Troubled times in the classroom
Do we need God in our schools?
In the wake of the massacre of 18 children and five or six adults at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in the Connecticut city of Newtown this week, the news media and social networking sites are ablaze. Many of the old issues have been regenerated--Should we have tighter gun control laws? Could the violence be stopped if we allowed religion in the classrooms?
I've pondered this issue for at least 48 years, since that's how long I've been a part of the educational community, as a teacher. I started teaching in 1964, when things were--to put it mildly--a lot different. I've watched religion come and go in the classroom, and I've tried to gauge its effects on the students.
This morning, a Facebook post from a former fellow colleague caused me to come to a considered conclusion. After all these years of watching the events around the nation, I know what I believe and am finally ready to state it.
This is my friend's post:
I've seen things of this sort circulating. Although kids still carry Bibles at school. Kids still can pray at school. Jackson has a Fellowship of Christian Athletes organization (FCA). Just because government says no... God is mightier than the government. "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8. If God never leaves us, then he's at schools. :)
I don't begin to understand the school shootings. But I don't blame God. I blame the devil. The Devil filled that man with hate, not God.
Just my opinion.
She's right. Our Advance High School has an active FCA organization, which operates as the other clubs do: It is an extra-curricular organization. Community members and churches donate to the FCA members, in order to provide them with funds to pay for transportation to events. Their sponsors are teachers, who volunteer their time after school. The group is allowed to use a school bus, as long as they pay for it out of their own funds. The administration is supportive of this group.
Membership in the FCA is voluntary, as it should be. In my opinion, no one should be forced to take part in a free-will activity of the heart. Students may be required to study math, or science, or history, but the State should never coerce them into praying or studying the Bible.
To do so would make us no better than the old Communist Party, which fell from power in 1989. They told their people what to think, and if they didn't agree, they were imprisoned or killed.
The operative word here is "Freedom."
Additionally--If we allowed religion in our schools, which one would it be? To say "Christian" doesn't help much, as there are many, many branches of Christianity. Advance has 15 churches in the immediate area, and--believe me--they do not all agree on church issues.
I know that many of you won't agree with me, but I do hope that you won't be hateful and rude. I don't often put myself out there with a controversial issue, but I feel this one is important.
Let's be civil.
Comments
- -- Posted by GONENOW on Sat, Dec 15, 2012, at 2:05 PM
- -- Posted by goat lady on Sat, Dec 15, 2012, at 7:48 PM
- -- Posted by Madeline1 on Sat, Dec 15, 2012, at 9:19 PM
- -- Posted by Madeline1 on Sun, Dec 16, 2012, at 7:42 AM
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