Dear Friends,

The phrase "freedom of expression" is usually used in the context of the political arena, but it can also apply to sharing our faith. Legislative changes in recent years (relatively speaking), and the pervading influence of "political correctness" (with various interpretations) has created an atmosphere and environment that has attempted to suppress Christian and other religious groups' activities in government-related and other locations, including in our public schools. A friend sent me the following last night -- I'm not sure whether it was written by him or if he copied and pasted it, but it has related links at the bottom of the post to verify statements contained in it. Since these are not likely updates that you may hear on the nightly news, I decided to send them here for those (like me) who weren't aware of some of these current positions.

After learning recently that the Canadian government has passed a law that grants legal status to homosexuals, and that some suits are in the courts there now brought by homosexual individuals against preachers who called homosexuality "evil", it doesn't take a whole lot of imagination to consider a time in the not necessarily far distant future of increasingly assertive persecution against Christians. The following article on legal gains in the public schools is encouraging. At this time, we can still share our faith openly in the public arena. Let us prepare ourselves now ("redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Eph. 5:16) for the time when this may not be so. May we exercise our freedom of expression at the present time in sharing our faith. May it continually be the desire of our hearts to serve our Saviour and to glorify our God.

In Him,
Elaine

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The Supreme Court decided in the 1960s that prayer and Bible reading could not be mandated in American public schools. However, God is still making His way into public schools because His children - both students and teachers - are walking through the school doors.

Last week, Michelle Beadle, a Messianic Jewess, won a battle over whether or not she could distribute pamphlets containing the phrase "Jews should believe in Jesus" on the University of New Orleans campus. The U of New Orleans had rejected Beadle's request to hand out the tracts because some people could be offended. However, ACLJ senior counsel Stuart Roth pointed out that "that's exactly why we have the First Amendment, so people can speak on issues that might be controversial."

Across the country in Oregon, the John Marshall High School in Portland changed its policy in July to allow students to promote religious student groups – like Bible clubs – with the same benefits and privileges offered to other student organizations. The school had removed high school senior Jeffrey Chatterton's "Teens Encountering Christ" Bible club display because it was "sanctioning religion." However, in a settlement agreement, the school changed its policy to not discriminate against student-initiated religious clubs.

While there are certain guidelines to follow, religion is still a legitimate subject for the classroom, one that both teachers and students may discuss. The "separation of church and state" crowd has worked to completely remove God from the school setting, but students and teachers still have the right to bring Him in – in many ways;

FREEDOM OF SPEECH:

The Supreme Court has ruled that students retain their freedom of speech and expression when at school. According to the 1969 Supreme Court decision in Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District, a school may only silence students if they are actually disrupting school discipline. That is, a student's freedom of expression does not give him or her the right to interrupt math class with Billy Graham impressions. However, during free time, students are free to :

• Read their Bibles
• Talk to peers about religion and pray with their peers
• Wear clothing with Christian symbols and messages
• Even pass out religious tracts

As long as students are not acting out in a disruptive manner, they retain their freedom of expression.

EQUAL ACCESS:

If a secondary public school receives any federal funding and if it allows any other noncurriculum clubs (like the chess club or the glee club) to form, then it must allow students to form Bible clubs or other religiously oriented organizations on campus, with the same rights to the facilities as other clubs. Religious clubs are guaranteed the right to official recognition, which means the school must offer them access to the school newspaper, bulletin boards, and the public announcement system et al. Religious clubs, however, must be student-initiated and student-led. The students may invite outside speakers, but the club must be organized and led by the students themselves.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES:

Because religion is such an integral part of history and politics and the human experience in general, it is a relevant topic in the classroom setting. Teachers and students are free to discuss different religions and the impact religion has had on society. While teachers must maintain a neutral position with the students, students are free to offer their own personal opinions on religious matters. [However, teachers are free to discuss religious issues with their own peers outside of the classroom.]

Students may write papers on religious subjects, including the Bible. The Bible has had an enormous impact on history and literature and is an important book to know, even from a secular viewpoint. Literature from Shakespeare to Faulkner is full of allusions to the Bible, which can only be fully appreciated with a working knowledge of God's Word.

TEACHERS:

Teachers also retain their First Amendment rights at school, but at the same time represent the school while in the classroom and at school events. Therefore, public school teachers are not permitted to "force their religion" on the kids. According to the U.S. Department of Education's guidelines for Religious Expression in Public Schools:

'Teachers and school administrators, when acting in those capacities, are representatives of the state and are prohibited by the establishment clause from soliciting or encouraging religious activity, and from participating in such activity with students. Teachers and administrators also are prohibited from discouraging activity because of its religious content, and from soliciting or encouraging antireligious activity.'
However, teachers do have a lot of freedom to teach about religion for educational purposes. They may teach on comparative religions, including Christianity. They may discuss the impact religion has had on history and science and literature. They may even discuss religion with students one-on-one, if the student initiates and maintains the conversation and is not compelled to agree with the teacher's position.

There is also a growing understanding that the intellect is not the only part of the human person, but that students do have a spiritual side that also needs to be fed. Teachers may not tell students which religion to follow, but may discuss religion and how it pertains to human spirituality.

As school starts up again, continue to pray for those faithful teachers who are striving to teach students according to righteousness in the face of an increasingly liberal education establishment, and for those students who are willing to stand up for their faith and be a light to their peers rather than just going along with the crowd.

Related Links:

• Sharing Your Faith/Witnessing - ACLJ
• University Settles Suit Over Distribution of Religious Tracts - First Amendment Center
• Justices Refuse to Reopen Pledge Case - The Washington Times
• Student Rights - ACLJ
• ACLJ Gets Oregon School Dist. to Change Policy that Discriminated Against Bible Club - ACLJ