Good News For Public Schools

:

Orlando,
FL – Liberty Counsel is working with Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF)
to clear the way for CEF’s Good News Clubs to use public school facilities
after school. The Clubs are designed to teach character development
to children ages 5-12. Liberty Counsel’s efforts on behalf of CEF
are meeting with great success all across America.

Orange
County, North Carolina

After written
demand by Liberty Counsel to reverse a decision forbidding public
school teachers from leading Good News Clubs, the Orange County school
district agreed on Thursday to no longer restrict any employee’s private
speech rights and to allow teachers to lead Good News Clubs on their
own time, including after school. In 2004 Liberty Counsel won a case
in North Dakota against a school district that prohibited a teacher
from teaching students after school in a Good News Club.

Naytahwaush,
Minnesota

On Monday,
the Naytahwaush Community Charter School approved CEF’s request for
a Good News Club at the school. The school is located on an Indian
reservation. CEF has tried to start Clubs at several schools but was
met with resistance from the Reservation until Liberty Counsel intervened.
Local CEF leaders are excited about the new Club, and the growth of
the local chapter.

Lone
Peak and Forbes, Utah

After being
stonewalled and rejected, two school districts have agreed recently
to allow the Good News Clubs to use their facilities. On Wednesday
of this week, a club started at a school in Forbes. A Good News Club
will start in Lone Peak on next Thursday. Currently, there are 16
after-school Good News Clubs meeting in seven different school districts
in Utah. Every school CEF contacted for a Good News Club has now allowed
equal access.

Liberty
Counsel published educational materials focusing on the rights of
students and teachers in public schools, and also provides legal assistance
to school officials in drafting policies respecting the free speech
rights of students, staff, parents and groups using school facilities.

We are
excited that more and more school districts are getting the message
– equal access means equal treatment. Good News Clubs are great for
kids and schools. The clubs teach respect, morality and character
development. Instead of restricting Good News Clubs, public schools
ought to embrace them.

Mathew
D. Staver is the Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel.

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