Write “Father,” “Son,” and “Holy Spirit” on each leaf. - Explain how St. Patrick used the shamrock to teach about the Trinity. - Discuss how God is three in one and why that matters to our faith. 2. St. Patrick Storytime & Bible Study - Read about St. Patrick’s life in a Christian biography or children’s book. - Compare his story to Bible passages about evangelism, such as Matthew 28:19-20. - Discuss how we can be missionaries in our own neighborhoods. 3. Acts of Kindness Challenge St. Patrick showed love by bringing the Gospel to others. Encourage kids to show God’s love through acts of kindness: - Make cards with Bible verses for neighbors or nursing homes. - Bake cookies for a friend and include a note about Jesus. - Offer to pray for someone in need. 4. Sharing Faith in Everyday Life One of the best ways to honor St. Patrick’s legacy is by teaching kids how to share their faith in their daily lives. Encourage them to: - Talk about Jesus with friends at school or sports practice.** - Invite a friend to church or a youth event.** - Wear Christian-themed clothing or accessories that start conversations.** - Be a light through their actions by showing kindness and grace.** - Start a Christian club, such as an FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) Huddle, during lunchtime at school. This can be a place where students gather to pray, study the Bible, and encourage one another in their faith. 5. Create a “Missionary Map - Show children where Ireland is on a map. - Talk about missionaries around the world. - Pray for people who don’t know Jesus. Reaching Kids with the GospelSt. Patrick’s Day is a great opportunity to teach children how to share the Gospel. Here are some simple ways:
1. Use the Wordless Book The Wordless Book is a tool that helps explain the Gospel through colors: - Gold – God’s love and heaven. - Black – Sin separates us from God. - Red – Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. - White – Cleansing through Christ. - Green – Growing in faith. Kids can use this to explain salvation to friends. 2. Practice a Simple Gospel Presentation Teach children an easy way to share their faith: - God loves you (John 3:16). - We all have sinned (Romans 3:23). - Jesus died for our sins (Romans 5:8). - Believe in Jesus to be saved (Romans 10:9). 3. Encourage “Gospel Conversations - Ask kids to think of a friend who doesn’t know Jesus. - Role-play how to talk about faith naturally. - Challenge them to invite a friend to church. St. Patrick’s Legacy: Living Out Our Faith St. Patrick’s Day is more than just a fun holiday—it’s a reminder of what it means to live out our faith. As Christian parents, we can use his story to inspire our children to: - Trust God in every situation.** - Love and forgive others.** - Obey God’s calling.** - Share the Gospel with boldness.** Conclusion St. Patrick was a man of great faith and love for God. His life serves as an example of how we, as Christians, should live—devoted to Christ and passionate about sharing His message. This St. Patrick’s Day, let’s go beyond the green decorations and fun traditions and focus on the incredible impact one man made for the Kingdom of God. Let’s use this time to teach our children about faith, evangelism, and the importance of spreading God’s love. May we all, like St. Patrick, be bold in sharing the Gospel and showing God’s love to those around us. Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Did you know your state’s Department of Education wants students to learn why we celebrate Thanksgiving?
Yes, let’s talk about what should be taught at Thanksgiving. Teachers must understand that their state’s education department expects students to know why Thanksgiving is celebrated. Every state lists it in its academic standards. Do you know why we celebrate Thanksgiving? It’s a holiday established by our government. That’s right! And the President asks us all to thank God on that day. There is a common misconception that teaching about the Bible and Christianity is not allowed in public school classrooms because of concerns over the establishment of religion. As The Bible in State Academic Standards shows, quite to the contrary, state academic standards across the nation provide ample opportunity for educators to teach about the Bible, Christian beliefs, and Christians who were influential in history. For example, California sixth graders are expected to: “Note the origins of Christianity in the Jewish Messianic prophecies, the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as described in the New Testament, and the contribution of St. Paul the Apostle to the definition and spread of Christian beliefs (e.g., belief in the Trinity, resurrection, salvation).” (Standard 6.7.6, adopted in 1998 and reaffirmed in 2005) You will be amazed at how much your state’s academic standards expect students to know about America’s Christian heritage. And many teachers don’t even know it. For a free copy of our research on your state’s standards, visit https://gogateways.org/standards Thanksgiving Prayers Thanksgiving is a special time to express gratitude and reflect on the blessings in our lives. Here are six Thanksgiving prayers: The Grateful Heart Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, We gather today with hearts full of gratitude. Thank you for the food on our table and the love in our hearts. May we always remember the importance of thankfulness. Amen. The Abundance Prayer: Dear Lord, We are thankful for the abundance that surrounds us. Help us share our blessings with those in need. May our hearts be generous and our actions reflect your love. Amen. The Blessing of Friendship Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for the friends and family who gather around us. Bless our friendships, and help us cherish the moments we share. May we always be a source of support and love for one another. Amen. The Unity Prayer: Heavenly Father, On this Thanksgiving, we come together as one community. Guide us to understand and respect our differences. Help us find unity in our diversity, and may peace and love prevail. Amen. The Prayer of Peace: Dear God, As we gather to give thanks, we also pray for peace. In a world often filled with strife and conflict, May the spirit of Thanksgiving remind us of the importance of harmony. Grant us the wisdom to seek understanding and the courage to promote peace. May our hearts be a sanctuary of serenity, and our actions be a testament to your loving grace. Amen. The Harvest of Love Prayer: Dear God, Creator of all, As we celebrate Thanksgiving, help us remember the harvest of love. Bless the hands that prepared this meal, and the hearts that share it. May love and kindness fill our school and homes. Amen. Feel free to share these prayers during your Thanksgiving celebrations in public schools to foster a sense of gratitude, love, unity, and peace among kids and parents. Halloween has become a more elaborate celebration, with spooky decorations and fancier costumes. While many enjoy the festivities, some feel that this evolution has introduced elements that are at odds with their Christian faith. Explaining Halloween to Christian kids means addressing these changes and potential negative influences while finding an opportunity to teach biblical values.
Empowering Faith: Halloween can be spooky, but it's also an opportunity to teach children an essential life lesson—overcoming fear. We can remind our kids that God is always on our side. He loves us deeply and wants to know us on a personal level. By facing the scarier aspects of Halloween with faith, we can show our children that just as God's love casts out fear, we too can rise above fear through our unwavering trust in Him. It's essential to remind Christian kids that their faith in Jesus teaches them not to be afraid of evil spirits or the darker aspects of Halloween. It's written that "he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4), emphasizing the strength of faith. Additionally, when Jesus encountered a man possessed by a legion of demons (Luke 8:26-39), Jesus cast out these evil spirits, demonstrating His authority over them. This shows that just as Jesus had power over evil spirits, our kids can find comfort in their faith and the knowledge that they are protected by God's love. It's a valuable lesson that extends beyond Halloween, helping our children navigate challenges in life with the confidence that they are never alone, and that God's love is a constant source of strength and comfort. Halloween, in this context, becomes a unique opportunity to reinforce the profound truth of God's love and His presence in our lives. More than that, kids can share the goodness of God with their friends, emphasizing that God is bigger than evil spirits, and His love and protection are always with us. It's an inspiring message to spread, especially during the Halloween season, when fear and fascination with the unknown are prevalent. Understanding the History: To begin the discussion, it's important to provide children with a brief history of Halloween. Explain that Halloween, originally called All Hallows' Eve, has its roots in ancient Celtic and Christian traditions. It falls on October 31st, the evening before All Saints' Day, a Christian holiday. Choosing Appropriate Costumes: Encourage kids to select Halloween costumes that are wholesome and in line with their faith. Dressing as favorite Bible characters, angels, or historical figures known for their good deeds allows them to participate in the festivities while reinforcing positive values. Negative Spiritual Influences: Halloween can sometimes incorporate elements that conflict with Christian beliefs, such as glorification of darkness, occult themes, and excessive focus on fear and death. It's important for children to be aware of these influences, so they can make informed choices about the activities they participate in and the decorations they use. Parents can guide their children to avoid excessively dark or occult-themed decorations and costumes, focusing instead on those that celebrate positive aspects of the holiday. Explain to your kids that this is the reason why some people no longer want to participate celebrating Halloween. It's also why some churches have trunk or treat events in the church parking lot to control some of the darkness. Alternative Celebrations: Some Christian families choose to celebrate Halloween differently. They might organize a "Harvest Festival" or "Fall Fun Day" at their church or within their community. These events provide a safe and faith-based environment for kids to enjoy games, activities, and treats, without the potentially negative influences. Prayer and Reflection: Encourage kids to spend a moment in prayer or reflection before Halloween activities. This can be a time to express gratitude for family and friends and ask for guidance to make good choices during the holiday. Emphasizing Values: Use Halloween as an opportunity to reinforce Christian values. Talk to kids about kindness, respect, and the importance of sharing. Emphasize the joy of giving treats and the idea of loving one's neighbor, values that align with Christian teachings. Balancing Fun and Faith: Ultimately, discussing potential negative spiritual influences with children and guiding them to make choices that align with their faith, Christian parents can help their kids celebrate Halloween in a way that is consistent with their Belief. Blessings, Ingrid DeDecker moms.partnerwithschools.org partnerwithschools.org [email protected]s Halloween a Unique Opportunity to Teach about Fear and God's Protection? Why not make the most out of these last weeks of summer vacation.
Here are some Summer Activities for Christian Elementary School Kids Summer is a wonderful time for children to explore, have fun, and create lasting memories. For Christian elementary school kids who attend public schools, this season presents an opportunity to reinforce their faith and Christian identity outside of their regular academic routine. Let's delve into a variety of engaging summer activities that can help strengthen their faith while providing a fulfilling and enjoyable experience. Scripture Memorization Challenges Engaging kids in scripture memorization challenges during the summer can be an effective way to reinforce their faith. Parents or Sunday school teachers can create a weekly or monthly challenge where children are encouraged to memorize selected Bible verses. This activity not only helps kids internalize God's Word but also boosts their confidence and strengthens their Christian identity. Your kids are exposed to a non-Christian worldview in public school every day so instilling a Christian identity is one of the best steps you can take to protect your kids from gender ideology and gender confusion. Family Devotion Time Summer break offers a valuable opportunity for families to spend quality time together. Establishing a regular family devotion time can be an impactful way to reinforce a child's faith and Christian identity. Families can gather to read the Bible, discuss its teachings, pray together, and reflect on how God is working in their lives. This practice strengthens family bonds while nurturing a strong spiritual foundation. Service Projects Engaging in service projects is a wonderful way to instill Christian values in children and reinforce their faith. Organize activities like volunteering at a local shelter, cleaning up a neighborhood park, or collecting donations for a charitable cause. These experiences teach children the importance of loving others as Jesus taught and provide practical examples of putting their faith into action. Christian Literature and Media Encouraging children to read Christian books, watch faith-based movies, or listen to Christian music during the summer can help reinforce their faith and Christian identity. Provide age-appropriate literature and media that align with their interests, ensuring they engage with content that promotes biblical values and teachings. Church Youth Group For older elementary school kids, participating in a church youth group can be an excellent way to reinforce their faith and Christian identity during the summer. These groups often organize social activities, Bible studies, and community service projects specifically designed for their age group. Youth groups foster friendships, provide mentorship, and create a supportive environment where kids can grow spiritually. Summer activities play a vital role in reinforcing the faith and Christian identity of elementary school kids attending public schools. By actively participating in Vacation Bible School, Christian summer camps, scripture memorization challenges, family devotion time, service projects, engaging with Christian literature and media, and joining church youth groups, children can experience a transformative summer that strengthens their faith, deepens their understanding of Christianity, and nurtures their Christian identity. Let this summer be a season of growth, learning, and joyful experiences as our children embrace their faith and their identity in Christ. Blessings, Ingrid DeDecker moms.partnerwithschools.org partnerwithschools.org [email protected] Can public school students hand out Christian Valentines?
Can they talk about the love of God on Valentine’s day in a class discussion? What about wearing a T-shirt with a Christian message? Or mentioning God in an assignment? Yes, Yes, Yes and Yes. All of those instances are covered by the Free Speech Clause. Students are allowed to talk about their faith in school. It’s their constitutional right. Many parents and students get student rights confused with teacher rights. Only teachers’ rights are restricted and can violate the Establishment clause, which means that teachers are not allowed to try to officially establish religion in schools. However teachers can answer students questions about God or participate in a class discussion which was initiated by a student. Teachers can even pray among themselves and have bible studies with other Christian teachers inside schools. Students, and by extension parents, are not in a position of authority, and therefore can never violate the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause. Therefore they can freely talk about God and their faith. Students have only one restriction: they cannot disturb the class. For example, a student can freely bring up God’s perspective during a class discussion or assignment. But a student cannot stand up and start preaching in the middle of math class. Whenever there’s an appropriate time in class to bring up their opinion, students can also share their faith. By the way, even though teachers are not allowed to officially establish religion in schools they are equally not allowed to establish non-religion such as atheism in schools. Often teachers think that acting and talking as if God does not exist is the politically correct way, however that stance also violates the establishment clause; in fact just as much as if they would have talked about God. It’s just that Christians don’t complain about that one as much as atheists complain about any reference to God. Here you’ll find some free Christian Valentines: Busybooksandmore has some pretty Printables. Scroll down and you'll find pages listed. Page 3 to 9 are good. Notconsumed has Valentine's Basket Printables The Oriental Trading Company has some Christian ones for sale. Moneywisesteward has a simple 8x11Printable Faithfilledfoodformoms has scripture verse hearts Father's Love Letter for kids is a nice printout too. https://www.fathersloveletter.com/kids-fll.html Why not show your kids the Father’s Love Letter video here: https://www.fathersloveletter.com/hd-video.html ![]() Hopefully you and your kids are getting used to the early schedules now that schools started up again. But will you get used to the incessant anti-Christian brainwashing which is going on in our public schools? Do you wish you could shield and inoculate your kids against that? You know something is not right when the National School Board Association calls concerned parents "domestic terrorists”; all for just speaking up at school board meetings requesting equal free speech rights. Who would have guessed that the Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network is actually writing lesson plans for our schools right down to elementary schools. Yes it's true, our National Elementary School Principles Association collaborates with the Gay Lesbian and Straight Education network to write lesson plans for our kids. Not only that, they find teachers who are supportive of the LGBTQ agenda and they heavily bolster them up and encourage them into pushing this agenda on our kids. They also provide policies to schools, so schools will adopt their agenda. Are you watching out for the rainbow clubs? These are the elementary school versions of the Gender and Sexuality clubs in middle and high schools. Pretty much every middle and high school by now has a gender and sexuality alliance (GSA) club where kids are heavily indoctrinated. But the biggest problem really is the up to 70 hours of teaching in the classrooms about pro LGBTQ issues throughout the school year which also take away from teaching math, science and English. And no, that teaching is not limited to middle and high schools. it's taught in elementary schools as well. Combine all that with the traditional teaching on evolution and textbooks being rewritten to change our history and eliminate our Christian foundations; that is the very reason why your kids need you to set this straight. And they also need you to help them find Christian friends to protect them from this. Here are the five steps. 1.Teach Christian Identity Bible verses. Hiding God's word in their hearts Will be a blessing for them throughout their lives as God can we call these verses as needed. It will also establish their Christian identity and calling which is irreversible. 2. Watch your school and what is taught. Then proactively teach the truth instead. 3. Monitor friends. You'd think that they don't need Christian friends in elementary schools because there's no bad influence in terms of music or lifestyle. But the problem is they will keep those friends in middle and high school. And even in elementary schools there is quite some influence. 4. Control electronics; some parents will delay elementary school kids from getting phones so they won't be exposed to social pressure. 5. Start a friend group with Christian kids. This is the most important step you can take. You can accomplish all the above steps in one swoop inside that group. I just finished a 52 minute video which explains every step in detail and it also explains exactly what's going on about gender identity in our schools. After watching that class you will be fully informed. You will also be fully equipped to help and shield your child from the brunt of it. Here is the link. https://go.partnerwithschools.org/the-flagship-framework-funnel4809r8uo Thank you for watching. Blessings to you and yours, Ingrid DeDecker Director Partner with Schools partnerwithschools.org [email protected] Are your kids ready to go back to school? What will you do to help them stay strong in the faith at a school where an anti christian agenda prevails? Can you do anything to help your kids? Actually you can. Help them find other Christian kids to befriend. It's difficult to change the entire school climate but you can surround your kids with like minded other kids. Sure, in elementary school it doesn't seem so important. After all you don't have to watch out for worldly music, provocative clothing or vaping. The problem is that they will keep those friends, and sooner or later the non-christian friends will be a negative influence. If not in the later elementary school years then definitely in middle school. How can you help your kids find Christian friends? First of all, you need to inform your student of his/her rights. Did you know that students can bring up God in class discussions? Teachers are not allowed to do that because they would violate the Establishment Clause which states that schools cannot try to establish religion. However students are in no such position of authority to where they could violate the Establishment Clause, so this clause does not apply to students, nor parents. More than that, students are protected by the Free Speech Clause which allows them free speech including their religious beliefs. They can do that in class, or in assignments, talent shows or science projects. When your student realizes his/her rights to freely express their faith they will find other kids doing the same and learn to see which kids are Christian. Why not form a small group of Christian friends? Granted, that might be easier for high schoolers than for elementary school kids. That's where the moms come in. One effective way is to just start a Christian club. Parents have the right to start a Christian club as long as there are other clubs such as scouts, art, or cheerleading activities offered in the school. You can even mention it on the school website or send out flyers to all the kids. But check with the school office first to see if there is not a club already in existance which your child can just join. Some schools have Christian Fellowship clubs even in elementary schools, or Good News Clubs. However if there's no such club it's easy to start one and will benefit your child greatly. What about middle and high schoolers? Most high schools already have christian clubs and it's of utmost importance that your kids surround themselves with other Christians. My own daughter was very strong in her faith in her Christian school but when she transferred to public high school she lost her faith in 3 months and became an atheist. The school climate in public schools are mostly antichristian and students can easily lose their faith if they are not in fellowship with other Christian students. Prayer for students and teachers. Churches nationwide pray for students and teachers as they go back to school. Following points are often brought up to our heavenly Father:
Moms in Prayer Check with your school office to find out if there is a Moms in Prager group at your school. You can also check online at Moms in Prayer It's an excellent way to meet other moms and help your kids find good friends. Moms in Prayer is also an excellent witness at the school and makes an enormous impact on schools and students. Nothing is as powerful as prayer. For more information on all of this be sure to get my book: Bring the Light to School: How You can empower Christian students and bring Hope to K-12 (and I'd love a good star review if you like it) Chicago Public Schools' top doctor Kenneth Fox has been a pediatrician for 30 years. As Chicago schools move to make condoms available to students in the name of "prevention," Dr. Fox is leading the way. According to an article in the Chicago Sun Times, Fox believes, "Young people have the right to accurate and clear information to make healthy decisions. And they need access to resources to protect their health and the health of others as they act on those decisions."
On the right to accurate and clear information for "young people" to make healthy decisions, we agree. We would strongly disagree, however, that distributing condoms in schools is a "resource to protect their health." The healthiest sexual "context" is in marriage been a man and a woman. Children are not able to consent to sex at the age of 10 or 11 in 5th grade. Making condoms available to children at that age is the opposite of a "healthy decision." It may even facilitate the exploitation of children. Efforts like these in Chicago Public Schools are a hallmark of Comprehensive Sexuality Education. Scout Bratt of the Chicago Women's Health Center said as much, "The idea is to say we are educational centers, we are community health centers essentially, and we know to invest in young folks' health and well-being by providing comprehensive sex ed, it means we also need to provide the resources." For those of us who want to protect children's innocence and honor parental rights, the tendency to view schools as access points to children or vehicles for the delivery of "social services" is a problem. Schools are institutions for learning, not "community health centers." When adults make policies about protecting children that involve giving condoms or other contraceptives to students at school (meaning outside parental supervision), one has to wonder, who actually benefits? It is never beneficial for a 10-year-old to be sexually active. The very suggestion that prepubertal children have sexual agency is disturbingly repugnant. Children do not have a "right" to have sex. Children are not sex objects and can never meaningfully consent to sexual acts. Adults cannot claim these false rights for children -- and adults who try must at the very least be viewed with suspicion. If the justification for giving condoms to children is a problem with sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy in that age cohort, why are adults in Chicago Public Schools and Chicago Department of Public Health expecting children to solve that problem? Why wouldn't adults intervene in the life of that child to find out why a 10-year-old boy or girl thinks they need a condom? What is happening in that child's life that leads them to need access to contraceptives? The appropriate "resource" for children in this situation is not simply "health care" but law enforcement and the protection of adults. FRC's Mary Szoch explains, "Family Research Council opposes exposing children (or anyone) to explicit material, encouraging children in any way to have sex or commit sexual acts, and creating a hypersexualized culture that will certainly have damaging long-term consequences for children. Family Research Council believes our culture should promote the virtue of chastity and teach that the appropriate context for sexual intimacy is in a loving marital union between a man and a woman. When fifth graders are at school, they should be learning American history, practicing multiplying fractions, performing experiments that demonstrate how the water cycle works, and reading literature that expands their minds and teaches moral truths. No part of fifth grade curriculum should involve access to condoms and the promotion of sexual activity, which obviously is exploitation of minors." Thank you, Mary! I couldn't agree more. Parents in Chicago Public Schools must oppose this program and protect their children. And they must demand public officials who also protect children. To report an issue at your public schools, contact FRC through our tip line: [email protected]. To learn more about Student and Parent rights in public schools check out this book: Bring the Light to School: How to Empower Christian Students and bring Hope to K-12: Biden Administration Urges Supreme Court to Allow Schools to Censor Student Expression Online4/28/2021
April 28, 2021 BY MATTHEW VADUM The Biden administration and a Pennsylvania school district urged a skeptical Supreme Court to let school districts suppress free speech by students on social media if they deem it potentially disruptive to school operations. The case, Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L., court file 20-255, was heard April 28. The Biden administration was represented in a 112-minute telephonic hearing by Deputy Solicitor General Malcolm L. Stewart. The petitioner, the school district in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania, was represented by Lisa S. Blatt. The student involved in the case, known in court documents as B.L., was represented by David D. Cole, the national legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union. B.L., or Brandi Levy, was a minor at the time the lawsuit was initiated and legal files reduced her name to initials to protect her identity. In 2017, when Levy was 14 and a freshman, she made the Mahanoy Area High School junior varsity cheerleading team, but as a sophomore, she failed to advance to the varsity squad, remaining on junior varsity, according to the district’s petition. On a Saturday when she wasn’t present at school, she visited Snapchat, where messages automatically disappear after 24 hours. She posted a photograph of herself and a friend, middle fingers extended, alongside the caption, “[Expletive] school [expletive] softball [expletive] cheer [expletive] everything.” A screenshot of the message made it to students and teachers. Levy’s coaches suspended her from the cheerleading team for a year. The legal issue is whether the Supreme Court’s 1969 ruling in Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District applies to student speech that occurs off-campus. Long before the internet became part of Americans’ everyday lives, the court held that public school officials may “prescribe and control conduct in the schools” and discipline primary- and secondary-school students for speech that “would materially and substantially interfere with the requirements of appropriate discipline in the operation of the school.” Some say Tinker is outdated. Applying the precedent “results in the erosion of parents’ rights to direct the upbringing of their children, undermines the role of law enforcement, and encourages a culture of snitching and the heckler’s veto which is deeply contrary to First Amendment values,” the Pacific Legal Foundation, Cato Institute, and author P.J. O’Rourke argued in a friend-of-the-court brief. “This Court should retire the Tinker test in favor of a rule that permits schools to regulate student speech only when the speech occurs in a place or during a time controlled and supervised by school staff, and only when necessary to address objective disruption of the learning environment.” Levy sued, and both the U.S. district court and a majority of judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit held the suspension violated the First Amendment. The 3rd Circuit found that “Tinker does not apply to off-campus speech—that is, speech that is outside school-owned, -operated, or -supervised channels and that is not reasonably interpreted as bearing the school’s imprimatur.” But during oral arguments, Blatt said the Tinker ruling should apply off-campus because “speech can cause on-campus disruption.” “Tinker applies off-campus only when the student targets both a school audience and a school topic, and more broadly, this court can clarify Tinker’s reach both on-and off-campus.” Chief Justice John Roberts asked what happens if a student is carrying a sign off-campus that says he or she doesn’t approve a school bond funding referendum. Blatt said such speech couldn’t be regulated by the school because it isn’t directed to a school audience and it’s not a school topic. Justice Stephen Breyer said B.L. used “unattractive swear words off-campus. Did that cause a material and substantial disruption? I don’t see much evidence it did. And if swearing off-campus did, I mean, my goodness, every school in the country would be doing nothing but punishing. And it certainly didn’t … disrupt others. It didn’t hurt others … as far as I can see in the record.” Justice Sonia Sotomayor implied swearing may be difficult to regulate because it’s popular among young people. “I’m told by my law clerks that among certain populations—a certain large percentage of the population—how much you curse is a badge of honor. That would surprise many parents.” Justice Brett Kavanaugh told Blatt that B.L.’s punishment didn’t seem “tailored to the offense.” “A year suspension from the team just seems excessive to me,” the justice said. Stewart criticized the 3rd Circuit’s ruling, saying it would allow B.L. to send out messages on social media “from her home every evening disparaging the coaches, her teammates, and the enterprise of cheerleading. Such messages from a member of the squad would have an evident tendency to disrupt the functioning of a school program that depends on and is intended to instill values of team-building and mutual support.” Cole argued the reach of the Tinker ruling shouldn’t be expanded. “At its core, the First Amendment prohibits content discrimination. Its bedrock principle is that a speaker can’t be punished because listeners object to his message.” The Tinker decision “is limited to school-sanctioned settings,” Cole said. “This court’s ‘school speech’ cases are called that for a reason. The authority they recognize is justified by and limited to the special characteristics of the school environment.” “Expanding Tinker would transform a limited exception to it into a 24/7 rule that would upend the First Amendment’s bedrock principle and would require students to effectively carry the schoolhouse on their backs in terms of speech rights everywhere they go. “It would also directly interfere with parents’ fundamental rights to raise their children.” Breyer suggested to Cole they were treading on shaky constitutional ground. “I’m frightened to death of writing a standard,” the justice said. “Tinker, after all, doesn’t really write a standard. It just says you can’t regulate school speech unless it substantially disrupts or hurts somebody else.” Cole said it was a bad idea to allow a school to punish anything it calls “disruption … even if it occurs on the weekend.” “That’s a very, very dangerous proposition in terms of young people’s free speech, and the court should be very clear, as the Third Circuit was.” Can public school students hand out Christian Valentines?
Can they talk about the love of God on Valentine’s day in a class discussion? What about wearing a T-shirt with a Christian message? Or mentioning God in an assignment? Or talk about the faith of Mr. Valentine at the Valentine’s party? Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes and Yes. All of those instances are covered by the Free Speech Clause. Students are allowed to talk about their faith in school. It’s their constitutional right. The 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 I have loved you with an everlasting love -- God Be Mine -- God Many parents and students get student rights confused with teacher rights. Only teachers’ rights are restricted and can violate the Establishment clause, which means that teachers are not allowed to try to officially establish religion in schools. However teachers can answer students questions about God or participate in a class discussion which was initiated by a student. Teachers can even pray among themselves and have bible studies with other Christian teachers inside schools. Students, and by extension parents, are not in a position of authority, and therefore can never violate the Establishment Clause. Therefore they can freely talk about God and their faith. Students have only one restriction: they cannot disturb the class. For example, a student can freely bring up God’s perspective during a class discussion or assignment. But a student cannot stand up and start preaching in the middle of math class. Whenever there’s an appropriate time in class to bring up their opinion, students can also share their faith. By the way, even though teachers are not allowed to officially establish religion in schools they are equally not allowed to establish non-religion such as atheism in schools. Often teachers think that acting and talking as if God does not exist is the politically correct way, however that stance also violates the establishment clause; in fact just as much as if they would have talked about God. It’s just that Christians don’t complain about that one as much as Atheists complain about any reference to God. Free Christian Valentines: http://busybooksandmore.net/printable-valentine-cards-with-bible-verses/ https://www.moneywisesteward.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Free-Printable-Christian-Valentines-PDF.pdf https://www.faithfilledfoodformoms.com/wp-content/uploads/PDF-Valentine-Scripture-Verses.pdf https://www.faithfilledfoodformoms.com/wp-content/uploads/Life-is-more-fun-with-friends-like-you.pdf https://www.fathersloveletter.com/kids-fll.html Video Clips: https://www.hyperpixelsmedia.com/sermon-illustration-videos/love-note-from-god http://bit.ly/Love-Comes-From-God Father’s Love Letter: https://www.fathersloveletter.com/hd-video.html Bible Verse Valentines:
Background on Valentine’s Day for older kids: Valentine’s Day is not only about flowers, chocolates, and Valentine’s. On Feb. 14th we celebrate the courageous stand of the saint Valentine. Valentine was a priest serving Rome under Emperor Claudius II. At that time, Rome was fighting numerous unpopular military campaigns. Because of that, the emperor had difficulty recruiting soldiers. Claudius thought that Roman soldiers were unwilling to join the army because they did not want to be separate from their wives and families. To overcome this obstacle, Claudius banned all marriages and engagements in Rome. Valentine knew that this law was against the Bible regarding the sanctity of marriage and of the family. Recognizing the injustice of the law, Valentine defied the emperor and continued to secretly perform marriages for young lovers. Valentinus was arrested by Claudius and placed into the custody of an aristocrat named Asterius who told Valentinus that he would become a believer if Valentine could pray for the healing of Asterius’s foster-daughter of blindness. Valentine put his hands over the girl’s eyes and prayed for her eyesight to be restored. A miracle took place and the child could see. As a result, Asterius and his whole family were baptized. Unfortunately, when Claudius heard the news, he ordered them all to be executed. The last words Valentinus wrote were found in a note to Asterius’ daughter – signing it, “from your Valentine.” So in the end, Valentine’s Day is a story of true love. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (John 15:13, NLT) |