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Religious liberty within the classroom has taken center stage for educators, students, and parents across the country. It's no secret that this topic is highly debated and criticized from all angles. But what is the biggest issue involving religious liberty impacting the classroom? Dr. Gregory Seltz from the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty offers an insightful answer to a seemingly difficult question: curriculum and parental choice. "If you want to talk about the battle lines," Seltz states, "it has to do with curriculum—even the notion of what a good education means." Seltz explains that curriculum can be adapted, changed, and modified without the parent's knowledge or consent. Parents trust that educators are teaching their children what they need to know, but in terms of moral and ethical topics, who is the authority on that? "It's ultimately the realm of parenting where those things are decided," Seltz argues. "Teachers don't start that; they should be assisting parents in that—and that is the biggest issue in religious liberty today." With all these issues coming forward, how are parents or educators supposed to respond? Are there ways that Lutherans can impactfully implement and push for change? Seltz says yes, and it starts with taking these issues seriously. Gone are the days of brushing things off as unimportant and watching children become secularized into believing the church doesn't really matter. "It's a formation of our children's worldview, so we shouldn't be surprised our own children are being secularized," Seltz explains. "If the Bible is silenced in their lives, it's pretty tough to awaken that with one hour on a Sunday morning." In terms of how to advocate for religious liberty in the classroom, Seltz urges, "Exercise your first amendment protections and responsibilities. God gives us those rights. Get involved in school boards and other things like that. I think the ultimate ways parents can engage this in a healthy way is realize that you can get involved in issues without being overly political. Parental choice is the only way to solve these problems." Seltz also has tips for teachers advocating for religious liberty in their classrooms. "Religious liberty is the foundation to all other liberties. If you take away the notion or truth that you are created by God, where do our rights come from? It came from Luther during the Reformation that we believe everyone should be able to read the Bible for themselves. So universal literacy is not a secular notion. Religious liberty actually has a beautiful story—but teachers are the ones who need to know that story and then teach that story. Teachers, that's your job—to teach these beautiful things." There are movements happening to advocate for religious liberty in the classroom, and many of them are providing a small means of hope. "There are some good things happening around the country," Seltz says. "We just need to keep chipping away at the issues so there is real religious freedom." He also urges wariness of putting full trust in the government to solve these problems. "Take responsibility and seek to find ways to do it yourself for your children." Finally, to all parents and educators who are fighting for religious liberties in the classroom and education system, Seltz offers a beacon of hope: "As long as we have the first amendment and parents who care, there's hope." For more information on how you can advocate for religious liberties in the classroom, find Dr. Gregory Seltz at the LEA Convocation, or visit lcrlfreedom.org. w "If you take away the notion or truth that you are created by God, where do our rights come from?" Seltz Lutheran Life 9

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