One week to go before spring break and the Weekly Word to Live By is RELIEF? No, but hang on -- it's almost here! Our word of the week is RESPECT. Actually, that's a perfect word to activate this week as we consider how God intends us to show respect for our Christian Easter celebration as well as respect for the beliefs or non-beliefs of others.
Eric Buehrer, founder and president of Gateways to Better Education, offers these guidelines to public school educators when sharing the story of Easter in a legal, respectful way:
Objectivity
It is important when teaching students about a religion, that you remain objective. The best way to achieve this is by attribution. For example, when introducing this lesson on Easter, explain to students that it is from Luke’s account of the life of Jesus. Use phrases such as, "Luke wrote that...," or "The Bible says...".
When referring to beliefs about the story, use phrases such as "Christians believe...," or John Newton believed..."
Your goal should be to introduce students to the story and help them understand the influence it has had on history, literature, art, and music. The lesson is not designed to prove the story is true, nor question whether the story is accurate.
According to the U.S. Department of Education's guidelines on students' religious liberties, your students have the right to freely express themselves regarding their personal beliefs. However, as moderator of a class discussion on this topic, you should emphasize that every student be respectful regarding their classmates' comments. No student should be made to feel excluded for expressing belief or disbelief in the story.
As a teacher, you can be confident in addressing this topic. This story has had significant influence in world history and should be understood as such. You are not teaching Sundayschool; you are teaching a subject that has impacted history, social movements, politics, literature, art, and music.
Resource from Gateways to Better Education:
You can request a copy of our Easter Lesson Plan for Public Schools by visiting https://gogateways.org/blog/
Here you may download a PDF which adapts Luke 22-24 into a textbook-style lesson with pictures, vocabulary, culture facts, and discussion questions.
You may want to consider exploring Gateways to Better Education, an organization I highly RESPECT, for enlightening and empowering public school teachers as to how we may legally and appropriately share Christian beliefs.
Praying you, your students, and your families have a blessed Easter and sweet spring break!
Dalene Parker, guest blogger
we are loved and chosen by God,
may we live like we believe it,
veneal
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