Introduction
	Church's Role
	Celebrating

Introduction

In recent years it has become clear that the public education system in America has been severely weakened. This has been largely due to insufficient financial and human resources dedicated to providing equitable quality education for all children. Currently $113 billion is needed to repair and replace outdated and run-down schools (from the National Council of Churches' American Education Week: November 16-22, 1997--A Resource for Churches). The impact on children in those schools which are struggling without adequate resources is poignantly depicted in Jonathon Kozol's Savage Inequalities (on the 1995 Reading Program). Disparities in education are an injustice. "A good education should not depend on where one lives" (National Catholic Reporter, 5/2/97).

What Role Can the Church Play?

The United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women can play a significant role in strengthening public schools. There is a significant advocacy role for the church and for people of faith! "The Church has a positive and constructive role to play...and must become involved in ways that provide assistance to the community and support for educational leaders ("Education: The Gift of Hope," The Book of Resolutions). One need not be dissuaded by false interpretations of the "separation of church and state." According to "Church-Government Relations," The Book of Resolutions, "we believe in the principle of universal public education, and we reaffirm our support of our public educational institutions." There is no prohibition for the church to support the strengthening of our public school system. People of faith can write their legislators on behalf of funding for public education, can support schools through tutoring programs, and can even run for school board.

Celebrating American Education Week

United Methodist Women and United Methodists can put our faith into action by committing ourselves to justice and equity in education. One way to do this is through the celebration of American Education Week, November 16-22. The year's theme, "Teaching Children to Think and Dream" encourages us to support the many ways that public education nurtures the minds of children to dream so that they can become creative minds of our society.

The Women's Division encourages you to

• order more information on churches' celebration of American Education Week from Dr. Nanette M. Roberts, Consultant, Public Issues in Education, National Council of Churches of Christ, Room 848, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115. Phone: 914-723-6643.
  
• Honor Teachers in your congregation by recognizing them, awarding them, praying for them or presenting them with a certificate that you can order from Dr. Nanette M. Roberts.
  
• Use the Litany of Concern and Support for Public Schools, available from the National Council of Churches.

For more information on how United Methodist Women can be involved, contact Kolya Braun, executive secretary for children, youth, and family advocacy at the Women's Division.

Return to:

United Methodist Women table of contents

Women's Division homepage

This page has been accessed times since September 5, 1997