A statement from the Assistant to the Bishop on behalf of the Northeastern Ohio Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Evangelical Lutheran Church is preparing a social statement on education. Work on the social statement began in 2003. It will be acted upon and likely adopted as the official statement on education of the ELCA in 2007. Please allow me to read from this statement:

We care about education because all people share the need and responsibility to be educated in civil righteousness and the matters of earthly life. We see God at work in the dedication and accomplishments in education of all people. We support governments and other institutions that enact just educational policies and create schools that foster human flourishing, serve the common good, and care for creation.

Our society’s idea of public schools places high expectations on them. In providing access to education for all, public schools are to generate a more equitable society. By bringing together students from all sectors of society, they are to help create a common culture and social harmony. By developing the potential of each student, they are to prepare students for work, family life, and citizenship and thereby promote prosperity and the common good.

While public schools have historically enjoyed widespread public support, in recent decades public discourse about them has often been shaped by criticism and discontent.

We expect schools to be communities of learning and teaching. Schools – all schools should above all strive to be communities in which people with distinct roles join together in mutual respect around the common concern for learning, teaching, and knowing.

We therefore commit ourselves to work with others for public policies that boldly and consistently push toward ensuring that all students have equitable access to high quality schools. We oppose all forms of invidious or harmful discrimination. We affirm that public schools and their teachers should set high expectations for all students, challenge them all to achieve these expectations, and have the means to meet their expectations. Commitment to equitable access along with commitment to combat poverty in all its dimensions has great potential to improve the academic performance of students who do not now have opportunity to benefit from good education.

As an Assistant to the Bishop of the Northeastern Ohio Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, I urge support of the Akron School Levy, Issue 6. In so doing, educators may once again begin to focus on things such as classroom environments, teaching methods, curricula and better balances in class size. Such a focus on these and other important issues most certainly will provide better educational opportunities for Akron City School students.