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NORTH CENTRAL OHIO — Does the government really know what’s best for kids? In some Ohio public schools, instead of reading, writing, and arithmetic, elementary students are being taught about preferred pronouns and the number of gender identities they can have. Last Fall when informed parents took their concerns to the local school boards about the 1619 Project, and the divisive Critical Race Theory, the Department of Justice classified them as ‘domestic terrorists.’
Trying to bring some semblance of accountability to public schools, legislators crafted the “Ohio Backpack Bill” to give parents options, and clergy in the Buckeye Bible Belt say the bill ‘makes the grade.’
“The Ohio public school system in our great state has gotten out of hand,” says Bishop Sylvester Ginn of Ontario. “With pornographic curriculum, gender-neutral bathrooms, and the grooming of students to become activists for radical agendas, the monopoly numerous dysfunctional schools have in Ohio must end. “
The Bishop is part of a group of clergy representing one hundred-four congregations of diverse denominations across North Central Ohio. The host of clergy sent an open letter to the Ohio General Assembly giving their approval of the proposed school freedom model. The letter was also sent to Governor Mike DeWine, and the Ohio State Board of Education.
The pastors wrote, “It is our firm conviction that empowering parents to make decisions for their own children can help Ohio boost its academic scores, whether in public, private, or home school settings. The “Backpack Bill” is a school freedom model where educational funding supports students instead of systems. Moreover, as clergymen representing one hundred and four (104) congregations across North Central Ohio, we humbly implore that you support the passage of House Bill 290, nicknamed the “Backpack Bill.”
Proponents of House Bill 290 say the legislation will direct the state’s per pupil allocation to be placed into an Educational Scholarship Account for any student who opts in. Parents can use that money ($5,500 for grades K-8 and $7,500 for grades 9-12) for tuition at a private school or for home school. If a student chooses their local public school or community school, the funding will follow them there, just like it currently does.
The bill is sponsored by State Representatives Marilyn John, and Riordan McClain, and supported by the Center for Christian Virtue. According to Rep. Marilyn John, “Education is not a one size fits all and we believe parents should have the ability to direct their tax dollars to the educational choice that bet fits their child. The Backpack Bill would give them this option regardless of their zip code or income level.”
This past school year, parents across the nation have been cornered by the Federal Government. Radical programs seen in schools provoked many informed parents to speak out against the curriculum at local school board meetings. In response dialogue between the National School Boards Association (NSBA) and the U.S. Department of Justice revealed action had been taken for the FBI to track parents objecting to local school curriculum.
“It is our firm conviction that empowering parents to make decisions for their own children can help Ohio boost its academic scores, whether in public, private, or home school settings. The “Backpack Bill” is a school freedom model where educational funding supports students instead of systems. Moreover, as clergymen representing one hundred and four congregations across North Central Ohio, we humbly implore that you support the passage of House Bill 290, nicknamed the “Backpack Bill.”
Ohio Clergy letter to the Ohio General Assembly
In response, the Ohio School Boards Association formally withdrew from the NSBA after the national organization sent the request for FBI intervention. Regardless, the Department of Justice’s assault on parents has not slowed down the clergymen.
“The Bible says, in the Book of Nehemiah “Be not ye afraid of them: remember the LORD which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your houses.” says Shelby Pastor Doug Tackett.
Loudonville Pastor John Temple, another clergy co-signer and elected school board member comments, “The Backpack Bill is school choice, student empowerment, and parental rights in one package. It brings greater accountability to schools, which we think could make public schools perform better in the public eye. This is about improving the education of our young people. As Scripture says, ‘I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
The clergy endorsees are from congregations located in seven counties throughout the state. Counties represented in the letter include: Richland (76), Crawford (8), Ashland (6), Knox (4), Morrow (4), Wayne (4), and Stark (2).
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The Bottom Line:
The Bible says in Matthew 18, “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
