by Dave Bohon
Minnesota Family Council

For decades the left-leaning National Education Association (NEA) has wielded unprecedented influence in American education through its role as the nation’s premier teacher’s union. In fact, with the bulk of the nation’s pubic school teachers belonging to the organization, the NEA is one of the nation’s largest labor unions — a distinction it has employed effectively to pursue an ultra-liberal political and cultural agenda at odds with the values of a majority of conservative and Christian Americans.

The good news is that for over 50 years Christian educators have had an alternative organization to turn to that embraces values that are essential for effectively educating America’s future generations. Founded in 1953, the Christian Educators Association International (CEAI) works to encourage and equip Christian educators in both public and private education.

Like the NEA, CEAI provides many benefits for its members, such as professional liability insurance. But unlike its secular counterpart, its members view teaching as a God-given calling and believe wholeheartedly in the Judeo-Christian ethic.

In Minnesota, CEAI may be in its early stages, but its members are passionate about how important a living faith in God is for those called to the teaching profession. CEAI’s Minnesota coordinator, Norene Shephard, noted for instance how the state CEAI chapter co-sponsored a brunch for educators during the 2004 Luis Palau Festival. “We had more than 200 present,” recalled Shephard, “and Dr. Palau presented the Gospel in his usual dynamic style.” Some 200 teachers heard the gospel, “and more than 30 of those teachers made commitments for salvation or rededication,” she said. “In other words, 30 classrooms had ‘new’ teachers last fall.”

At that gathering, local CEAI members realized the spiritual hunger and need for affirmation among educators. “Teachers want to be informed, they want to be encouraged and affirmed, and they desire to be prayed for,” said Shephard.

One of CEAI’s ongoing functions is to keep teachers, school administrators, parents, and students informed on the religious rights of students and teachers in the public schools. “We stress the rights of students and teachers to pray with their peers, and we give a lot of attention to legal rights and requirements regarding religious holidays in the curriculum and the rights of students in graduation ceremonies,” said Shephard.

This year CEAI is also emphasizing the importance of praying with and for our nation’s educators. “Teachers face challenges on a moment-by-moment basis because of the burgeoning needs of the students that come to them,” said Shephard. “They need prayer for wisdom, patience, and creativity in bringing to the classroom that which is excellent, true, and beautiful.”

Shephard noted that the average teacher makes thousands of decisions a day as an educator. “The nature of these decisions are often determined somewhat by the curriculum and school policies, but mostly by the inherent values of the teacher and his or her understanding of what is true and good and right for students,” she said. “Think of the power of having teachers in these settings who are ‘all prayed up,’ well informed, and with a hedge of prayer around them coming from their brothers and sisters.”

TAKE ACTION

For more information about CEAI, log on to www.ceai.org. For information on Minnesota’s CEAI chapter contact Norene Shephard at norene@ceai.org .

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