Education

How to Cook a Frog
The deceptive Hollywood culture has infiltrated the perception of marriage and family. Kami Mueller talks about the dire effects of poor programming on families, and presents examples of positive redeeming media. (Winter 2012)

Eroding Boundaries
College students face one of the most treacherous environments for keeping and nurturing a strong moral life. William Roach outlines the historical and intellectual reasons for this scenario and offers suggestions for pastors and parents to help stem its tide. (Summer 2011)

The Progress of Truth
As thousands of Christians have strengthened their knowledge of Biblical worldview through The Truth Project in North Carolina over the last several years, Kami Mueller explores the project's vital importance. (Summer 2011)

Religious Practice and Educational Attainment
Patrick Fagan, Ph.D., details the latest research on the relationship between religious worship and academic success for students, especially in low-income communities. (Fall 2010)

Something Old, Something New
As more parents seek better educational opportunities for their children, Rebekah Sharpe provides insight into the benefits of classical education, which have resulted in its resurgence in home, private, and public education. (Summer 2010)

Charter School Checkmate:
North Carolina's Success Despite Institutionalized Opposition
Education researcher Terry Stoops discusses policies which continually deny charter schools the freedom and support they need and deserve to meet the incredible demand for quality education in North Carolina. (Summer 2010)

The School Violence Prevention Act
Alysse ElHage details what the controversial “Bullying Bill” does and does not require school districts to include in their updated Anti-Bullying Policies beginning in 2010, and how to avoid the promotion of homosexuality. (Winter 2010)

The Healthy Youth Act:
What It Means for Sex Education in North Carolina
The future of AUM education in North Carolina depends on two key factors: 1) the willingness and ability of AUM educators to teach the requirements of the Healthy Youth Act (HYA) in a manner that does not promote sexual activity; and 2) the willingness of school districts and local communities to continue to support and fund authentic AUM programs. Both factors hinge on an understanding of the HYA in the broader context of current North Carolina law regulating sex education instruction. This paper provides an analysis of the HYA, including what remains intact from the 1995 law, along with an examination of the most controversial provisions of the HYA that could be used to challenge AUM programs. (Fall 2009)

Helping Education and the Economy
In the wake of the economic downturn, R. Matthew Lytle demonstrates how removing the cap on North Carolina's charter schools could benefit the state academically and economically. (May 2009)

The "Right" to Read:
Should Intellectual Freedom Trump Parental Rights in Libraries?
Alysse ElHage investigates the policies of the American Library Association that make obscene and objectionable materials available to children through public and school libraries. (November 2008)

Churches Assisting Public Schools
Joe Murchison investigates an innovative program where local churches work with local schools in an effort to make a positive impact in students’ lives. (September 2008)

Clamping Down on Charter Schools:
North Carolina's Charter Schools Face an Uphill Battle
Matt Lytle looks into the charter school movement in North Carolina and shows how charters face increasing opposition from state laws and regulations. (July 2008)

Churches and the Political Process:
Guidelines for Education, Lobbying, and Political Campaign Activity
Tami Fitzgerald details what is and is not acceptable political activity for churches according to the Internal Revenue Service. (May 2008)

In the Name of Safety:
How Homosexual Activists are Using Anti-Bullying Policies to Gain Acceptance
Alysse ElHage explores ever increasing efforts to impose the homosexual agenda on North Carolina’s public schools and families. (March 2008)

Celebrating the Birth of Christ:
In Public School and Public Square
The Alliance Defense Fund provides valuable insight into the forms of religious expression that are allowed in the public schools and in the public square during the Christmas season. (November 2007)

Charter Schools in North Carolina
John Rustin and Catie Blair analyze conflicting reports on the successes and failures of charter schools in North Carolina and how the state should respond. (September 2007)

Why Abstinence Education Works
Reports in the news question the worthiness of abstinence education. Specifically, Abstinence Until Marriage curricula is under attack in many states by those who favor comprehensive sex education. Lost in the debate is the value of abstinence education, writes Traci Griggs. (May 2007)

Embracing Educational Freedom
A new group called the Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina (PEFNC) met in Raleigh recently. Their aim is to bring school choice to all North Carolinians. David N. Bass reports that Darrell Allison, president of the PEFNC, states that he’s “blown away” by the positive response to to PEFNC. If school choice comes to North Carolina, PEFNC will likely be largely responsible. (May 2007)

Abstinence Until Marriage or Comprehensive Sex Education
Abstinence Education has been criticized by some as not being "comprehensive" enough. Alysse ElHage writes about the difference between Abstinence Education and Comprehensive Sex Education and why Abstinence education is not only the best alternative, but is more "comprehensive" than Comprehensive Sex Education. (May 2007)

Gay Straight Alliance Clubs:
How Homosexual Student Organizations Harm our Schools
While claiming to be harmless clubs that offer support to struggling youth and fight harassment, Gay Straight Alliance Clubs promote a message of sex and homosexuality that puts public school students at risk while undermining parental moral and religious teachings. This paper explains why North Carolinians need to be aware of the dangers of GSAs and prepared to develop policies and laws that prevent GSAs from endangering children. (November 2006)

Regaining Education's Purpose
What is classical education? Should our children be instructed in the liberal arts? These questions are answered as we consider the effects of education and its influence on the soul of our young. (November 2006)

Charter School Alternative: Thinking Outside the Box
With parents increasingly concerned about the academic quality and moral suitability of traditional public schools, many are turning to that often shunned by government agencies—charter schools. (November 2006)

Religious Freedom in Our Public Schools
Every year public school students are prevented from exercising their religious freedom. Even though the First Amendment articulates these natural rights, they are often denied. (September 2006)

The Secret Seminar
Like many North Carolina parents, Jim and Beverly Burrows never dreamed that a public school classroom would be the place their son was exposed to a pro-homosexual agenda. But that’s exactly what happened when the Burrows sent their son to the taxpayer funded Governor’s School of North Carolina in June 2005 to study natural science. (September 2006)

Hazardous to Teen Health: The Reality of Comprehensive Sex Education
This paper examines the reality of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) and shows why it threatens the overall well-being of young people. Understanding the reality of CSE requires looking beyond the vague and misleading rhetoric used by advocates to the radical ideology it is based upon. It is also important to examine the hazardous messages in some popular CSE curricula. (April 2005)

Homosexual Indoctrination:
How Safety Is Used to Promote Homosexuality in Schools
Homosexual advocacy groups are training teachers and students, and homosexual student clubs are forming in schools across North Carolina, where controversial topics, such as transgenderism, are being favorably presented. The majority of these efforts are taking place outside of the sex education classroom under the guise of creating “safer,” more “inclusive” schools. This paper shows how homosexual activists are using safe schools initiatives and diversity education to get into the classroom to promote dangerous messages about sex and gender, and how these efforts threaten parental authority, religious freedom and free speech. (December 2004)

Getting Involved:
Guidelines for Churches in Legislative or Political Activity
This paper considers the role of the church and its duty to speak for truth in the realm of the government. It also provides guidelines for churches and pastors on how to be involved while staying within the restrictions of the law. For the purposes of this paper, church involvement in the public policy arena includes: pastors speaking to their congregation about public policy issues, churches encouraging their congregants to take a stand on these issues and churches encouraging their congregants to exercise their right to vote. Though the following discussion is directed to the church as an organization, implicit within it is the duty for every individual Christian to be involved. (June 2004)

A Lottery Education: Dispelling the Education Lottery Myth
When selling the idea of state-sponsored gambling to the people in a state, one of the most often cited beneficiaries of lottery dollars is education. But behind the images of big money and perceived public good, the realities of a lottery are very different from the images sold to the people. This paper addresses the realities behind the promises of an “education lottery” and explains why state-sponsored gambling will have the opposite effect on education in North Carolina than the public is led to believe. (April 2004)

Indecent Exposure: Protecting Families From Offensive Programming
The increasing amount of offensive programming on television and radio has left many parents feeling frustrated, and wondering what—if anything—can be done. As broadcasters continue to push the limits of decency, citizens need to understand the role of the FCC, the applicable laws, and the impact of media ownership, as well as the public's critical responsibility to help protect the airwaves from obscene and indecent content. (March 2004)

Homeschools:
The Growth and Success of Home Education
This paper takes a closer look at the growing homeschool movement and how it has fared over the last several years. It includes an examination of the academic performance of these students and the socialization they receive. It also address the best approach for policymakers to take when considering the needs of homeschooling families. (April 2003)

Religious Freedom in Schools:
Guidelines for Students and Teachers in Public Schools
One of the most contentious and confusing issues involving public education today is the proper role of religious expression in government-run schools. This paper provides information provided by the North Carolina Attorney General's office and the U.S. Department of Education and will be helpful to students, parents and teachers who have questions about the legally recognized boundaries of religious activity in public schools and should help to shed some light on what our government has to say on this important subject. (March 2003)

Character Education:
Helping our children to develop good character
North Carolina's renewed commitment to character education may prove to be one of the most important and significant education reforms in recent state history. This paper discusses the North Carolina law and provides information for educators who are considering the implementation of the new law. (March 2002)

Evaluating Charter Schools:
Assessing the charter school evaluation report
The North Carolina charter school law was passed in 1996. Since that time, the number of charter schools has increased to 100, the maximum number allowed by statute. This paper analyzes the Charter School Evaluation Report submitted to the State Board of Education in November 2001. The strengths and weaknesses of the report are discussed and recommendations are made. The question for the education community is not whether to continue charter schools, but how to better assist them. (February 2002)

The Ten Commandments: Historical education vs. separation
The controversy of posting of the Ten Commandments has become a fixture in the debate on the separation between church and state. This paper discusses the legislation surrounding the controversy, the historical significance of the Ten Commandments, the three prongs of the Lemon test, and what is constitutional. (July 2001)

Student Dress Policies:
The success of school uniforms and dress codes
The attention given to school dress codes and uniforms has become more and more focused over the last several years. As dialogue increases among parents, students and school officials about what remedies may exist to deal with the problems facing today's schools, student dress policies have moved to the forefront. (May 2001)

An Education Snapshot:
The transformation of North Carolina education
This paper will provide a broad overview of what is happening in education in North Carolina. Several areas will be addressed, including: the ABCs of Public Education, student portfolios, the JobReady (or school-to-work) initiative, national teacher certification, education funding, and federal education initiatives. Solutions for improving education in North Carolina will be offered as well. (September 2000)

Internet Filtering:
Protecting children from online pornography
Parents of minors are wise to fear the effect of pornography upon their children, as more public libraries and schools provide children with unsupervised and unrestricted Internet access. This paper discusses some of the issues facing children, parents, educators and other internet users over the legal and constitutional questions surrounding the restrictions on internet access from schools and public libraries. (May 2000)

Job Ready in North Carolina:
Pathways to career success or failure?
Is North Carolina redefining academic education, kindergarten through college, where preparation and readiness for work is mandatory? Undoubtedly, converting the public education system into a workforce preparation system raises several critical public policy issues. This paper examines the paradigm shift in the focus of education and the policy issues at stake. (September 1998)