The President asks Americans to engage in religious activity

Yesterday, the President issued his annual Thanksgiving Proclamation calling the nation to thank God for His blessings. No matter what our politics may be, it is important that we highlight the Proclamation to our children and our students as an example of our nation's recognition of being "one nation under God."The President begins by explaining that it is about "recounting the joys and blessings of the past year." This is an important statement because the majority of people (including teachers) mistakenly think that Thanksgiving is a nostalgic remembrance of the Pilgrims of long ago.

If someone were to ask you what the baseball World Series is, it would be odd if you answered that it is a time when we gather with friends and family to recall the first baseball competition of 1903. Likewise, while Thanksgiving does have a beginning with the Pilgrims, that is not why we celebrate it today. The President rightly calls upon us to "recount the joys and blessings of the past year." 

The President explains, "This day is a time to take stock of the fortune we have known and the kindnesses we have shared, grateful for the God-given bounty that enriches our lives."

In his second paragraph, the President gives a brief overview of its history. He mentions the Pilgrims and Wampanoag tribe. He also highlights George Washington's prayer "to our Creator" as well as Lincoln's proclamation.

In his fourth paragraph, the President calls upon the nation to "spend this day by lifting up those we love, mindful of the grace bestowed upon us by God and by all who have made our lives richer with their presence." He does this "by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States."

Read the Proclamation to Your Family

I recommend you print out the proclamation and read it to your family. It is important that we not only remind ourselves what God has done for us individually, but that we live in a country that officially does this as well. It is part of being "one nation under God."

Teach about the Proclamation Next Week

If you are a teacher, you can incorporate the President's proclamation in a post-Thanksgiving class discussion. Ask students specifically what they did for Thanksgiving Day. Then, ask them if they did what the President asked them to do. When they reply that they were not aware that the President asked them to do anything, give them a copy of his proclamation, read it aloud, and discuss it. This is a teachable moment -- a time to discuss a few of the following topics:

1. What it means to be "one nation under God."

2. The Bill of Rights and freedom of religious expression

3. America's Judeo-Christian heritage

4. The often-misunderstood phrase "separation of church and state"

5. What it means to end the proclamation "in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve" (our calendar dating)

Download the President's Thanksgiving Proclamation.

For all of us at Gateways to Better Education, we wish you a blessed Thanksgiving as you remember all that God has given you and given America.

Christmas Carols and Courage

It won’t be long before Christmas will be here. How will your public schools handle the holiday? Too often, the religious aspects of the holidays are censored from classrooms. But, more and more teachers are finding the courage to teach about them.

For example, Heather is an elementary school music teacher in a liberal community in southern California. When she mentioned to a colleague that she was going to teach the children traditional Christmas carols, he slammed his hand on his desk and declared “You will not teach religious carols to students in my classroom!”

Heather didn’t. Instead, she took the students to the courtyard and taught them Christmas carols there. Later she wrote to us that “the concert was a hit. We even ended it with ‘Silent Night.” Every loved it. Even the school principal told me how much she enjoyed the concert.”

Too often, our schools unnecessarily cower from what they think will be controversial. It’s time we move from fear to freedom.

Christmas Resources:

Christmas in Your Schools

A Gift for Teacher - 8 page card for teachers.

School Prayer is Possible in Public Schools

You might remember last year’s news story about a Rhode Island judge ordering a school to remove a prayer banner that had been hanging in its auditorium for the past 50 years. The non-denominational prayer reminded students to be good sports, be honest, and bring honor to their school. The banner was removed and the student who brought the lawsuit received a $40,000 college scholarship from an atheist organization rewarding her for her efforts. Okay. The banner came down. But, I think a sleeping giant – the Church – just woke up.

In our research, we found that in 34 states public school students can begin their day with prayer IN THE CLASSROOM. These states have laws that either require or allow for students to begin their days with moments of silence that can be used for prayer.

Let’s take the prayer that was in one school in one state and help students pray it in 64,000 schools in 34 states.

(You can listen to my commentary as part of the Family News in Focus broadcast)

To read more about Gateways' School Prayer Card, visit Prayer Page

A Solution to the Rhode Island Prayer Controversy

Many people are upset about the recent news that a 4-foot by 8-foot “School Prayer Banner” hanging in a Rhode Island public high school since 1963 must come down. On January 12, U.S. District Judge Ronald Lagueux ruled that the banner hanging in Cranston High School West is unconstitutional. The judge wrote, "No amount of debate can make the School Prayer anything other than a prayer."

Local resident are up in arms over the ruling and are urging the school district to appeal the ruling. In the meantime, Jessica Ahlquist, the 16-year-old atheist who initiated the action to have the banner removed, is reportedly receiving all kinds of threats and vitriol. She told one reporter, "A lot of people are saying that they hope I get beat up. . . .That they would hurt me physically in school if they could. It is hurtful. It kind of disturbed me. It's mostly hurtful when it comes from students in the school."

MLK and Religious Freedom - Mark the Day

By Chuck Colson

What better way to honor Martin Luther King than to celebrate our religious freedom?

Monday, January 16, is Martin Luther King Day. Most schools recognize the day — as they should. But will they teach students about Dr. King’s Christian faith, which motivated and guided his campaign for civil rights?

During his Birmingham civil rights campaign, Dr. King required every participant to sign a pledge committing to do ten things. The first was to “meditate daily on the teachings and life of Jesus.” Others included the expectation that all participants would “walk and talk in the manner of love, for God is love;” and “pray daily to be used by God in order that all men might be free.”

To read more of Chuck Colson's commentary, CLICK HERE.