Lessons from School

Good Morning!

I received the following in an email from Ellen Tuesday:

Christianity is now the target of persecution...


THIS IS AS GOOD AS IT GETS! GOD BLESS EVERYONE WHO READS THIS AND PASSES IT ON.




I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT A HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL CAN SEE THE PROBLEM, BUT OUR SOCIETY CANNOT.

Tennessee Football
This is a statement that was read over the PA sytem at the football game at Roane County High School , Kingston , Tennessee by school Principal, Jody McLeod

"It has always been the custom at Roane County High School football games to say a prayer and play the National Anthem to honor God and Country."

Due to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, I am told that saying a Prayer is a violation of Federal Case Law. As I understand the law at this time, I can use this public facility to approve of sexual perversion and call it "an alternate life style," and if someone is offended, that's OK.

I can use it to condone sexual promiscuity by dispensing condoms and calling it "safe sex." If someone is offended, that's OK.

I can even use this public facility to present the merits of killing an unborn baby as a "viable! means of birth control." If someone is offended, no problem...

I can designate a school day as "Earth Day" and involve students in activities to worship religiously and praise the goddess "Mother Earth" and call it "ecology.."

I can use literature, videos and presentations in the classroom that depicts people with strong, traditional Christian convictions as "simple minded" and "ignorant" and call it "enlightenment.."

However, if anyone uses this facility to honor GOD and to ask HIM to Bless this event with safety and good sportsmanship, then Federal Case Law is violated.

This appears to be inconsistent at best, and at worst, diabolical.

Apparently, we are to be tolerant of everything and anyone except GOD and HIS Commandments.

Nevertheless, as a school principal, I frequently ask staff and students to abide by rules with which they do not necessarily agree. For me to do otherwise would be inconsistent at best, and at worst, hypocritical. I suffer from that affliction enough unintentionally. I certainly do not need to add an intentional transgression.

For this reason, I shall "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's," and refrain from praying at this time.

" However, if you feel inspired to honor, praise and thank GOD and ask HIM, in the name of JESUS, to Bless this event, please feel free to do so.. As far as I know, that's not against the law----yet."

One by one, the people in the stands bowed their heads, held hands with one another and began to pray.

They prayed in the stands. They prayed in the team huddles. They prayed at the concession stand and they prayed in the Announcer's Box!

The only place they didn't pray was in the Supreme Court of the United States of America - the Seat of "Justice" in the "one nation, under GOD."

Somehow, Kingston, Tennessee, remembered what so many have forgotten. We are given the Freedom OF Religion, not the Freedom FROM Religion.

Praise GOD that HIS remnant remains!

JESUS said, "If you are ashamed of ME before men, then I will be ashamed of you before MY FATHER.."






One of the evidences of our moral decline in America comes from the Atlanta Public School system. Over 75% of the schools (44 out of 56) engaged in changing answers on the CRCT. Over 2/3rds of the principals were involved in the cheating scandal. And it has been alleged that the superintendant was aware of the cheating. It leads me to pose two questions:

(1) Why would teachers and principals find it necessary to cheat on these examinations?
(2) What is the impact on the students?

To answer the first question, one has to understand two things about the CRCT – its purpose and its effect. The purpose of any test, I believe, is to gauge what a student has learned … and what the student needs to learn. Passing or failing a test is not the ultimate answer – it is a measurement. Unfortunately, the CRCT score are used to determine the effectiveness of the teacher and of the school in doing their job. And, if the scores aren’t high enough, jobs are lost or people reassigned. The tests are generic … a “one size fits all” test that on the surface seems fair until one considers that some schools are in areas where parents can be and are involved in their child’s education and others are in areas where parents cannot be as involved – for many reasons such as the need to work several jobs just to survive. And if you are a teacher or administrator in one of the areas where parental involvement is limited, your future may be negatively impacted. So the temptation is there to “assist” your students in making a passing mark. Now this is not to justify their actions … it is to point to why one might be led to participate in the cheating. Self-preservation is a part of the human nature we are born with … and facing the loss of a job AND a mark against one’s record is often more than enough incentive. HOWEVER – my mind returns to the Proverb that says:

Proverbs 22:1-3 New International Version (NIV)

1 A good name is more desirable than great riches;
to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
2 Rich and poor have this in common:
The LORD is the Maker of them all.
3 The prudent see danger and take refuge,
but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

The second question concerns the impact on the students. You see, the whole purpose of our education system is to prepare our young people to be able to provide for themselves and their families when they reach maturity. When we fail in this process, we relegate our children to having to rely on public assistance for their entire lifetime. The challenge to our educators is to adapt the teaching methods to the culture and environment of the student so that the student learns how to learn and develops a desire to learn. The challenge to all of us is to encourage our young people to study hard, to ask questions, to seek to achieve, and to grow. And, yes, even us old geezers have a responsibility to do this. Our “children”, whether blood kin or not, are a heritage from the Lord. Let’s be good stewards of what He has given us.

Let’s use the lesson of the Atlanta Public Schools debacle to relearn the need for ethical and moral behavior that honors God and man. Let the pattern of our lives be such that our children can honorably emulate us.

Agape’


Mr. Jim


Prayer Need:
Heather for a new place to live in the White County area.
Margaret Brewer as she recovers from abdominal surgery.
Miss N as she begins her shots today.

Shared Praises:
Thank you, Father, for doctors who diagnose our health problems and treat us.