I am writing in response to the August 19th opinion piece of Justin Warrier and David Walls in the NKyTribune which I found insulting as a former public school teacher AND Christian.
They promoted parents’ use HB1 which Kim Moser and TJ Roberts were instrumental in getting the General Assembly to pass in the last legislative session. It essentially established a private school tax break. I will begin by addressing their opinions from the beginning of their letter.
1. They claim the tax break does not cost the taxpayer.
However, given the bill does affect those parents who send their children to public schools as they don’t go on “scholarships.” Hence, they are being penalized, so to speak, for sending their children to public schools while other parents and contributors are getting a tax write-off for giving money to private schools.
2. The next paragraph of their Opinion is the most insidious assertion of all when they claim my public school’s “foundational assumptions about morality, human nature, and truth are antithetical to a biblical worldview.”
Can you give a couple of specific examples? I would never have accepted that kind of assertion from one of my students without something to back it up. You are throwing around polarizing, vicious statements toward me and all my fellow teachers who expect our students to follow the golden rule: respect and be kind to others. We also expect them to support what they call truth. I fear in your comments you have done just the opposite.
3. As to the pastor and theologian you quote, Voddie Baucham (whose religious tenets I think your readers might want to read up on), he was right: my teaching was NOT neutral.
I spent every day practicing and expecting the Christian virtues of honesty, respect, the value of every individual, and kindness from my students. Morality was front and center. I do not know what you meant by “sanctification…formation” in your screed. Public schools do not participate in “sanctification” of anything that I know of so you are right there, and I didn’t know that schools could even do that legally? It seems to read that you support sanctifying students?
4. In the next to last paragraph you suggest that teachers at public schools “teach values at odds with scripture.”
Again, could you give specific examples as I am at a loss at what you are talking about. Surely not Old Testament laws that required stoning, etc.
At any rate, at the least, you owe public school teachers an apology for the acrimonious things you accuse them of doing.
I write in honor of public school teachers.
Joan Gregory is head teacher in the International Baccalaureate Program at Holmes High School.