INTEGRATING FAITH AND THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
(without mixing church and state)
For years, a secular mindset among educators and school officials has pushed legitimate education about Christianity out of the lives of public school students. The bias against appropriately teaching about the contributions of Christianity to society comes largely from educators who either think it is not legally allowed or that, even if allowed, it is not proper or culturally sensitive to do so.
Parents, educators, school officials, and students can calm their fears about the presence of Christianity in classrooms just by remembering the acronym C.A.L.M., because teaching about religion is Culturally accurate, Academically expected, Legally supported, and Morally imperative.
Culturally Accurate
Christianity continues to have a significant influence on American society. Christianity is the religion with the largest number of adherents in America. 67 percent of Americans claim Christianity as their religious affiliation, compared to 2 percent who identify themselves as Jewish. 7 percent consider themselves atheists or agnostics and 1 percent fall into the category of other religions.1 Among those that do not identify with any religion, 36 percent still believe God exists. Bible engagement has also gone up from 15 to 19 percent, with disengagement decreasing to 45 percent in just one year.
During a typical week, 22 percent of Americans, over 70 million people, attend church.2 This is high when compared to other major Western countries. For instance, Germany’s church attendance is 12.5 percent of the population; Sweden’s is 9 percent. Even England ranks far behind the United States. Figures for weekly church attendance there range from 27 to only 8 percent.3
In light of our heritage and current demographic figures, it is little wonder that Christian holidays dominate the American calendar; that there are nearly 1,400 radio stations in America airing Christian programs or music; that our hospitals have names like St. Joseph’s and Baptist General; that our language regularly uses Biblical expressions such as “good Samaritan,” and “go the extra mile;” or that our national motto, “In God We Trust,” was adopted in 1956, not 1856.4
It is reasonable to assume that American schools should teach American students about American culture, and that includes teaching them about the significant role of Christianity, both historically and currently.
Academically Expected
A quick look at state academic standards from around the country reveals a number of ways that state officials not only encourage educators to teach about the Bible and Christian thought, they expect it. Here are a few examples: In California, sixth-grade students are to “Note 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).”
The Colorado Department of Education states that, "Because religion plays a significant role in history and society, study about religion is essential to understanding both the nation and the world. Omission of facts about religion can give students the false impression that the religious life of humankind is insignificant or unimportant."
In Massachusetts, junior high school students are encouraged to "Describe the features of Christianity (e.g., the belief in a messiah who could redeem humans from sin, the concept of salvation, the belief in an Old and a New Testament in the Bible, the life, and teachings of Jesus.)."
Even the National Education Association agrees. The union’s 2000-2001 resolution E-7 states:
“The National Education Association believes that educational materials should accurately portray the influence of religion in our nation and throughout the world.”5
Legally Supported
In the Supreme Court case of Abington School District v. Schempp, Justice Clark, writing the majority opinion stated: “…It certainly may be said that the Bible is worthy of study for its literary and historic qualities. Nothing we have said here indicates that such study of the Bible or of religion, when presented objectively as part of a secular program of education, may not be effected consistently with the First Amendment.”6
It is common for public schools to forbid or discourage the singing of religious Christmas carols. However, this may come as a surprise to the Supreme Court. In the case of Lynch v. Donnelly, involving the public display of a nativity scene, the Justices commented that during Christmas, “people are taking note of the season with Christmas hymns and carols in public schools.”7
The Court assumed school children were singing religious Christmas carols!
In the Federal court case of Florey v. Sioux Falls School District, the ACLU was twice defeated in its attempt to have the school district’s policy on recognizing holidays declared unconstitutional.
Morally Imperative
Today’s young people are hurting. Many of today’s youth are emotionally, morally, and spiritually lost. Harvard University’s Samuel Huntington asserts that a new Dark Ages of barbarism is descending on the world.8 Social critic Morris Berman in his book, The Twilight of American Culture, quotes Alexis de Tocqueville, “When the past no longer illuminates the future, the spirit walks in darkness.”9
Former Attorney General William Barr spoke on the challenges within our schools: “Ground Zero for attacks on religion are the schools,” he said, “and, to me, this is the most serious challenge to religious liberty today.” He went on to say, “The problem is not that religion is being forced on others. The problem is that irreligion is being forced; secular values are being forced on people of faith.”
In today’s schools, we must raise a generation of young Americans who truly value religious liberty and are willing to stand up for it. We hear calls to teach the whole child, promote anti-drug messages, and promote students’ social and emotional wellbeing. But at the same time, many in our culture laugh at those who recommend a return to our moral roots. The point of education is about righteousness and refinement, not just churning out more workers for the marketplace.
There are millions of Christians within the public schools. They can confidently exercise their constitutional freedoms to affirm students’ religious expression in class and teach students the important contribution the Bible and Christianity make to the world and to their academic subjects. They simply need to know how. Gateways to Better Education is committed to helping Christian educators and school leaders in public schools. You are the gateway to better education for students.
© Eric Buehrer
