Faith-Based Organizations and Public Schools: Unholy Alliance or Answer to Prayer?

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

At least Paul Vallas, CEO of the School District of Philadelphia, thinks so.

To combat the stinging pinch of public school budget cuts, he is touting a highly controversial plan where public schools in his district (approximately 276 in total) are adopted by a local church, synagogue, mosque or temple and share precious resources.

To some, this seeming erosion of the separation of church and state would constitute an unholy alliance.

To others - including Vallas - it would constitute an answer to prayer.

Besides, Vallas contends, the concept just makes good sense.

"There are tremendous social and economic problems in our schools, and we need all the support we can get," Vallas opines. "If it takes a village to raise a child, and you're not accessing what is many times the strongest institution in that village, you are not accomplishing much."

Amen. Hallelujah. Pass the offering plate.

And passing the offering plate is exactly what many faith-based organizations have been doing, as supporters of the increased involvement of faith-based institutions in the public school square are putting their money where their mouths are.

As school budgets have been slashed, church coffers have been rapidly filling up. Donation dollars given annually to community churches is on the rise, giving faith-based organizations tremendous resources to buy more - and better quality - materials that public schools often just cannot afford.

Just ask Jon Rose, a Missoula, Montana based supplier of high-quality choir folders to both public schools and faith-based institutions. His company has witnessed it first-hand.
"By far, our largest sales are to faith-based organizations," Rose states. "They have a great deal of discretion in deciding how fixed assets are purchased as compared to public schools. We make a 'Classroom' Choir Folder designed and priced for the schools needs, and a 'Deluxe' Choir Folder most often purchased by churches." www.mymusicfolders.com

Rose continues, "Public Schools often have miniscule budgets. In financially strapped times, it is the funding for arts education - whether teaching positions, or fixed assets - that gets cut first, leaving many educators, parents, and students worried about the long-term ramifications this will have on the quality of the educational experience.
Community churches don't have those same financial constraints. They can purchase higher quality - and higher quantities - of materials. Is the answer to ask the community church to 'adopt' their local public school? I don't know if I agree with that, but in some parts of the country that's definitely… where we're headed."
However, not everybody is onboard the plan.

Those hell-bent on maintaining distinct lines separating the entities of church and state raise a suspicious eyebrow at such community faith-based organizations and public school partnerships as proposed in cities such as Philadelphia.

Tom Hutton, a staff attorney with the National School Board Association agrees. "So much of what influences academic outcomes is what happens outside the schools. Schools can't possibly do it alone." However, he warns, "The intersection of public education and religious faith is legally and politically fraught with peril."

This spark, which has ignited such a heated firestorm of debate, has been further stoked by a recent decision made by Judge Lawrence K. Karlton, a federal judge in California. Judge Karlton determined that the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance - even when not mandatory - "Impermissibly coerces a religious act" that "places students in the untenable position of choosing between participating in an exercise with religious content or protesting."

However, this view has been met with much public outcry.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has vowed that the U.S. Justice Department will aggressively appeal the ruling. Gonzales has said that while the Pledge of Allegiance does contain the phrase "one nation under God," it should also be regarded as an expression of patriotism and national identity, not endorsement of religion.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California has also denounced the ruling, strongly encouraging the affected California school districts to appeal this ruling stating,
"Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance always reminds me of the history of our nation's founding, the principles of our great democracy and the many sacrifices Americans have made to protect our country."

God Bless America.

While the debate over the issue of separation of church and state rages on, the good intentions and generosity of faith-base organizations is often squelched - due to recent court rulings - prohibiting their crucial contribution of time, money, and support that many public schools desperately need.

Religious organizations are not the only ones to show dismay at the crumbling arts education in public schools. Many nonprofit foundations and individual philanthropists are stepping up to the plate to ensure that children and students receive a quality education in the arts.

One such money-raising effort is the campaign sponsored by VH1. Called the "Save the Music" campaign, VH1's goal is simply that - to save the music education programs neglected in American public schools.

While forming corporate sponsorships with major corporations such as Proctor & Gamble and CBS News, they also partner with national music educators and associations and foundations for the arts.

The "Save the Music" foundation has contributed millions of dollars in new and used musical instruments to local, public schools across the United States. Schools from Los Angeles, CA to Milwaukee, WI have benefited from this campaign as their music education programs are revived, rejuvenated and re-established.

Bob Morrison, Executive Director of the VH1 Save the Music Foundation enthuses, "The response to our musical instrument drive has been tremendous across the country. We're so appreciative of the support we've received from our corporate partners, schools and students, our affiliates and the retail collection centers nationwide".

Many public schools are seeking money from sources outside the Department of Education in reaction to these painful budget cuts. These alternative sources can form a vital web of crucial support.

However, they also elicit considerable controversy and concern, as this support often relies heavily upon churches and other faith-based and religious organizations.

This controversy is requiring opponents on both sides of the aisle to reconsider their strongly held views, seriously weighing their personal convictions against what is best for the children.

In the meantime, Jon Rose just wants to sell some choir folders. Maybe we can all agree on that.

Bruce Prokopets
Executive Editor
Press Direct International
www.pressdirectinternational.org

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