Washington Elementary School District staff members spoke passionately in defense of Arizona Christian University and its students during last week’s school board meeting.
At the same time that attorneys with Alliance Defending Freedom were preparing to take the district to court, Christian staff members were scoring points in the court of public opinion when they expressed their opposition to the district’s decision to permanently cut ties with the university because of its religious beliefs.
As previously reported by the Arizona Daily Independent:
“For the past 11 years, Arizona Christian University and Washington Elementary School District, the largest elementary school district in Arizona serving Phoenix and Glendale, had a mutually beneficial partnership where students in the university’s elementary educational program would student-teach and shadow teachers in the school district.
That partnership, however, ended abruptly two weeks ago when the school district terminated its relationship with the university because of its religious beliefs on biblical marriage and sexuality even though no complaints had been made about an Arizona Christian student or alumnus.”
Laura Blakesley, an Academic Interventionist at Roadrunner Elementary, spoke passionately in defense of the ACU students and reiterated the fact that the district had never received complaints about the students or the work they had done.
“Madam president and governing board members, I’d like to address the board’s recent decisions to dissolve the WESD partnership with Arizona Christian University because of the University’s values. Allow me to remind the board that all practicum students and student teachers are supervised directly by WESD teachers. Members of the board have said that they strive to bring “an analytical data-driven approach to decision making,” however the board was acting on a bunch of what-ifs when voting on this matter. Since this board was asking for more data, I just wanted to share some of my own 17 years in this District. Out of the dozens of practicum students I have had throughout my WESD teaching career, 16 of them have been from ACU. All 16 have taught lessons to my students under the direct supervision of myself or other mentor teachers at my school. All 16 have had glowing reviews in regards to their instruction strategies and connections made with all students, and never at any time did our students feel unsafe or attacked.”
“Roadrunner has hosted 12 ACU practicum students so far, two of which want to come back and do their student teaching at Roadrunner,” continued Blakesley. “Many in education agree that practicum leads to student teaching and can lead to a wonderful hire. Out of around a dozen student teachers throughout the years, all but one of mine were hired by WEDS. By building relationships we have the incredible opportunity to build up and hire qualified teachers. There have been zero complaints against ACU students in the entire history of our partnership. I was asked zero questions about my experience with my ACU students by this board while you were doing your own research on this partnership. Other ACU mentors have said the same. I’m so disappointed. I just urge you to rethink this and I encourage you to get to know these wonderful passionate loving ACU students and their wonderful staff as I have.”
Amy McFarland, a staff member at Shaw Butte Elementary, begin her defense of the ACU students before the board by describing herself as an “educator of Guatemalan descent, a woman citizen of the Nations, a Christian who ensures respect, inclusion, and freedom and rights of all human beings regardless of their race, social position, gender, or beliefs.”
“I must say for those whose voices have been silenced for fear of threats and for those who have lost their lives as a consequence of persecution of different kinds of political agendas around the world that instead of promoting them – instead of promoting good things like justice or inclusion, they promote the opposite without noticing it,” said McFarland.
“Today I’m referring to the WESD board members who committed an injustice against Arizona Christian University student teachers and their values. The board members didn’t think about the repercussions of the discriminatory actions against those who are seeking a common goal – providing an exemplary education based on respect and non-discrimination. Is this the message that the five of you members and your followers intended to actually communicate? This is the message that you are and your followers are sending to all of our community – the Christian Community. Whether you are a Christian, a Christian worker, parent, or a student, the Washington Elementary School District does not have a place for you,” stated McFarland. “Five people who are in a position of power are telling ACU student teachers directly and indirectly telling all of us Christian parents, students, staff members, and educators, you do not belong here. I mean we are also humans and our Christian students are humans with feelings too. Many people stood and raised their voices through the years and fought for their beliefs, but some attempt to silence exemplary teachers in our district.”
Erica Smith, who was identified as a staff member at Mountain Sky Junior High, spoke up next.
“Good evening my name is Erica Smith and this is my 22nd year with WESD in the same position. I’m here to address the board regarding the contract between WESD and Arizona Christian University. I’m here to speak for my fellow people of faith and my relationships in the district. Your decision to criticize the traditional values of this University is outside of your scope of practice. In fact, religion is a protected entity of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and acting against this, by definition, is unlawful. Not only is it discrimination of all faiths but it creates division among people, and as leaders your conduct is uncalled for. For 11 years we’ve had a positive relationship with ACU and hired some phenomenal teachers because of this partnership. Many of them I work with at Mountain Sky, but because they love their Creator and hold values that aren’t yours, they are “unworthy” of the same arrangement that we have with other universities?”
“Terminating the contract has created disunity and stirs up conversations that portray you in a negative light. Is that what you wanted as Christians or people of faith? We honestly don’t have time during the school day to talk to children about what we believe. We’re there to provide them an education. To live by example of our own faith and that doesn’t mean that we’re preaching. I want you to know that,” concluded Smith, who could barely be heard by attendees over the loud applause.
According to Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) Senior Counsel David Cortman, “By discriminating against Arizona Christian University and denying it an opportunity to participate in the student teacher program because of its religious status and beliefs, the school district is in blatant violation of the U.S. Constitution, not to mention state law that protects ACU’s religious freedom. Washington Elementary School District officials are causing irreparable harm to ACU every day they force it to choose between its religious beliefs and partnering with the area’s public schools.”
ADF Senior Counsel Ryan Tucker also noted the horrific timing of the board’s decision.
“At a time when there is a critical shortage of qualified, caring teachers, Washington Elementary School District officials are choosing their own political ideologies over the needs of elementary children,” said Tucker. “Not only are school officials doing a tremendous disservice to Phoenix and Glendale families by depriving their kids of much-needed teaching assistance, they are also violating the First Amendment and state law, by depriving ACU students, because of their faith, the opportunity to partner with the school district.”
Despite the potential harm to children and the apparent unconstitutionality of its decision, the WESD school board has not given any indication that they intend to change their discriminatory and divisive course, leaving many to ask the same question Ms. McFarland asked: is this really the message they want to send to the community?
Of course there are likely substantial financial costs likely to be incurred by the district, which will have to spend on lawyers to defend their position, then absorb whatever financial penalties are incurred as punishment for what is likely to be ruled as unconstitutional and discriminatory.