NEWS YOU CAN USE

A Report on the Released Time Pilot Program
Lynn View Middle School, Kingsport, TN
"Let My People Go"
by
Sherena Arrington

The Sullivan Baptist Association in Kingsport, TN has been on the leading edge of building Christian unity across evangelical Protestant denominational lines in support of Released Time Christian Education. Released Time, legal since 1952, allows school children with parental permission to attend classes for religious instruction off school campus for a portion of the school day.
In his letter of proposal to the Sullivan County Board of Education and the City of Kingsport Board of Education, Director of Missions, Dr. Tommy Holtzclaw, expressed his confidence that Released Time would be well received by the community. He also wrote, "we have recommended the program to all the churches in our Association and would like to encourage each of the school boards to consider any church request to begin a Released Time program."
The efforts of the Sullivan Baptist Association reached out to other denominations, inviting churches near community schools to an informational meeting regarding Released Time. Several pastors responded. From this group developed six separate proposals for Released Time programs. These proposals came from Baptist, Church of God, and Presbyterian congregations. The Southern Baptist congregations were: Indian Springs Baptist, Calvary Baptist, Lynn Garden Baptist, and Central Sunrise Baptist.

The City of Kingsport Board of Education denied all requests for Released Time.
But, after a full year of continuous lobbying effort by the Released Time Steering Committee and community, the Sullivan County School Board opted to approve one pilot program for one grade at Lynn View Middle School. The host church was Lynn Garden Evangelical Presbyterian, across the street and within a 2-minute walk from the school door to the church door. The 12-week pilot was opened to the 74 students enrolled in the eighth grade. Students were allowed to attend the class 1 ½ hours, once per week, during the Related Arts time period.
The Lynn Garden community quickly embraced the program. Invited by Pastor Jim Hoilman of the Presbyterian Church to help implement the program, ten local churches pulled together to help sponsor Released Time Christian Education (RTCE). Three of these churches are Southern Baptist: Higher Ground Baptist, Lynn Garden Baptist, and Gravely Baptist. The other churches are Morrison City Christian Church, Apostolic Gospel Church, Parker's Chapel, King's Highway Temple, Oak Drive Independent, Concordia Lutheran, and Ketron Memorial United Methodist. These churches have all participated in various ways to support the program through financial contributions, serving refreshments to the students, providing workers on the committee, and providing information about Released Time to their congregations.
The 12-week pilot began with ten students, but because of student enthusiasm attendance quickly grew to 16, then 20, and finished with an active enrollment of 28 students by class end. A total of 30 students participated in the class. Only one student dropped the course, and one moved to another community.
Indian Springs Baptist member, Ann Bennett taught alongside Sherena Arrington of Lynn Garden Evangelical Presbyterian. "We used non-denominational course material Setting You Free to Make Right Choices from Josh McDowell ministries," Bennett said. "Teaching non-denominationally was easier than I expected it to be. We focused on the basic tenets of Christianity and the moral foundation it provides. We did not discuss those issues which divide down denominational lines."
Dr. Holtzclaw, upon visiting the class, found that "the quality of teaching the resource materials was very impressive. The students seemed to be alert, excited, and active. Their spontaneous participation showed a real interest on their part. They were well-behaved and seemed anxious to learn. As a former professor, I was just delighted."
Another visitor to the class, State Representative Steve Godsey was very complimentary of the memorization skills and work emphasized by the staff. In a letter to the Released Time Steering Committee, he mentioned that Released Time is "in demand not only in Sullivan County but surrounding counties as well. I support this program because I feel it will have a beneficial effect on both the school and students."
Because of its status as a pilot program, parameters were set for evaluating the success of the program at the end of the 12-week period. Part of this evaluation involved students taking a pre-test and post-test. The test measured Biblical knowledge on such basics as the 10 Commandments, the Plan of Salvation, the Lord's Prayer, names of books and major characters of the Bible, and making moral choices based on Biblical precepts.
The average class score on the pre-test was 44 out of a possible 100 points. After 10 teaching sessions, with new students joining each week, the average score was 74. The overall gain of knowledge and improved behavioral choices from pre-test to post-test was 86%. Most students failed the pre-test, and all evaluated students scored a passing grade on the post-test.
Evaluations from parents collaberated the test results. All parental evaluations complimented Released Time. Some comments were overwhelming such as one parent who stated, "My son has benefited immensely from RTCE class. His grades have significantly improved; his attitude in school and at home has drastically changed for the better. I can't begin to describe the positive changes in his personality." Another parent wrote, "At the first of the school year my son became troubled and questioned me about all the different religions of the world ... by the end of the 12-week program his heart had found Jesus Christ and peace. He is no longer troubled." In total, 60 percent of parents said that their childrens' attitudes and behavior patterns at home had improved. Beyond this, 65 percent stated their childrens' school work had improved.
Regarding the correlation between improved school work and Released Time, teacher Ann Bennett shares a secret. "We taught the students Ephesians 6:7. ‘Do everything as unto the Lord and not as unto men.' We also taught them the principle of God is our Judge and the final Authority. In down to earth terms we told them this that means God was the Boss of their school work, and doing their best honored God."
In Released Time, students began class with the Lord's Prayer, a review of the 10 Commandments and a review of God's plan of salvation. These were also part of their memorization assignments. Course materials focused on guiding students to develop a habit of making right choices based on Biblical standards. Topics included cheating, lying, stealing, anger, pornography, drugs, and sexual activity outside of marriage. To combat these behaviors, students were taught the Biblical precepts of honesty, purity, love, justice, mercy, forgiveness, respect, and self-control.

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

BETTER KIDS MAKE BETTER SCHOOLS!