To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE
School Defies Threats from 'Civil Rights Activists,' Brings Back a Popular Bible ClassSchool officials resolved the issue and [reinstated] the program this year with monthly sessions at Fremont Wesleyan Church during students' lunch break.
The rural Newaygo County school district has twice canceled the popular Bible study class for elementary students in recent years following complaints from "civil rights" activists, but superintendent Ken Haggart recently announced that the program will be back for the 2017-18 school year, Mlive reports. "Michigan law specifically authorizes public schools to release students for up to 2 hours per week for religious instruction at an off premises location which is exactly what happened in Fremont," says attorney Timothy Denney told WZZM. Students at Daily Brook Elementary School were left hanging in 2015 when the Michigan Association of Civil Rights Activists forced the district to end the Bible classes because they allegedly violated the law because they were held in the school's gymnasium, Haggart told the news site. School officials resolved the issue and [reinstated] the program this year with monthly sessions at Fremont Wesleyan Church during students' lunch break. Students who returned parental permission slips were transported to the church by a pastor in a private bus, according to the news site. But another MACRA complaint this year convinced Haggart to end the program again. "There is some concern, brought forward by a civil right group, which by allowing your child to leave the school campus during the school day Daisy Brook Elementary and Fremont Public Schools could be viewed as promoting religion," Haggart wrote to parents when he canceled the program this year. The alleged civil rights activists filed complaints against similar programs in other local school districts—including Byron Center, Grand Haven and Fruitport schools—which also quickly folded to the group's claims that the classes violated laws prohibiting religious activities in schools. MACRA, of course, applauded the move to cancel the programs.
It's unclear what, exactly, prompted Haggart to cancel the program this year, but he told WZZM an overwhelming response from parents urging officials to bring back the program compelled officials to find another solution. "Sometimes I think the first impulse of public school administrators is that when anyone complains about religion in the public schools ... is to stop the thing temporarily," said Denny, who represents the Wesleyan Church pastor involved in the program... Click here to continue reading.
To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE
Other Recent Articles from Breaking Christian News 11-Year-Old Describes Miraculous Healing at Asbury Revival: 'A Genuine Touch from the Lord' J.K. Rowling Champions Women's Rights Activist Attacked by Trans Radicals Students Deserve to Know This Shocking Truth About Communism PRAYER ALERT: 6 Killed, Female Suspect Dead, in Nashville Christian School Shooting 72-Hour Revival at Baylor Leads to 20+ Baptisms: 'A Compelling Invitation to Know Jesus' Erin Brewer Explains the Connection Between Childhood Trauma and Gender Dysphoria World Athletics Bans Transgender Athletes from Competing in Female Sports House Fails to Override Biden's First Presidential Veto over Woke ESG Investment Rule Federal Appeals Court Blocks Biden's Vaccine Mandate for US Government Workers 'This is Big, Folks': Kari Lake Scores a Victory from Arizona Supreme Court Many Are Escaping Iran, and 'Hundreds Have Come to Faith in Jesus Christ' in the Process Netanyahu: 'No Law' Will Pass in Knesset That 'Harms Christianity' Search the Articles Archives |
All articles on this site and emails from BCN are copyrighted property of Breaking Christian News. Permission is given to link to, or share a BCN story if proper attribution is given to both the original writer and summarizer of the story. Breaking Christian News 2005-2019. All Rights Reserved.
Breaking Christian News is a division of Elijah List Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Disclaimer: Articles and links, as well as the source articles linked to; do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Breaking Christian News.
Home | Store | Subscribe | Facebook | Article Archive |