{"id":77,"date":"2008-10-21T15:08:34","date_gmt":"2008-10-21T15:08:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/lynnvsekulow\/2008\/10\/inside-the-classroom-proobama.html"},"modified":"2008-10-21T15:08:34","modified_gmt":"2008-10-21T15:08:34","slug":"inside-the-classroom-proobama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/2008\/10\/inside-the-classroom-proobama.html","title":{"rendered":"Inside the Classroom: Pro-Obama Textbook?"},"content":{"rendered":"

These are very interesting times.  <\/span>Especially when it comes to what’s taking place in our public schools.  <\/span>Barry, I don’t know if you’ve seen the news reports <\/a>about the controversy in Wisconsin where school officials approved the use of a textbook that highlights and promotes the accomplishments of Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama.  <\/span>The problem, as one parent put it, “No John McCain, no Hillary Clinton, no George Bush – Just Barack Obama.”<\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font> <\/p>\n

The textbook cites Sen. Obama’s ‘change’ theme as an example of good literature and talks about his ‘life of service.”  <\/span>That’s triggered an outcry from some – including the moderator of Real Debate Wisconsin blog stated<\/a>:  <\/span>“This is not education folks, this is indoctrination.” <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/font> <\/p>\n

At the same time, in one school district in Kansas, a 5th grade class was given an art assignment to draw a picture of their choice.  <\/span>When one student drew a picture of a cross, the teacher objected.  <\/span>That’s right, the teacher told the student that drawing a cross was not permitted in public school.<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

You won’t read about this incident in the news media.  <\/span>But I can tell you that the student’s mother contacted our offices.  <\/span>We provided the mother with an informational letter – outlining the fact that drawing a cross for a class assignment does not pose a constitutional crisis.  <\/span>Barry, as you know, the fact is that the student has constitutionally-protected free speech rights – rights underscored repeatedly by the U.S. Supreme Court and cited by the U.S. Department of Education.<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

In 2003 the Department reiterated that students have the right to express their religious beliefs in assignments when it issued additional guidelines:<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

Religious Expression and Prayer in Class Assignments<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

Students may express their beliefs about religion in homework, artwork, and other written and oral assignments free from discrimination based on the religious content of their submissions. Such home and classroom work should be judged by ordinary academic standards of substance and relevance and against other legitimate pedagogical concerns identified by the school. Thus, if a teacher’s assignment involves writing a poem, the work of a student who submits a poem in the form of a prayer (for example, a psalm) should be judged on the basis of academic standards (such as literary quality) and neither penalized nor rewarded on account of its religious content. <\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

The mother of the 5th grade student shared our letter with the school’s principal and then sent us the following e-mail: “After a brief telephone discussion, the principal agreed with me and had a stern discussion with the art teacher. Bottom line, the art teacher will allow the cross in the assignment in the public school.”<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

We’re pleased that the outcome of this issue was resolved quickly and the rights of the student were protected.<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

As for the Wisconsin textbook-flap, no quick resolution in sight.  <\/span>As the school superintendent<\/a> put it: “This deals with issues on how we treat our students and how we treat free speech and how we control our curriculum.  <\/span>We’re going to investigate it and treat it as a serious matter that deserves a deliberate response.”<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

Barry, what do you think?<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

These are very interesting times.  Especially when it comes to what’s taking place in our public schools.  Barry, I don’t know if you’ve seen the news reports about the controversy in Wisconsin where school officials approved the use of a textbook that highlights and promotes the accomplishments of Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama.  The problem, as…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":163,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-77","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-public-schools","category-religious-freedom"],"yoast_head":"\nInside the Classroom: Pro-Obama Textbook? - Lynn v. 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Jay Sekulow has also served as a faculty member for the Office of Legal Education at the United States Department of Justice.  As a member of the faculty he instructed Assistant United States Attorneys and investigators in the First Amendment issues associated with prosecution of obscenity. An accomplished and respected judicial advocate, Sekulow has presented oral argument before the U.S. Supreme Court in numerous cases in defense of constitutional freedoms. Several landmark cases argued by Sekulow before the U.S. Supreme Court have become part of the legal landscape in the area of religious liberty litigation.  In the Mergens case, Sekulow cleared the way for public school students to form Bible clubs and religious organizations on their school campuses.  In the Lamb's Chapel case, Sekulow defended the free speech rights of religious groups, ensuring that they be treated equally with respect to the use of public facilities.  And, most recently, in McConnell v. FEC, Sekulow ensured that the constitutional rights of young people remain protected with a unanimous decision by the high court guaranteeing that minors can participate in political campaigns. A nationally recognized and respected defender of religious freedom, Sekulow has assembled one of the most prestigious law firms in the nation.  Founded in 1990, the American Center for Law and Justice focuses in constitutional law.  The ACLJ, under Sekulow's direction, is involved in public interest and public policy issues working to protect religious and constitutional liberties. In 2007, the Chicago Tribune concluded that the ACLJ has \"led the way\" in Christian legal advocacy.  In 2005, TIME Magazine named Sekulow one of the \"25 Most Influential Evangelicals\" in America and called the ACLJ \"a powerful counterweight\" to the ACLU.  Business Week said the ACLJ is \"the leading advocacy group for religious freedom.\"  Sekulow's work on the issue of judicial nominees - including possible vacancies at the Supreme Court - has received extensive news coverage including a front page story in The Wall Street Journal.  In addition, The National Law Journal has twice named Sekulow one of the \"100 Most Influential Lawyers\" in the United States (1994, 1997).  He is also among a distinguished group of attorneys known as \"The Public Sector 45\" named by The American Lawyer (January\/February 1997).  The magazine said the designation represents \"45 young lawyers outside the private sector whose vision and commitment are changing lives.\" Sekulow brings insight and education to listeners daily with his national call-in radio program, Jay Sekulow Live!, which is broadcast throughout the country on nearly 850 radio stations.  Sekulow also hosts a weekly television program, ACLJ This Week, which tackles the tough issues of the day and is broadcast on a number of networks nationwide including the Trinity Broadcasting Network and FamilyNet.  Sekulow is also a popular guest on nationally televised news programs on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, FOX News, MSNBC, CNBC, and PBS.  He frequently contributes articles and commentary to national publications and is often quoted in the nation's leading newspapers including USA Today, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, and Washington Times. A graduate of Mercer University, Sekulow graduated cum laude receiving both a bachelor's degree and doctor of jurisprudence from Mercer University where he served on the Mercer Law Review as an editorial staff member.  Following graduation, Sekulow served as a tax trial attorney in the Office of Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service.  In that capacity, Sekulow prepared and brought to trial tax cases on behalf of the United States Department of Treasury in United States Tax Court. He also received a Ph.D. from Regent University, with a dissertation on American Legal History, and is the author of numerous publications and law articles. 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