A debate has sparked between a Christian organization on campus and an atheist professor who believes the group’s practices are inappropriate in light of the First Amendment’s prohibition on state-established religion.

Hector Avalos, associate professor of religious studies, said the Christian Education Network is distributing literature that contradicts itself and nears illegality. The Christian Education Network is an organization that sets up mentoring situations between education students who are Christians and local public school teachers.

“Teachers should be working on describing, not prescribing religions and religious beliefs,” said Avalos, co-founder of the ISU Atheist and Agnostic Society.

Lori Adams — a Christian, ISU alumna and former teacher — and Crystal Becker, junior in elementary education, formed the Christian Education Network.

The local organization was spawned from the Christian Educators Association International, the organization with which Adams is affiliated. Becker, the group’s president, said she believes Christian values are an important addition to both the ISU community and the public school system.

“Our goal for the group is to have education majors at ISU who are also Christians be empowered and equipped to deal with the problems of the public school system,” Becker said.

Using beliefs for change

In 1996, Adams came to Iowa State to work in campus ministry and became involved in the ISU branch of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Salt Company.

Adams said she thought the Christian Educators Network could be formed as a starting point at Iowa State for young Christian educators.

Becker and Adams formed the Christian Educators Network in the fall semester of 2003 as a spinoff of the national organization with distinct differences for ISU students.

“This is primarily to get ISU education majors paired up with teachers who can teach them several things about the public education system,” Becker said.

Those things include knowing what teachers legally can and cannot teach and how teaching relates to their personal beliefs.

“Fear is what keeps teachers today from exercising their own questions and answering honest ones,” Adams said.

So far, 30 ISU education majors and 30 teachers are signed up to participate, and the organization has already had two mentoring situations.

Should values influence education?

Avalos has researched some of the national organization’s literature, including brochures, its official Web site and booklets.

“On the note of the First Amendment brochure, all of these organizations endorse what is commonly agreed upon. Schools strive for student awareness, not preachiness, school may not impose any particular view, etc.” Avalos said. “The problem with the handbook’s statements are the fact that they contradict everything the First Amendment brochure was trying to say. How can a teacher present non-biased information about holidays with a ‘Christian Twist’?”

Eric Christensen, treasurer for the ISU Atheist and Agnostic Club, said he believes the type of contradictions listed are “crazy and egocentric.”

“It seems to me that the organization feels that their beliefs are right, and that they should force children to feel the same way. Schools are for information, not for moral character building,” Christensen said.

Becker said she doesn’t think she is imposing her beliefs on anyone.

“Here’s a perfect example: I’m an RA at a public university. My Christian beliefs impact the way I do my job, but I don’t go around the floor telling others how to believe,” Becker said. “I am, however, free by law to tell others about how I believe. There’s a big difference between imposition and sharing beliefs.”

Christensen said he hopes the groups will not take hold of the education system in any form.

“I believe that if either group gains any traction, it will be stopped by the [American Civil Liberties Union] immediately. This whole belief system may last a while, but hopefully it’s not going to get anywhere,” Christensen said. “Personally, it makes me fear putting children through school if they do get anywhere with this line of thought.”

Becker said she believes both the local and national Christian organizations aren’t in existence to enforce anything. Rather, their goal is to educate.

“We want to promote stuff that’s legal. It’s legal to express what I believe in an educational way,” she said. “Teachers need to know their rights, what they can and cannot do. Many teachers cross that line, and that’s wrong.”

Becker said her beliefs are going to be a part of her teaching style because of her personality.

“I’m naturally going to integrate the beliefs I have into the ways I teach. That’s the person I am,” she said. “I’m going to do it completely legally, and that’s the important thing.”