Education

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.