Letter to the editor: Minister provides information
This letter is intended to clarify misleading and incorrect statements in the May 11 “School District’s Review of Policies” article.
The “Seven Project” was not sponsored by the Assembly of God Church. The Project was a cross-denominational community effort to help teenagers. Tonganoxie First Baptist, West Haven Baptist, Tonganoxie Christian Church, Heartland Church of the Nazarene and Cornerstone Family Worship all supported the project with workers and finances. All churches involved worked equally on the event, understanding that it was not about any one church, denomination, or pastor.
“Religious material was distributed after the assembly.” (Mirror article) Teenagers of local youth groups handed out invitations for the corresponding after-school event. These invitations did not have “religious” content. Some students also handed out books to their peers. The books did contain religious content and were purchased by the students for the sole purpose of giving them to friends. Students have always been free to distribute their personal books with others unless they are of pornographic or questionable nature. These books were neither.
“Youth Alive connected to the Assemblies of God USA” (Mirror article). The official name is the General Council of the Assemblies of God (AG). From my understanding, AG started Youth Alive. However, Youth Alive has become a self-perpetuating organization with leadership roles filled by people of multiple denominations. Youth Alive is designed to help teenagers as they face major life decisions in the midst of phenomenal peer pressure. That is one reason why the Seven Project has been welcomed with open arms in hundreds of schools across this nation.
Our culture cherishes “diversity,” equal opportunity and equal rights. How does “religion itself is in its own category” fit into the message of diversity? No adults were “trying to proselytize,” convert or deceive students into religious beliefs during the school assembly. The project speakers spoke about making wise decisions and getting help/advice from parents and school faculty. This message came from their hearts not their Bible, which is both legal and good advice. Attending the evening session was between each individual student and his/her parent.
I support the superintendent and school board on any future policy changes. I will continue to live and abide by the rules of this school district, equal access laws, the U.S. Constitution and those “certain unalienable rights endowed by our Creator, just like we did during the Seven Project.
The Rev. Ron Swaim, Cornerstone Family Worship,
Tonganoxie.
Letter to the editor: Better communication
I feel compelled to provide some clarification regarding the perceived controversy surrounding the Seven Project, which was held on April 6. Having attended both the all-school assembly at the high school and the evening assembly held at the junior high school, I can speak with accuracy to what transpired at both. For those of us who believe that the Bible is the absolute truth, what I experienced during the evening assembly was in fact pleasing to God and yes, doors were opened and lines were crossed.
However, from the Christian perspective the doors that were opened were the doors to eternal life.
It is a misrepresentation of facts when a parent made the claim to the school board that religious materials were distributed after the all-school assembly. In fact, after contractually agreeing to the Seven Project, the superintendent and administration changed the policy of what was allowed and disallowed with regard to the distribution of fliers announcing the evening assembly as well as verbal invitations from the presenters for the students to return to the evening assembly. In fact, these restrictions were modified several times prior to and throughout the school day on April 6.
I agree with the claim that character education assemblies specifically focusing on anti-drug and anti-bullying need to be provided to the students. Case in point: Litigation is pending settlement against some Unified School District 464 employees and the school board from a former student who claims bullying and sexual harassment reports were ignored by the aforementioned.
From the context of the article, I can ascertain that the board was unaware of the Seven Project until it was discussed during the May 9 meeting. Possibly instead of reactively moving on a policy-change request, any confusion and subsequent perceived controversy could have been avoided had the communication between the superintendent and the board been fluid from the onset.
April Dohle,
Tonganoxie.
Letter to the editor: Choices are available
I am curious about the article written about the Seven Project that was held April 6 at the junior and senior high schools.
Were the pamphlets forced on the students or were they offered? If the pamphlets where offered then what is the complaint? Just because a student was offered a religious pamphlet doesn’t mean religion was being pushed on anyone, does it? In my opinion, I would rather have my children bringing home religious literature than pornographic material.
I would rather have my children attending the Seven Project than hanging out, participating in illegal activities. So we live in a country that constitutes freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. We all have choices. Children could have thrown the pamphlet away. They could have even said, no thank you. It is real hard for me to believe that anyone at that assembly forced anything on anyone.
Julie Gorham,
Tonganoxie
Letter to the editor: Students have rights
Throughout my life, I’ve gotten along with people and tried to avoid confrontation.
With the exception of athletics and a couple of instances in my professional career, I haven’t been pushed to a point I feel I have to respond, but that changed Thursday. After reading the article in The Mirror regarding the recent character building assemblies by the Seven Project at the junior and senior high schools, I felt the need to respond.
Before I continue, I feel it necessary to voice my stance on God. I’m a Christian, saved by the grace of God through Jesus Christ. I’m not an extremist, leftist, right-winged fanatic, but one who is confident in whom I am in Christ.
I’m sure there are others, but according to the article, school board member Ron Moore and parent Paula Gish felt religious materials should not have been distributed after the assembly. First, this is a breach of the students’ First Amendment rights. The First Amendment guarantees a student may pray, evangelize, read Scripture, distribute literature and invite fellow students to participate as long these actions are initiated by the student, are voluntary and not disruptive or coercive. Second, students (not parents or teachers) handed literature out after the assembly for an invitation to the school that evening. I wasn’t at the school assemblies, but from discussion with a friend who was, the assembly was nothing but positive and there were no disruptions after literature were distributed.
Ron Moore says he’s for good things. This Seven Project was an awesome thing. Students were voluntarily invited back to the school that evening to another assembly. Of the approximate 300 students that chose to come back, 70 made a commitment or rededicated their lives to Jesus Christ. If these 70 students truly meant what they did that evening, you would see more character in their lives than any of the other “100 organizations” can produce.
I urge school board members and teachers to continue to bring quality assemblies into our schools. Please educate yourselves about laws regarding students’ rights. It’s not the school’s job to teach my kids about character, ethics, morals, religion, God, etc. It’s my job as a parent. I hope you will find it in your best interest to not take our kids’ rights from them.
Todd Janssen,
Tonganoxie.