Parents have the God-given responsibility to raise their children according to their beliefs and convictions.
FACT supports the rights of parents to determine how and what their children will be taught, and to shape the environment in which they will receive their education. Additionally, teachers shape the thinking of children for a lifetime and are entrusted by parents to model the critical thinking and spirit of free inquiry needed to succeed in the world.
Parents, students, and teachers are under assault from those who would take away their constitutional rights. FACT is working to protect those rights.
Bullying
The State of Tennessee has adopted policies that prohibit all forms of bullying for any reason, however, the law could allow local school districts to establish anti-bullying policies that promote a particular political agenda or that protects some children at the expense of others.
FACT supports laws and policies that protect all students, regardless of their beliefs, both from bullying and from suppression of their freedom of speech and right to religious expression.
Senate Bill 0760 House Bill 1153
Intellectual Freedom
FACT supports academic freedom for both students and teachers in all subjects. This includes creating an environment that encourages the development of critical thinking skills and allows free inquiry, by both students and teachers, into arguments or controversies surrounding the subject matter being taught.
Currently, FACT is supporting the Teacher Protection Academic Freedom Act (SB0893/HB0368), legislation that will clarify the way scientific theories regarding evolution are taught in Tennessee public school classrooms.
Sex Ed
Sex education is part of the Tennessee state school curriculum, but how sex ed is taught can have a dramatic impact on a child’s future. FACT supports sex ed programs that give an accurate view of the consequences of sexual behavior.
Unfortunately, current state law does not ensure that all children will be told the truth about sex.
The Tennessee Integrated Sex Education Bill (SB1305/HB1352) implements a complete, integrated, abstinence-centered program of sex education that equips students with factually and medically accurate information. It also give parents administrative remedies against teachers (and non-faculty instructors) who violate the law.
