Q & A: Christian Educators members ask…
The answers or opinions expressed in this article are not intended to render legal advice. The factual and legal issues in each circumstance must be considered and may require the advice of an attorney.
My superintendent has been visiting classes to read a book about gender confusion that has a pro-transition slant. A group of parents is attempting to stop this practice. As a CE member with coverage, will I be covered if I join the parents in this movement and my district retaliates against me?As a CE member with coverage, you will be covered for any job action. However, unless the Lord leads you differently, the best practice may be to allow the parents to move forward without your involvement. Joining this battle could jeopardize your employment, and the effort is already moving forward without your support. Your willingness to stand against what you know is wrong is impressive; however, your ministry in the classroom may be more valuable than your voice joining this protest. Certainly, pray about this situation before moving forward, and if given a green light from the Holy Spirit, know that CE will support your efforts in every way possible.
Some students and parents complained about me to my new principal, falsely reporting that students only watch videos in my class. They also claimed that all of their friends asked to transfer out of my class. This is blatantly false.
Without ever visiting my classroom to see me teach or completing even one evaluation, my principal threatened me with a write-up in response. All of my previous evaluations have been excellent, and I teach using board-approved resources that target the board-adopted curriculum. Can you help me?False reports from parents and students can certainly be frustrating. However, with good evaluations from the past, these reports should not carry much weight.
If your new administrator writes you up or applies some other type of discipline, reach out to CE. We can discuss your options. For instance, if a negative write-up is placed in your file, we can help you submit a rebuttal. If these false allegations show up in a future evaluation, we can help you respond at that point as well. In the meantime, we advise you to keep notes on this current situation so we can use these details in response to any unwarranted negative evaluations that might be issued in the future.
Last week, my principal stopped in during a meeting of the Christian club that my colleague and I supervise at our middle school. The next morning, the principal sent us a text saying she wants to meet with us to ensure that we abide by district policies and the law as we run the Christian club.
Currently, we ask the middle schoolers in the club what they want to learn, but we plan the content. Do we need to stop doing this?A Christian club that meets during the school day must be student-led. Even though middle school students may need more structural support from advisors than high school students, you and your colleague can only provide supervision and advisory support. As school employees (and representatives of the government), you must remain neutral to religion; you cannot lead or teach.
You and your colleague could lead an after-school club (like Good News Club sponsored by Child Evangelism Fellowship) once your work day ends. At this time, you would no longer be serving as school employees but as members of your community.
Questions?
To submit questions regarding:
- Religious freedoms - visit Ask an Attorney
- Educational issues - visit Ask an Educator
- All other legal issues - email service@christianeducators.org