Denver Public Schools Promoting Christianity?

Public schools are always looking for programs that help improve basic skills and performance among students - but does the pursuit of these very important goals require that they be willing to support the proselytization of kids by Christian missionaries? That seems to be the attitude of officials in the Denver Public Schools. The support and promote a reading program where children first learn how to read and are then evangelized with a Christian message.

Parents have to agree to both parts of the program separately, but that doesn't mean that the program is without problem, as the Denver Post explains:

Under the deal, DPS identifies students for Whiz Kids and provides about $50,000 in stipends a year for teachers to act as liaisons between DPS and the tutors. "That's a problem, because then in essence the school district is helping to promote the very clearly and avowedly sectarian religious activity," [Elliot Mincberg] said. Paying teachers to participate is "even more troubling," Mincberg said: "Then you're giving teachers a financial incentive to recruit kids for this program."

A further problem not mentioned in the above quote is the fact that any parents who don't agree to having their children evangelized to must make their own arrangement for getting their children back home - often a difficult prospect for very poor families. Thus, those who organize the program are then only willing to help return the children in exchange for "sharing" a particular Christian message with them. This is consistent because the volunteers are only willing to "share" their time and tutoring in exchange for being able to preach to as many of the children as possible.

I'm curious: why not tutor the children in reading without linking it to evangelization? It wouldn't be very "Christian" to insist that helping the needy will only happen if the needy are willing to listen to Christian preaching, would it? Why not volunteer to help and then invite people for a religious meeting at some other place and time? Those who are genuinely interested will find their way there - those who aren't won't feel pressured. Or does this suggestion just make too much sense?

Read More:

• Religion in Public Schools
• Separation of Church and State 101