Gov. Bush touts Christian-based program for schools [FL ACLU criticizes All-Pro Dad program]

Palm Beach Post ^ | July 06, 2005 | Dara Kam

[summer]

TALLAHASSEE — Just before Father's Day, Gov. Jeb Bush announced that he wanted every public school in Florida to host a Christian-based program designed to increase fathers' participation in their children's lives.

The program, All Pro Dad, combines a biblical foundation with the draw of popular professional athletes to promote the belief that "the father is the head of the household" and that men should rely on God to help them be better parents and keep their marriages intact. It also encourages Bible reading.

"This is a really great program," Bush said at a news conference last month, though he did not make any reference to the project's Christian foundation. "The response of this program has been a success, and I hope it expands throughout the entire state to every school in every school district."

But critics say the program, which has a direct link on the Florida Department of Education Web site, clearly has Christian overtones and is part of a national effort by evangelicals who view public schools as recruiting fields.

An official state Web site should not be linked to such an organization, said Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Lynn said the link violates the First Amendment, which prohibits government from establishing a state religion and at the same time prohibits government from interfering with religious practices.

"This has a very clear religious message, so that's wrong and that should be stopped immediately," Lynn said from his office in Washington. "This is an overtly fundamentalist Christian worldview that's being promoted."

Program popular in Tampa area

The All Pro Dad program is used in about 60 locations in 20 states, including a dozen Tampa Bay-area public schools. Monthly breakfast meetings are held in school cafeterias or nearby Chick-fil-A restaurants. There are no active chapters in Palm Beach, Martin or St. Lucie counties.

Last month, however, Florida K-12 public schools Chancellor Jim Warford touted the program to the state's 67 school superintendents.

"I encourage you to go to:

www.allprodad.com

to get a free introductory DVD about the program and how you can get fathers more involved in your schools," Warford wrote in a June 17 memo. The memo does not include information about the program's religious orientation.

Department of Education officials defended the state's endorsement of the Christian-based program, but otherwise referred queries about All Pro Dad to Volunteer Florida, a Bush-appointed nonprofit agency charged with faith and community outreach.

"It's appropriate for the Department of Education to endorse programs that encourage parents to be involved in their children's lives. We would support any program that would encourage that," department spokeswoman Melanie Etters said. "The fact is that a lot of the people that participate in the All Pro Dads are NFL stars and they reach out to some populations that the Department of Education wouldn't attract."

Etters said the department "welcomes other programs" that would promote parental involvement in their children's lives.

But Howard Simon, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, said Bush and the department's endorsement of the program is indicative of the governor's disregard for the state constitution, which prohibits spending state money, directly or indirectly, on religious programs.

"It may be a wonderful program, but a program that encourages Bible reading and strengthening your relationship with God is not the kind of program that should be sponsored by the public schools, nor should it be the kind of program that is organized and facilitated by the public schools," Simon said.

"From vouchers, from faith-based initiatives, to the nation's first faith-based prisons, this governor has a blind spot when it comes to the constitutional requirement on separation of church and state. He's completely uncritical. He doesn't believe that reading the Bible and strengthening your relationship with God is a faith-based message."

The Florida Supreme Court is now considering whether Bush's 6-year-old Opportunity Scholarship Program is constitutional. The program gives vouchers for students at failing schools to attend private schools, including religious schools.

Two lower courts have struck down the voucher program, declaring it violated the constitutional provision barring state tax dollars from being spent on religious institutions.

The All Pro Dad curriculum was created by Family First, a Tampa-based nonprofit "research and educational organization," according to founder and President Mark Merrill. It is being promoted throughout the nation, in part with the help of fast-food chain Chick-fil-A, whose founder, S. Truett Cathy, is a Southern Baptist. Merrill was tapped by Bush, a Catholic, to serve on Volunteer Florida's 25-member board.

Mulrennan Middle School in Valrico, east of Tampa, promotes All Pro Dad on its school marquee and in newsletters. The school also advertises the program on its radio and television stations, said assistant principal Matthew Diprima, who organizes the monthly meetings.

"This is something the school supports, and this is something that's fostered by the school," Diprima said.

He said the Mulrennan group meets at a neighborhood Chick-fil-A, which donates materials to the children who participate. The group uses the All Pro Dad Web site to choose topics for discussion.

Included on the Web site are tips for fathers, including "Ten Ways to be a Better Dad" and "How to Save Your Marriage."

Father called 'head coach' of family

One of the marriage-saving lessons, written by All Pro Dad Director Bryan Davis, coaches men to pray with their wives.

"God has joined you and your wife together. He is the Author of love and marital harmony. Deepening your relationship with Him is the key and foundation of a successful marriage. If you haven't cracked open a Bible in a while, start. Find I Corinthians 13 and give it a read. It's the perfect blueprint for your marriage," Davis advises.

A video introduction by Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy, All Pro Dad's national spokesman, lays the groundwork for good parenting by establishing the father as the "head coach" of the family.

"That's the biblical way it's set up. Mom and Dad directing the family together, with the dad being the head of the household," Dungy instructs participants. "Now that doesn't always happen... but that's the ideal way and the best way, and that's the way we're going to function the best."

But the group's president last week did not directly answer several questions about the Bible's role in the All Pro Dad resources.

"Isn't that self-evident?" Merrill said. "A lot of the principles contained in the Old and New Testaments really are superior principles for raising children and for living."

[summer]

Re Gov Jeb Bush, Howard Simon, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, said:

"From vouchers, from faith-based initiatives, to the nation's first faith-based prisons, this governor has a blind spot when it comes to the constitutional requirement on separation of church and state..."

I actually think this ACLU spokesperson was trying to be dilplomatic when saying Gov Jeb Bush has a "blind spot," because the rhetoric in this state has often been a lot worse against Gov Bush -- yet Gov Bush's approval ratings with FL voters remain high.

I often conclude there is a major "blind spot" with the ACLU and others opposed to Gov Bush, because my thought is alwasy this: Well, if you don't like THAT program, what is your BETTER suggestion?

And, it seems there is never is one from them. They spend so much time and energy criticizing him, but Gov Bush is the only one putting something on the table. I think this is why so many FL voters like Gov Bush.

The other day I read a NYT column by liberal op-ed writer Bob Herbert, and Herbert, surprisingly to me at least, took a very Bill Cosby-like stand on the issue of absent black fathers in black families, as Herbert bemoaned the lack of fathers in black families in this country. Well, how are you going to reach these people? Bob Herbert didn't have any suggestions. At least Gov Bush does.


NYT Op-Ed Columnist Bob Herbert

Dad's Empty Chair by Bob Herbert

Published July 7, 2005

Excerpt:

...Kids who grow up without a father never experience that special sense of security and the enhanced feeling of belonging that come from having a father in the home. So they seek it elsewhere. They don't get that sweet feeling of triumph that comes from a father's approval, or the warmth of the old man's hug, or the wisdom to be drawn from his discipline.

I don't have the statistics to prove it, but black kids would be tremendously better off if the cultural winds changed and more fathers felt the need to come home.,,,

[summer]

FYI.

[mlc9852]

I love President Bush. Too bad he can't run again.

[San Jacinto]

ACLU..............ever on the lookout to save America from anything with "Christian overtones"

[Born Conservative]

[summer]

Thanks for pinging. :)

[Protagoras]

The article is about Jeb. And don't worry, he will be crowned as next in the family line.

Then they can make more policies that lead to government control over religious services.

[Taggart_D]

ever on the lookout to save America from anything with "Christian overtones"

No...you must mean....

"ever on the lookout to extinquish Christianity from America."

Correct?

[summer]

And don't worry, he will be crowned as next in the family line.

This is a myth that needs to stop. You are insulting the voters of this state who elected Gov Bush. No one ever "crowned" Gov Bush the governor of this state. He ran once in 1994 and lost. He ran again in 1998 and won. He was also the first GOP governor in this state to make history, by then running again, in 2002, and winning re-election. No other GOP governor in FL had ever done that before. And, he won by the largest landslide in FL history. So, get your facts straight. And stop pretending every political victory that Gov Bush EARNED happened because of some dynasty policy in FL when every race in FL is VERY hard fought in this state.

[summer]

Then they can make more policies that lead to government control over religious services.

You're never going to convinice me that having more black fathers raise their kids is a bad thing, or that giving people in prison who want religious services of their choice more often is a bad thing. Sorry.

[moog]

Then they can make more policies that lead to government control over religious services.

That's where it scares me too. I love the aims of this program, being a male teacher. It's my biggest political agenda--getting dads involved with their kids.

[moog]

You're never going to convinice me that having more black fathers raise their kids is a bad thing.

I do agree with this statement, that's for sure. I've seen some black fathers be among the best there are. I hope that many more can follow suit.

[summer]

I also believe these kinds of programs are more important now, to prevent kids from joining gangs, and to prevent those gang kids from being recruited by terrorists. The fathers in this country have never been more important.

[moog]

"ever on the lookout to extinquish Christianity from America."

"Correct?"

Actually, no, not correct. That q should be a g. :)

[moog]

I also believe these kinds of programs are more important now, to prevent kids from joining gangs, and to prevent those gang kids from being recruited by terrorists. The fathers in this country have never been more important.

No argument here on those either. I know firsthand (not my own experience I guess, but through my students) about what the absence of a father can mean to a kid. Generally, the most well-adjusted students come from two-parent homes with BOTH parents involved with their kids.

[Taggart_D]

I chuckle, but I am ever so thankful that you are on the lookout. Next time I'll use the spell check.

[moog]

chuckle, but I am ever so thankful that you are on the lookout. Next time I'll use the spell check.

Even though I'm a grammar fiend, I make many, many, many, many, many, many mistakes (and forget to use the spell check too). I don't think I'm any expert with words. I do have a few pet peeves like misuse of lose and loose and affect and effect. I see those mistakes made all the time and by all sorts of people. BUT I make plenty myself, that's for sure.

[traviskicks]

dunno. I think Bush is one of the best governors in the nation and has passed great charter school legislation that should be expanded further, but the idea of having religion in the classroom is antithetical to the idea of the separation of church and state. I don't mind having the ten commandments in schools or courthouses, but this reminds me of George Bush's 'faith based' intiatives, an act which puts religion at danger of being influenced by government. Government destroys nearly everything it touches so religion must be sanctified from the clutches of government. I don't think this is a good thing. If you have good charter school legislation then no one can complain about what their kids are taught in school.


Its [the Establishment Clause] first and most immediate purpose rested on the belief that a union of government and religion tends to destroy government and to degrade religion...
-Justice Roy Black

[traviskicks]

Bob Herbert is an idiot.

***

The New York Times, July 22, 1996

Op-Ed By BOB HERBERT

HEADLINE: In America; The Mouths of Babies

There is something very creepy about the welfare debate.

The politicians have gotten together and decided it's a good idea to throw a million or so children into poverty. But they can't say that. The proponents of this so-called "reform" effort have gone out of their way to avoid being seen for what they are -- men and women of extreme privilege who are taking food out of the mouths of infants and children, the poverty-stricken elderly, the disabled. (165)

* * *

The New York Times, August 2, 1996

Op-Ed: By BOB HERBERT

HEADLINE: In America; Throw Them Out

They should have included, in this charade called welfare reform, instructions on how you actually get these useless elderly people out of their dwellings -- these blind people, and the men and women addled by Alzheimer's, and the ones disabled by strokes or cancer or heart disease. I'm talking about the elderly disabled immigrants who, by the grace of our President and a rabid Congress, are soon to be suddenly destitute. Paying rent will be out of the question, so they will have to be evicted. Do you get stretchers and carry them out of their homes and leave them at the curb, or do you wheel them out, or do you just drag them out? (165)

***

Compare this hateful and inciteful rhetoric to these charts:
http://www.neoperspectives.com/summary.htm

[moog]

I don't agree with everything in your last post (though a good amount of it I do), but you certainly have some interesting arguments and food for thought. Good post.