rtlegislation

PRESS RELEASE: RELEASED TIME (RT) LEGISLATION

CONTACT: Ann Bennett 423-288-3785 (released time teacher)
SOURCE Sen. Micheal Williams 615-741-2061(Sponsor)
Sen. Ron Ramsey, 615-741-4524 (Co-sponsor)
Marilyn Loeffel, Shelby County Commissioner, 901-756-8396
Grayson Hartgrove, School Ministries in South Carolina, 800-334-2186
Dave Johnson, Children's Bible Ministries, (423) 544-0047

DATE: March 13, 2000 (FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE)

It costs nothing to the taxpayer or the local school system. Participating students report higher grades. Principals and teachers report improved attitudes at school, and parents say the same thing happens at home. It brings large increases in parental and community involvement to local schools, a key factor in improved student test performance. What is this magic bullet for the public schools? It is Released Time (RT) Christian Education, legal since 1952, but rarely available to public school students because of confusion regarding legal implementation.

Enter Memphis Democratic Rep. John DeBerry and rural Union County Republican Senator Micheal Williams to the rescue. These legislators have sponsored HB 1209/SB 973 in a bipartisan effort to codify the little known 1952 Supreme Court decision, Zorach vs Clauson. This decision, which has been upheld in the courts many times since 1952, allows public school students with parental permission to leave school for an elective, off-campus (but nearby) religious class. In RT, public school students have the legal opportunity to pray and learn moral values taught from the Bible.

However, the Zorach decision does not specify all of the guiding policies for implementation of RT, and that has kept many from venturing out and approving the remarkable program. DeBerry and Williams have sponsored legislation which will answer the unknowns about RT, better enabling schools to receive the benefits of community involvement and student improvement that the program provides.

Across the nation, parents are requesting RT, and most administrators readily admit they do not know how to implement it. One example of legal concerns is funding. However, various court decisions have stated that schools will not lose funding while students are attending RT classes. The bill clarifies this issue so administrators will realize no funds will be in jeopardy. Further, the bill states that RT programs should not substitute for academic classes, but for electives, related arts classes, or values-oriented classes. The bill also specifies that no student can attend class without a parent's signature.

Memphis sponsor Rep. DeBerry sees the potential for inner city students with this bill. In South Carolina where RT is growing in leaps and bounds, RT programs report they have had particular success with improving race relations and are making inroads against gang activity.

Volunteer workers in RT programs report that introducing the angry kids of abuse, bitter divorce, or overworked-single parents to Jesus is a life-changing experience. Typically, up to 60% of the students participating in RT programs have no church, often because of divorce arrangements, parents working on Sundays, or work shifts that discourage church attendance.

According to Ann Bennett, a teacher in the Sullivan County pilot program, "The world has changed since we were growing up when most people's parents made them go to church. I remember being particularly impressed with how many of our students told me, 'I don't get to go to church.' During Released Time class, they not only get the opportunity to learn about Jesus Christ and Biblical moral values, they get to learn this in the presence of their friends who will hold them accountable at school and at home for what they have learned. It's positive peer pressure at it's very best."

Bennett adds, "Examples of non-religious values-based programs currently taught at many schools during the public school day include character education, family life-- also known as sex education, conflict resolution, drug awareness, guidance, tolerance or diversity training, multiculturalism programs, and the like. Released time programs provide Biblical solutions and have the power of the Word of God behind them."

Kingsport area President of the Fraternal Order of Police, Mike Campbell, urges legislators to support this bill. "We routinely see the effects of the lack of moral

direction for our citizens, especially in our children. He believes, "this legislation will provide parents an additional opportunity to influence their children in a positive way. We feel strongly that it is important for communities to invest in programs that are cost effective and beneficial to our children."

Released Time, in many communities across the United States, has already proven its positive benefits. Parents praise the program and credit it with helping improve their children’s attitudes and behavior at home and making a positive impact upon grades. In one Tennessee program alone, 65% of the parents reported their children began making higher grades after learning the lesson of accountability taught in RT class. Currently, there are approximately 1000 RT programs in over 20 states. Tennessee currently has only four counties with Released Time Christian Education programs.

Sen. Micheal Williams, Union County Republican Senate sponsor of the companion bill, SB 973, is a strong supporter of RT. His district has Released Time Christian Education programs which are provided by Children’s Bible Ministries in cooperation with the community and many of the local churches.

"I am hopeful Senators will support this bill. They know our schools do better when we have lots of parental and community support at the local level. In my district, our school boards are doing a good job of responding to parents and building on the strength of the community. I’d also like to encourage folks to call their legislators in support of this bill. It always helps when we hear from our constituents."

Marilyn Loeffel, parent and Shelby County Commissioner who heads their Education Committee, supports the RT legislation. "Biblical instruction certainly offers children the moral foundations they need to combat the pressures of drugs, stealing, cheating, lying, violence, premarital sex, and suicide. These are the same issues our secular courses try to address. Released time is legal and is a First Amendment liberty."

RT proponents state they need people to call their legislators and urge them to vote for this bill. It’s legal, but since RT is so little known, some legislators have had questions about the bill. Last year the bill was defeated in the House Education Sub-Committee by legislators arguing that there was no need for the Bible and prayer during the public school day. Amazingly, they said this and voted against the bill at the exact moment the shooting began at Columbine High School. Discussions with legislators this year yielded compromises resulting in proposed amendments to address the concerns raised, all in order to make the bill more acceptable to the legislators. However, legislators need to know people support this bill and people need to contact their legislators if they want to help students with this legal opportunity for Bible Study, prayer, and learning about Jesus.

For more information on Released Time Christian Education, visit the web site at www.isbc.org/rt or call (423) 378-4863. E-mail may be sent to Releasetime1@juno.com.

Readers can express their view to Education Committee members. These members vote on the bill before it goes to the entire body for a vote. Call toll free: 1-800-449-8366, then use the last five digits of the phone number as the extension. To send e-mail, follow the form sen.firstname.lastname@legislature.state.tn.us

such as sen.andy.womack@legislature.state.tn.us and for representatives, it would be

rep.firstname.lastname@legislature.state.tn.us for example,

rep.leslie.winningham@legislature.state.tn.us

HOUSE EDUCATION SUB-COMMITTEE
Rep. Leslie Winningham, Chairman (D-Huntsville), 36 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-6852

Rep. Ronnie Davis, Vice-Chair (R-Newport), 215 War Memorial, (615) 741-6934

Rep. Mark Maddox (D-Dresden), 26 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-7847

Rep. Ulysses Jones, Jr. (D-Memphis), 35 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-4575

Rep. Joe McCord (R-Maryville), 207 War Memorial, (615) 741-5481

Rep. Kim McMillan (D-Clarksville), 32 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741- 2043

Rep. Richard Montgomery (R-Seymour), 207 War Memorial, (615) 741-5981

Rep. Arnold Stulce (D-Soddy Daisy), 108 War Memorial, (615) 741-4381

Rep. Joe Towns, Jr. (D-Memphis), 36 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-2189

Rep. Larry Turner (D-Memphis), 37 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-6954

Rep. Zane Whitson, Jr. (R-Erwin), 204 War Memorial, (615) 741-6800

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Sen. Andy Womack, Chairman (D-Murfreesboro), 9A Legislative Plaza, (615) -741-1066

Sen. Rusty Crowe, Vice-Chair (R-Johnson City), 321 War Memorial, (615) 741-2468

Sen. Charlotte Burks, Secretary (D-Monterey), 9 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-3978

Sen. Ben Atchley (R-Knoxville), 303 War Memorial, (615) 741-3791

Sen. Bobby Carter (R-Jackson), 320 War Memorial, (615) 741-2676

Sen. Roscoe Dixon (D-Memphis), 8A Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-4148

Sen. Gene Elsea (R-Spring City), 318 War Memorial, (615) 741-2525

Sen. Jo Ann Graves (D-Gallatin), 6 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-1654

Sen. Kenneth Springer (D-Centerville), 2 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-4987

HOUSE EDUCATION FULL COMMITTEE
Rep. Eugene Davidson, Chairman (D-Adams), 36 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-3979

Rep. Dewayne Bunch (R-Cleveland), 107 War Memorial, (615) 741-3730

Rep. Gene Caldwell (D-Clinton), 202A War Memorial, (615) 741-4400

Rep. Barbara Cooper (D-Memphis), 202 War Memorial, (615) 741-4295

Rep. Jamie Hagood (R-Knoxville), 107 War Memorial, (615) 741-1648

Rep. Beth Harwell (R-Nashville), 107 War Memorial, (615) 741-0709

Rep. John Hood (D-Murfreesboro), 110 War Memorial, (615) 741-7849

Rep. Douglas Jackson (D-Dickson), 32 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-4499

Rep. Michael McDonald (D-Portland), 17 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-1980

Rep. Bob Patton (R-Johnson City), 209 War Memorial, (615) 741-2511

Rep. Phillip Pinion (D-Union City), 109 War Memorial, (615) 741-0718

Rep. W.C. Pleasant (R-Arlington), 106 War Memorial, (615) 741-7084

IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL CONTACTS
House Speaker, Rep. Jimmy Naifeh (D-Covington), 19 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-3774 (speaker.jimmy.naifeh@legislature.state.tn.us )

Rep. Lois DeBerry (D-Memphis), 15 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-3830 (Speaker Pro-Tem)

Rep. Jere Hargrove (D-Cookville), 18 A Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-1875 (Majority Leader)

Lt. Gov. John Wilder (D-Somerville), Suite 1 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-2368

Sen. Robert Rochelle (D-Lebanon), 4 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-4109 (Speaker Pro-Tem)

Sen. Ward Crutchfield (D-Chattanooga), 13 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-6682 (Majority Leader)

Gov. Don Sundquist, (R-Memphis), State Capitol, (615) 741-2001 (www.state.tn.us/governor)

For further information or to sign up
please call: (423)378-4863
Tennessee Released Time Christian Education
P. O. Drawer 6
Kingsport, TN 37662