Students Have Constitutional Rights

"The First Amendment exists to protect religious freedom," said Thomas H. Castelli, ACLU-TN legal director. "While this means that schools may not impose or promote religion, it also means that students can engage in religious activities that they initiate, provided they do not cause a disruption or interfere with the education of other students.⁠2" Those rights apply to non-instructional time such as lunch, recess and before/after-school time.

Hedy Weinberg, executive director of the ACLU's Tennessee branch, explained that “the goal of their letter was to clarify how constitutionally-guaranteed religious freedoms work. ACLU-TN has a long-standing commitment to uphold and defend Tennesseans’ ability to practice religion, or not, as they choose⁠​3" ​

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Partner with Schools provides supplemental faith-based character education and social emotional learning via incorporating those values into Christian teachings.

We connect schools with faith-based community organizations who volunteer to offer those clubs.

Our objective is to meet the social emotional need of students to improve academics and deal with every-day issues such as friendship building, bullying, and anger management.  We strive to empower students to be themselves and make good decisions.

WHICH ORGANIZATIONS ENDORSE CHRISTIAN CLUBS IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

Supreme Court Verdict States: Religious Clubs Can Meet At Public Schools.

“The Supreme Court ruled in favor of a voluntary Christian club which meets during non-instructional time and inside the school facilities. The majority found that excluding the club was unconstitutional discrimination based on the club's views. Letting the meeting take place would not be an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion, the court ruled.”

United States Supreme Court
Good News Club et al. v. Milford Central School⁠1, (2001)

The National Education Association Is Pulling In Faith-Based Organizations To Improve Student Learning In Their Priority Schools Campaign:

Executive Summary: Strategy #5

​"Building collaborations with community partners: Pulling in strategic partners and developing community by-in with colleges, social service agencies, community groups, faith-based organizations, local leaders, public officials, and businesses - to improve student learning and other outcomes.⁠2"

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Department Of Education Promotes Student Achievement By Connecting Schools With Faith-Based Organizations:

"The mission of the Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Education is to promote student achievement by connecting schools and community-based organizations, both secular and faith‐based⁠3."
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The White House Office Of Faith-Based Partnerships States That Faith And Community Groups Are Critical Partners In Expanding Community Involvement:

"Education is a critical pathway to success for individuals and families. Partnerships between schools and faith-based and community organizations can help to achieve this goal of educational success for all students. That is why the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the Department of Education works to promote student achievement and build a culture of educational excellence within communities across the country⁠4." 
                    
"The White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships works to build bridges between the federal government and nonprofit organizations, both secular and faith-based, to better serve Americans in need. The Office advances this work through Centers in various Federal agencies⁠5."

The Nea Foundation States That Successful School Districts Have Relied On Faith-Based Institutions:

"Successful union and district collaborations have included creation of partnerships with community-based organizations, faith-based institutions, health and mental health agencies, and city- or community-based agencies focused on developing comprehensive solutions for the complex challenges of educating all students"⁠6

nea Today Encourages Schools To Develop Meaningful Partnerships With Faith Organizations:

"Local Partnerships to Transform Priority Schools. Partnerships between priority schools and their communities help students succeed—in school and in life."

"While some local associations and school districts are in the beginning phases of developing meaningful partnerships with local businesses, civic, faith and social organizations, and community coalitions, several priority schools are already seeing the benefits these partnerships can have for their students⁠7.”

ACLU ​American Civil Liberties Union States That:

"Student-Organized Bible Clubs⁠8 Are Ok As Long As Three Conditions Are Met: 

• ​the activity must take place during non-school hours; 
• school officials can't be involved in organizing or running the club, and
• the school must make its facilities available to all student groups on an equal basis.”

1 Good News Club  et al. v Milford Central School, 533 U.S. 98 (2001)
retrievable at:
http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/533/98.html
2 Anne T. Henderson, Senior Consultant to the Annenberg Institute for School Reform, and co-author of A New Wave of Evidence: The Impact of School, Family, and Community Connections on Student Achievement and Beyond the Bake Sale: The Essential Guide to Family-School Partnerships. Priority Schools Campaign, Family-School-Community Partnerships 2.0. National Education Association (NEA) 2011.
Retrievable at:
https://www.usda.gov/our-agency/staff-offices/center-faith-based-and-neighborhood-partnerships
3 http://sites.ed.gov/fbnp/
4 https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/faithbasedtoolkit.pdf
5 http://sites.ed.gov/fbnp/
6 The NEA Foundation Report (2012, April). Expanding Learning Opportunities to Close The Achievement Gaps: Lessons from Union-District Collaborations.  
7 http://www.nea.org/tools/48684.htm
8 https://www.aclu.org/other/your-right-religious-freedom

Words like ‘school and faith’ conjure up images of the ACLU or one of its branches.

The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union… of Tennessee) stood up for the Christian rights of a student who was forced by teachers to stop reading the Bible during an After-School program.

In that situation, school personnel told an elementary school student that he was not allowed to read the Bible. When he refused to cave in to their demand, the teacher took the Bible away from him stating that the school could lose their program if they allowed him to read the Bible. Instead of turning to one of many excellent Christian legal help organizations, the student's parents turned to the ACLU for help. Why? They must have been convinced of the student's constitutional right to exercise his faith. And they must have known that the ACLU simply had to back up their son's right to free exercise of his faith. ​

And that's exactly what happened.

The ACLU defended the student against the school.

In a letter sent to the school in April 2014, the ACLU requested that it’s the school’s “obligation under the law to safeguard their students’ religious liberties - without imposing religion on them.⁠1”

The school responded by training its employees on religious freedom rights to come into legal compliance.

The ACLU Supported An Anti-Abortion Club

In May 2017, Parkland High School in Allentown, Pennsylvania, would not allow two students to start an anti-abortion club. Because the mother of one of the students had an abortion against her will when she was young, the students wanted to support other students who are in the same situation. But the school said, "the club was too controversial and too political⁠4."

So they looked for legal help. Jocelyn Floyd, an attorney for the Thomas More Society, said: "The law is clear and the lawyers know it. The school administrators are the ones who don't always understand what the obligations are under the law.⁠5"

The legal director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania, Vic Walczak, also thinks that Parkland High School violated the Equal Access Act. Schools often use words such as: controversial, political or illegal, to intimidate students simply because the administration doesn’t want to deal with parents who might object to a Christian club. 

On the other hand, it needs to be stated that many more principals decide to uphold the First Amendment Rights of their students no matter who complains.

Nationally, the ACLU never directly challenged a Christian club in schools. All they ever filed was an amicus brief in the landmark case: Good News Club vs. Milford Central School.⁠6 However the Supreme Court decided in favor of the Christian club.

The ACLU instead challenges Christian symbols in schools, such as the posting of the ten commandments or nativity scenes. The organization also likes to challenge Christian seals or Christian remarks in official school documents. And we all know the ACLU challenges mandatory school prayer. 

But the ACLU fully recognizes and accepts Christian clubs in schools and respects students’ constitutional rights. It’s of paramount importance that we utilize this right to support our students.

WHAT IS ACLU'S STAND ON RELIGION IN SCHOOLS

News reports remind us how the ACLU challenges school prayer and school religious symbols. Schools often cave to the ACLU. “We rather spend our money on teachers than on lawyers” is a frequent justification. We see the ACLU backing the Freedom From Religion Foundation against our Christian traditions in schools. And the ACLU also supports Americans United in many anti-Christian efforts. But, there is no need to fear the ACLU when it comes to Christian clubs. In fact, the ACLU officially acknowledges and supports Christian clubs in public schools.

Because students won numerous lawsuits against schools who denied Christian clubs, an increasing number of principals are focusing on protecting their students' rights to Free Speech. School administration is not alone in becoming more cognizant of student rights, even the ACLU schooled a school in the spring of 2014:

 1 http://www.aclu-tn.org/cannon-county-student-Bible/
2 https://www.aclu.org/news/aclu-tn-protects-students-right-read-Bible-school?redirect=religion-belief/aclu-tn-protects-students-right-read-Bible-school
3 http://www.christianpost.com/news/boy-forced-to-stop-reading-Bible-during-tenn-after-school-program-aclu-defends-student-117229/
4 http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/high-school-wont-allow-students-anti-abortion-club
5 http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/high-school-wont-allow-students-anti-abortion-club
6 https://www.aclu.org/sites/default/files/field_document/asset_upload_file553_22253.pdf

Performance Standards and Common Core Standards

 leave little time for expanded education such as character education programs.  Yet, Dr. Victor Battistich, the late renowned researcher on the subject states: "As students grow in character, they grow in their capacity and commitment to do their best work, do the right thing and lead lives of purpose. Character education done early and well, puts students toward successful life outcomes."   In a major study, Dr. Battistich, also found that only two factors showed a significant direct link to improving good character and effectively preventing bad behavior: 1) positive relationships with one's family and 2) a sense of connectedness to school. ​

Partner with Schools

is another piece of the puzzle towards connectedness to school via Character Education in a fun, faith-based, and motivating way during after-school hours.  The weekly one hour Torch Club is packed with hands-on instruction, amazing games, inspiration, music & movement.  Large group instruction is followed by small group discussions and activities to foster learning, friendships and connectedness as seen in photos throughout this website.

Partnerships between local schools and local churches

 are set up for the good of the students, school and community.  Our approach is student focused and community based to build bridges between schools and community.  We help provide screening,  teaching and  ongoing professional development programs to fully equip our community partners.   Partner with Schools  encourages community organizations to work with a well-trained team of inspiring instructors and to select people with excellent references to teach the Character Education Program.

A typical Club is offered in 6 week segments

during both the spring and fall semesters.   Teachers' compassion help to instill students with self worth and respect for others.  Fundamental character traits are weaved throughout every lesson and are designed to set the students on the right path for life as they reap the benefits of such behavior.  Partner with Schools focuses on the six pillars of Character Counts: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship.

The following article from neatoday shows a growing trend in schools utilizing faith-based organizations:

Faith-based Groups Reach Out to Schools. 
How Public Schools are welcoming faith-based help, and why there hasn't been a lawsuit.

It may be motivated by the Bible, and it may be about studying, but it’s not Bible study. In pockets around the country, public schools are joining hands with an unlikely group—religious community members—to help students academically and socially. Take into account that, in at least one state, the group nurturing these partnerships is the educators’ union, and you’ve got enough fodder for days of head scratching and quizzical looks. For many, the rules have been rigid: religion doesn’t make it past the schoolhouse door. But somewhere along the line, that turned into a fear of any communication between the two entities, even if it had nothing to do with religion. It is what Pastor Todd Littleton of Snow Hill Church in Tuttle, Oklahoma, calls an unnecessary polarization.

“Many educators are asking themselves how they can be more effective and widen their support network,” says Littleton. But when it comes to religion and schools, “[only] the extreme cases get reported. Fear is our default. Who gets disadvantaged in that are the children.”

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