1106 E Street, Lincoln, NE 68508-3511
Phone: 402-477-3191
Toll Free: 1-888-777-5188
Integrating Faith In the Public Schools
TEN WAYS TO PROMOTE RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS- adapted from Gateway to Better Education
1. Give educators and administrators a copy of the U.S. Department of Education's (USDOE) guidelines on religious expression.
Download a copy at www.My.Ed.gov or www.gtbe.org.
2. Talk to your sons and daughters about their religious freedoms at school and encourage them to exercise their liberties. Knowledge without application is fruitless.
3. Distribute copies of the USDOE guidelines to students in your church's youth ministry and discuss what it means to publicly stand for Christ.
4. For educators: Discuss the USDOE guidelines in your class. Use it at the beginning of the school year when discussing classroom rules, or when teaching about subjects such as tolerance, character education, or religious holidays.
5. For educators: Give a copy of the USDOE guidelines to your colleagues. Leave copies in the teachers' lounge or put them in their mailboxes with an "FYI" note attached. You may consider conducting an in-service presentation for your colleagues at school or within the district.
6. The USDOE guidelines stipulate that in order to receive federal funding, districts must have filed a document testifying that the district has no policy hindering religious liberties. Request to see, from your district's main office, a copy of the document your district filed with the proper authorities.
7. Ask the PTA/PTO to give a presentation on religious liberties at school and/or place an article in its newsletter.
8. For students: Write an article on the USDOE guidelines for your school newspaper.
9. Host a "Parent Night" at your church where you can inform parents of their children's religious liberties. Join a local prayer group specifically for your child/ren's school.
Visit www.momsintouch.org to learn more.
10. Start a teachers'/Student prayer group or Bible club.
Visit www.prayingeducator.org. to get started.