I wish I could say that this doesn’t happen. It does. It happens nationally. It happens at the state level. It happens in Kingsport. It happens far, far too often. Persecution for being a believer, for speaking up, and for doing the right thing is going to cause you problems in public education. If it hasn’t happened to you yet, it will.
I have a good friend who last week suffered persecution for doing things the right way. They treat people with great respect. They have integrity. They live their faith. And they got “hit right on the chin” for being exactly that type of person. It grieves me to see that. However, we both will continue to speak about things which matter. Persecution won’t stop us.
The teaching profession is chocked full of folks who are not conservative. I don’t know the ratio, but the number of conservative Christians cannot be a big number nationwide. Locally, it is a bit higher. However, leadership in our central offices is less than conservative. And man, we saw that during the pandemic. Liberal ideology was exposed with each extended school shut down. We saw it during Race to the Top w/ Ramsey and Bredeson ramming home key Obama education tenets. If you stood against either of those things, the establishment worked to knock you down a notch. And they didn’t just come after you, they found ways to come after your family. In Kingsport City Schools, some of those folks are still in power.
The number of educators, including the person persecuted last week, is too many to name. Now, I want to be clear, I don’t see persecuted Christians as victims. In fact, I see them as just the opposite. They are courageous individuals. They serve as strong witnesses. They are leaders. But if you are a believer in the field of education, you are gonna get knocked down. The persecution will often be veiled and sneaky. Sometimes it will be right in your face.
Here are just a few of the ways that Christians are persecuted in public education:
- They are taken advantage of for being nice. Need someone to do an extra bus duty? Need someone to take the toughest behavior problem(s)? Need someone to step aside so as not to hurt someone else’s feeling? Need someone to handle the student with the difficult parent? Christian believers in school buildings are often asked first. Why? I firmly believe God works through them to make the lives of students better. The problem? Satan would love to overload these teachers so that they become ineffective. It is a sly form of persecution, but nonetheless, persecution it is.
- You can’t even speak the name of Jesus. Talk about clear violations of free speech. Believers in school buildings are not even allowed to write the word “Christmas” on school forms going to parents. No Christmas parties are allowed whatsoever. I have seen the memo here in Kingsport. We have “winter festivals” instead.
- They will make an example out of you first. I had a good friend that went to a concert. Someone took a hilarious photo, and tagged this person. The person had no idea that this went on social media. Well, someone sent the photo to central office. This person was made to stand in front of the staff in my building and tearfully apologize. Nobody stood-up for this person. It was a monumental injustice. I wish that I could say that I stood and acted. I didn’t. I was afraid for my job as was everyone else. If I had it to do over and go back in time, I would have gone and stood with this person as they spoke. It was a violation of this person’s free speech. It was also terribly unethical. To this very day, this person is owed an apology by the school system here in Kingsport.
- People will speak lies about your character and your integrity. Now, that sounds like sour grapes. It isn’t. I can 100% guarantee you that someone is nodding their head in agreement with this one. On more than one occasion I have seen administrators misrepresent a person’s character. Satan hates the light. If you are a light in your building…just a matter of time. Get your big boy pants on. It is coming. And remember this, “Just because they say it….that doesn’t make it true.”
- If you don’t party, you will be passed over. 100%…this happens.
- Sometimes someone just decides to knock you down a peg. Why? I don’t know all the “why’s.” I just know that it happens. Sometimes abusers of power make their way into the field of education, and they wield that power with cruelty. I have seen it too many times to count.
Those are just a few examples. I can unfortunately name more. At this point in my life, I don’t recommend that young Christian adults go into public education. It is too secular, too progressive. However, if you choose to do this job, you need to know on the front-end that you are going to be persecuted for your faith AND also for the faith of others in your circle. I don’t think public education is a long term career option for Christians. Have a back-up plan. I tell prospective teachers to have two career options. One is education, BUT make sure the other option is not working for the government. Twenty years in this profession is a long career. That means you need to have another way to earn money by your mid-40s.
And also know that when you are a believer in Jesus, it probably isn’t going to be easy. I often think that Satan will often leave you alone if you just sit on the bench. As soon as you step foot on that playing field of spreading the Gospel…
I Peter 4: 12-14 …do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
I know this blog post sounds grim, because it is. There is some hope on the horizon. New Christian schools are being built. There are even some secular schools which are tolerant in the true meaning of the word. However, I can tell you that my current degree in education is worthless. I won’t work in that environment again. I don’t like the indoctrination. I don’t like the undercurrent which runs counter to what Jesus taught. I don’t like the way believers are treated in this field.
More than anything, if you are an educator, I think it is important for you to know that your aren’t alone in this path. It is TOUGH path. Just remember that your students need to see that example, that witness of the Gospel. Students are also persecuted for their faith in Christ. As teachers (who are believers) we can help them. Also remember this probably isn’t a long term career, and to have other career options once the inevitable occurs. Until drastic reform occurs which makes public education more tolerant of Christians, this problems will continue to expand.
Pro Tip: Be honest with yourself in knowing that this profession is difficult. This isn’t one of these deals where the cream rises to the top. This is a deal where it is fun for a few years, until the powers-that-be figure out who you are. That usually occurs when you are presented with a moral dilemma. A moral dilemma(decision) will almost immediately reveal true character. If you are lucky(as I was), you will be blessed to start the profession working for a great principal who lives their faith. Just know this, at some point you are going to be working for someone who does the opposite, and you need to be mentally and spiritually prepared for that circumstance.
