teach1st
08-08-2005, 06:08 PM
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050808/APN/508080972
The concert in Alabama is sponsored by a conservative Christian group that helped rally the vote for President Bush last year. But the brochures were produced by an Alabama teachers' union whose parent organization strongly backed John Kerry.
A contradiction? Not at all says Randy Brinson, a Montgomery physician who is the organizer behind a new effort to find political common ground on what expressions of faith are and aren't allowed in public schools.
On Tuesday night in Montgomery, Brinson is launching a new initiative in Alabama with a concert by the Christian rock band Casting Crowns. He expects about 1,300 to attend.
"There was this polarization between people of faith and public education," said Brinson, who has lived in Montgomery for 18 years and in 1999 was active in bringing the Christian radio station WAY-FM to town. "We felt like, as a spiritual commandment, we need to promote education. But as a practical thing, this is our future workforce."
During the 2004 election, Brinson's group, Redeem the Vote, got 78,000 evangelical Christians registered to vote through concerts and other events. While several Democrats were among those registered, Brinson is convinced the group's efforts pushed Ohio - and ultimately the election - to President Bush.
Although that effort was designed to be nonpartisan, this one definitely is, Brinson said. In fact, several Democrats have joined the cause and the Alabama Education Association produced brochures to be distributed to 50,000 school teachers outlining how to handle issues of faith in schools, such as the legalities of prayer groups and other rights for students and teachers.
"We have to find a center ground and move toward that center ground to accomplish things," said David Stout, a spokesman for the union. "You hear it on national TV, a certain element of extremists who say prayer has been taken out of school and you cannot use the Bible in school. I think we're doing the right thing. I don't think there's any doubt about that."
Read more (http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050808/APN/508080972)
The concert in Alabama is sponsored by a conservative Christian group that helped rally the vote for President Bush last year. But the brochures were produced by an Alabama teachers' union whose parent organization strongly backed John Kerry.
A contradiction? Not at all says Randy Brinson, a Montgomery physician who is the organizer behind a new effort to find political common ground on what expressions of faith are and aren't allowed in public schools.
On Tuesday night in Montgomery, Brinson is launching a new initiative in Alabama with a concert by the Christian rock band Casting Crowns. He expects about 1,300 to attend.
"There was this polarization between people of faith and public education," said Brinson, who has lived in Montgomery for 18 years and in 1999 was active in bringing the Christian radio station WAY-FM to town. "We felt like, as a spiritual commandment, we need to promote education. But as a practical thing, this is our future workforce."
During the 2004 election, Brinson's group, Redeem the Vote, got 78,000 evangelical Christians registered to vote through concerts and other events. While several Democrats were among those registered, Brinson is convinced the group's efforts pushed Ohio - and ultimately the election - to President Bush.
Although that effort was designed to be nonpartisan, this one definitely is, Brinson said. In fact, several Democrats have joined the cause and the Alabama Education Association produced brochures to be distributed to 50,000 school teachers outlining how to handle issues of faith in schools, such as the legalities of prayer groups and other rights for students and teachers.
"We have to find a center ground and move toward that center ground to accomplish things," said David Stout, a spokesman for the union. "You hear it on national TV, a certain element of extremists who say prayer has been taken out of school and you cannot use the Bible in school. I think we're doing the right thing. I don't think there's any doubt about that."
Read more (http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050808/APN/508080972)