Graham said "an immoral, godless agenda is often pushed upon children" in public schools. Blankenship responded saying she was "tired of the 'Christian' public school bashers going unanswered." Here's a quote:
"As a Christian and lifelong admirer of Dr. Graham, I am glad that you are assisting today's Christian youth in talking about their faith," she wrote.Kudos to Mary Ann Blankenship. More educators need to become more assertive and vocal about correcting the lies, misrepresentations and distortions that religious right leaders are propagating about public schools.
But Blankenship said she was "deeply disappointed" that Graham began his letter by bashing public schools, observing "I believe you could have easily made your point and sold your program without" it.
"You have unfairly castigated the millions of Christian adults who see one of the places of their ministry the public schools and who live their faith every day in public schools," she said. "You have further needlessly criticized countless students who likewise express their faith, both through their deeds and their words, in public schools."
Blankenship, nearly a 35-year veteran of public education in three different states, said she has had "not one shred of firsthand experience" that would cause her to agree with Graham's assessment that "a godless agenda is often pushed upon children."
"That's just not true," she said. "I don't doubt that there may be a public school somewhere or even a school district somewhere that may be doing things that I don't approve of. But to make the generalization that public schools are 'godless' is unfair and hurtful."
"More to the point," she added, "I believe that you could have made your point and promoted your program without this negative introduction."
2 comments:
I agree with Mary Ann. As a 26 year veteran teacher in Florida, I too can attest to the fact that I have never worked in a school or school district that pushes an anti-Christian agenda. The Bible says we all have a calling - mine is teaching - in public schools. I do not have to say a word to individual students; my actions, my attitude, my example is visibile for students, parents, other teacher, administrators, etc. to see. Some of my students are from families involved in my church. My presence and example to them is very important also.
I am extremely disappointed when I hear of some of the atrocities we are supposed to have committed in public schools, because I have never viewed them as a student nor have I participated in them as a teacher. I don't know anyone who has.
Public schools have problems and some of them will never be solved. I believe that community support, including support from churches and other organizations within a community can do much to improve the quality of that community's schools.
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