Course Description:

Session one: Historical Educational Role of Pastoral Leadership in the American Colonies will discuss the significant educational role of the church in colonial American history in promoting ‘holy commonwealths’ and ordered liberty.

Session two: Brief History of Education Policy in the Early American Republic: Constitutional Issue of Liberty of Conscience and Limited Civil Authority will detail jurisdictional issues regarding the role of the civil magistrate in religious/liberty of conscience and institutionalized education. Topics include Virginia's religious liberty debates relative to Patrick Henry's A Bill Establishing a Provision for Teachers of the Christian Religion (December, 1784), James Madison's Memorial and Remonstrance Against Assessments in Support of Religion (July, 1785), and Thomas Jefferson's Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (January, 1786). The nature of the First Amendment to the US Constitution will also be discussed along with specific Congressional debates relative to the role of civil government in education.

Session three: Creation of National Education Laws and Institutions in the United States will highlight the rise of US education laws after WWII, including the National Defense Education Act of 1958, Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, creation of the Department of Education in 1979, No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Race to the Top and ED Recovery Act of 2009, Common Core State Standards Initiative of 2009.

Session four: Policy Prospects Relative to Education will explore national and state education policy solutions relative to privatized education, school choice, tax credits, and school vouchers, as well as significant Supreme Court education cases impacting private education initiatives. This session will also include a challenge to pastors relative to legal issues surrounding the pulpit and politics given the interpretive impact of the Johnson Amendment of 1954. Lil, 6 hours, taught by Dr. Gai Ferdon.