 Religious Freedom Day January 16th, 2021 is Religious Freedom Day and each president annually calls on people to: "observe this day through appropriate events and activities in homes, schools and places of worship” Proclamation on Religious Freedom Day, 2020 January 15, 2020 White House From its opening pages, the story of America has been rooted in the truth that all men and women are endowed with the right to follow their conscience, worship freely, and live in accordance with their convictions. On Religious Freedom Day, we honor the foundational link between freedom and faith in our country and reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding the religious liberty of all Americans. Religious freedom in America, often referred to as our “first freedom,” was a driving force behind some of the earliest defining moments of our American identity. The desire for religious freedom impelled the Pilgrims to leave their homes in Europe and journey to a distant land, and it is the reason so many others seeking to live out their faith or change their faith have made America their home. More than 230 years ago, the Virginia General Assembly passed the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, which was authored and championed by Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson famously expounded that “all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of Religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge or affect their civil capacities.” This statute served as the catalyst for the First Amendment, which enshrined in law our conviction to prevent government interference in religion. More than 200 years later, thanks to the power of that Amendment, America is one of the most religiously diverse nations in the world. On this Religious Freedom Day, we reaffirm our commitment to protecting the precious and fundamental right of religious freedom, both at home and abroad. Our Founders entrusted the American people with a responsibility to protect religious liberty so that our Nation may stand as a bright beacon for the rest of the world. Today, we remain committed to that sacred endeavor and strive to support those around the world who still struggle under oppressive regimes that impose restrictions on freedom of religion. How to Commemorate Religious Freedom Day This day calls for teachers to inform students of their religious freedom in the classroom and school. Acknowledging Religious Freedom Day does not mean that the school is endorsing or promoting religion. It’s a mere reminder of Students’ Free Speech Rights and encourages students of all faiths, or no faith, to freely express their beliefs. Here are ideas you can use to recognize Religious Freedom Day: as outlined by Gateways to Better Education 1. Read the Presidential Proclamation. The proclamation is on the White House website at www.whitehouse.gov . At the homepage, look for a search icon on the top right corner and enter "Religious Freedom Day." If this year's proclamation is not posted in time for you to use it in class, consider using previous year's proclamations found on our homepage: www.religiousfreedomday.com. 2. Have students discuss or write a paper on "What religious freedom means to me” or “Why religious freedom is important to a healthy society.” 3. Distribute to students copies of the U.S. Department of Education's guidelines on students' religious liberties and discuss in class. If teachers do nothing else to commemorate Religious Freedom Day, this alone will do more to promote real freedom at your school. The teacher can also write a letter to parents and staple it to the guidelines. The letter can introduce Religious Freedom Day and convey, "Our school is a safe place for your child to express your family's religious belief." (Click here to print a copy of the U.S. Department of Education's guidelines on students' religious liberties.) 4. Talk about countries where freedom of religion is not allowed. For research on this, click on the link below: 5. Distribute and discuss the Virginia Statute on Religious Freedom drafted by Thomas Jefferson. Since the writing style of the statute is difficult to read, discuss each sentence with the students and have the class write a paraphrased version of the statute. Click here for the statute. (Click here for a sample paraphrase of this document.) 6. Be sure to spread the word about Religious Freedom Day to your colleagues.
The Department of Education has issued a statement in January 2020 that schools must report any complaints against them whenever the religious freedom rights of any student, teacher or parent was violated. Each state has to notify the Department of Education of any complaint against the schools even if the state deems the allegations to be without merit. Related Links ReligiousFreedomDay.com Religious Freedom Day Guidebook The National Free to Speak Campaign Free to Speak pamphlets Presidential Proclamations (ReligiousFreedomDay.com - scroll down on main page) Student Rights You can express your belief in your class work and homework. “Students may express their beliefs about religion in homework, artwork, and other written and oral assignments free from discrimination based on the religious perspective of their submissions. Such home and classroom work should be judged by ordinary academic standards of substance and relevance and against other legitimate pedagogical concerns identified by the school. Thus, if a teacher’s assignment involves writing a poem, the work of a student who submits a poem in the form of a prayer (for example, a psalm) should be judged on the basis of academic standards (such as literary quality) and neither penalized nor rewarded on account of its religious perspective.” You can pray, read your Bible or other religious texts, and talk about your faith. “Students may pray when not engaged in school activities or instruction, subject to the same rules designed to prevent material disruption of the educational program that are applied to other privately initiated expressive activities. Among other things, students may read their Bibles, Torahs, Korans, or other scriptures; say grace before meals; and pray or study religious materials with fellow students during recess, the lunch hour, or other non-instructional time to the same extent that they may engage in nonreligious activities. Students may pray with fellow students during the school day on the same terms and conditions that they may engage in other conversation or speech. Students may also speak to, and attempt to persuade, their peers about religious topics just as they do with regard to political topics.” You can pass out religious literature. “Students have a right to distribute religious literature to their schoolmates on the same terms as they are permitted to distribute other literature that is unrelated to school curriculum or activities. Schools may impose the same reasonable time, place, and manner or other constitutional restrictions on distribution of religious literature as they do on non-school literature generally, but they may not single out religious literature for special regulation.” You can wear clothing with religious messages “Schools enjoy substantial discretion in adopting policies relating to student dress and school uniforms. Schools, however, may not single out religious attire in general, or attire of a particular religion, for prohibition or regulation. If a school makes exceptions to the dress code for nonreligious reasons, it must also make exceptions for religious reasons, absent a compelling interest. Students may display religious messages on items of clothing to the same extent that they are permitted to display other comparable messages. Religious messages may not be singled out for suppression, but rather are subject to the same rules as generally apply to comparable messages.” You can organize prayer groups and religious clubs, and announce your meetings “Students may organize prayer groups, religious clubs, and ‘see you at the pole’ gatherings before school to the same extent that students are permitted to organize other noncurricular student activities groups. Such groups must be given the same access to school facilities for assembling as is given to other noncurricular groups, without discrimination because of the religious perspective of their expression. School authorities possess substantial discretion concerning whether to permit the use of school media for student advertising or announcements regarding noncurricular activities. However, where student groups that meet for nonreligious activities are permitted to advertise or announce their meetings—for example, by advertising in a student newspaper, making announcements on a student activities bulletin board or public address system, or handing out leaflets—school authorities may not discriminate against groups who meet to engage in religious expression such as prayer.” Your religious club can require student leaders to adhere to its religious teachings “Similar to other student groups such as political student groups, the Equal Access Act permits religious student groups to allow only members of their religion to serve in leadership position if these leadership positions are positions that affect the religious content of the speech at the group’s meetings. For example, a religious student group may require leaders such as the group’s president, vice-president, and music coordinator to be a dedicated member of a particular religion if the leaders’ duties consist of leading prayers, devotions, and safeguarding the spiritual content of the meetings.” You can be excused from school for religious reasons “Where school officials have a practice of excusing students from class on the basis of parents’ requests for accommodation of nonreligious needs, religiously motivated requests for excusal may not be accorded less favorable treatment. In addition, in some circumstances, based on Federal or State constitutional law or pursuant to State statutes, schools may be required to make accommodations that relieve substantial burdens on students’ religious exercise.You may be able to attend off-site religious instruction and have your religious exercise accommodated during the school day. “Schools have the discretion to dismiss students to off- premises religious instruction, provided that schools do not encourage or discourage participation in such instruction or penalize students for attending or not attending. Similarly, schools may excuse students from class to remove a significant burden on their religious exercise, including prayer, where doing so would not impose material burdens on other students. For example, it would be lawful for schools to excuse Muslim students from class to enable them to fulfill their religious obligations to pray during Ramadan.” You can express your faith at school events and graduations “Where student speakers [at student assemblies and noncurricular activities such as sporting events] are selected on the basis of genuinely content-neutral, evenhanded criteria and retain primary control over the content of their expression, that expression is not attributable to the school and therefore may not be restricted because of its religious (or anti-religious) content, and may include prayer. Where students or other private graduation speakers are selected on the basis of genuinely content-neutral, evenhanded criteria and retain primary control over the content of their expression, however, that expression is not attributable to the school and therefore may not be restricted because of its religious (or anti-religious) content and may include prayer. “To avoid any mistaken perception that a school endorses student speech or other private speech that is not in fact attributable to the school, school officials may make appropriate, neutral disclaimers to clarify that such speech (whether religious or nonreligious) is the speaker’s and not the school’s speech.” Teacher Rights You can pray at school “When acting in their official capacities as representatives of the State, teachers, school administrators, and other school employees are prohibited by the First Amendment from encouraging or discouraging prayer, and from actively participating in such activity with students. Teachers, however, may take part in religious activities where the overall context makes clear that they are not participating in their official capacities. Teachers also may take part in religious activities such as prayer even during their workday at a time when it is permissible to engage in other private conduct such as making a personal telephone call. Before school or during lunch, for example, teachers may meet with other teachers for prayer or Bible study to the same extent that they may engage in other conversation or nonreligious activities. Similarly, teachers may participate in their personal capacities in privately sponsored baccalaureate ceremonies or similar events.” You can teach about religion “Public schools may not provide religious instruction, but they may teach about religion. For example, philosophical questions concerning religion, the history of religion, comparative religion, the Bible (or other religious teachings) as literature, and the role of religion in the history of the United States and other countries all are permissible public school subjects. Similarly, it is permissible to consider religious influences on philosophy, art, music, literature, and social studies. Although public schools may teach about religious holidays, including their religious aspects, and may celebrate the secular aspects of holidays, schools may not observe holidays as religious events or promote such observance by students.” Quotes from the U.S. Department of Education’s Guidance on Constitutionally Protected Prayer and Religious Expression in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools (January 2020). To read the entire document, visit Ed.gov. Presidential Proclamations for Religious Freedom Day 1994 Proclamation, President Clinton “Religious freedom helps to give America’s people a character independent of their government, fostering the formation of individual codes of ethics, without which a democracy cannot survive.” 2005 Proclamation, President Bush Our Founding Fathers knew the importance of freedom of religion to a stable and lasting Union. 2013 Proclamation, President Obama “As we observe Religious Freedom Day, let us remember the legacy of faith and independence we have inherited, and let us honor it by forever upholding our right to exercise our beliefs free from prejudice or persecution.” 2020 Proclamation President Trump “From its opening pages, the story of America has been rooted in the truth that all men and women are endowed with the right to follow their conscience, worship freely, and live in accordance with their convictions.”  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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