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"Let the little children come unto me, and do not hinder them for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
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Statewide Advisory Committee |
P.O. Drawer 6 Kingsport, TN 37662 423-378-4863 |
| John
Anderson, pastor Ketron Memorial United
Methodist Church, Kingsport Paul Becker, pastor Concordia Lutheran, Kingsport R. Kevin Bennett, parent Kingsport Rob and O’Brien Bennett, students,Kingsport John C. Bowman, VP, National Association of Professional Educators, Chattanooga Ken Bowles, owner Archer Insurance Agency, Kingsport Daniel Carlen, pastor New Song Baptist, Columbia John Coates, pastor, Dotson Memorial Baptist Church, Maryville Richard Dice, pastor King’s Highway Temple, Kingsport Lowry Doggett, former alderman, Kingsport Bob Entner, National executive Dir., BEST RT Network,Seymour Mel Fair, TV host/producer, Nashville Mike Feely, youth pastor, Asbury United Methodist Church, Greeneville Danny Grace, pastor Gravely Baptist Church, Kingsport L. H. Hardwick, pastor Christ Church, Nashville Steven L. Harmon, pastor, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Johnson City Don Hill, president Don Hill Enterprises, Kingsport Tommy Holtzclaw, director of missions, Sullivan Baptist Association, Kingsport Phil Hoskins, pastor Higher Ground Baptist, Kingsport Dave Johnson, director Children’s Bible Ministries, Knoxville Marian Kelly, Realtor, Nashville Paul La Rue, RT teacher, Elizabethton Ed McAteer, president Religious Roundtable, Memphis Dr. Robert O’Bannon, science professor Lee University, Cleveland Edgar Pierce, pastor Cedar Grove Baptist Church, Kingsport Past president of TBC Pastor’s conference Jeff Rutledge, 1978 National Championship Bama quarterback, former pro football player, Rams, Giants, Redskins. Nashville Heath Shuler, former UT and Professional Quarterback, Knoxville Tal Thompson, Director of Missions, Holston Baptist Association, Johnson City Jim Wells, business consultant Five Wells, Ltd., Kingsport Ralph Yelton, former State Representative, Kingsport |
March 10, 2000 Dear Legislators, Released time education provides the best legal opportunity today for public schools to accommodate much needed religious-based character education for today’s youth. Sadly, most school districts are unaware of its legality and unaware of how to implement the program. Sen. Micheal Williams and Rep. John DeBerry have sponsored legislation to codify the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1952 Zorach vs. Clausen decision which allows and endorses released time for public school students. Their legislation is needed to provide guidelines for establishing released time programs, as well as remove liability or other concerns which might hinder implementation of parents’ requests for released time. We encourage your support of this legislation, or any alternative legislation these sponsors suggest, in meeting the needs of Tennessee’s public schools and accommodating parental requests for released time classes for their children. Sincerely,
Ann Bennett, Parent of three public school children |