Governements are always thinking about education and making tweaks and sometimes overhauls to what should go on in schools. It's good to be involved when we can as Chrsitians, to stand for God's kingdom and his way of doing things.
Sometimes this might look like speaking up to protect our freedoms to say what we believe in the workplace or to keep matters of faith in the curriculum, or to comment on how policy and our beliefs interact.
One of the big ways we can have this say is through the consultation process. When the goverment publishes a new paper of guidance or policy, it's put out for consultation so that they can gather thoughts from interested parties (like you and me).
These consultations have time frames and generally they ask specific questions through a survey online.
Gender Questioning Children
One of the big consultations at the moment is around children questioning their gender, how teachers are to respond and the guidance all schools will be asked to follow. The guidance came out just before Christmas. You can read it here (the document is long but you get the idea in the first few pages). To fill in the consultation, click here - it takes a little while so do it with a cuppa.
Here at Teaching Network, we're not going to tell you what to think. However, if you'd appreciate some guidance on how to fill out the survey, from one Christian point of view, The Christian Institute have produced some advice of their own.
This particular consultation is out until March.
Keep an Eye Out
From time to time consultations come up which it is worth putting our Christian point of view into. It's good to keep an eye out for these and to prayerfully consider if you can respond, and what God wants you to say. It is powerful being able to communicate our views to the government and it could bring change that is good and needed for the children we're in the business of caring for.
'For the one in authority is God's servant for your good...'
The Bible encourages us to pray for those in authority, whose rules we live under. God is ultimately in control but he is allowing for these people to have power in our land and, to an extent, over our lives.
In the passage from Romans 13 below, Paul reminds us that those in goverment are God's servants, whether they know it or not. We can take encouragement fromm ths - God is ultimately in control!
'For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.' Romans 13:4-7
Paul also says to pay our taxes. Taxes were a big part of living as a Roman citizen and were certainly not as automated through VAT and payslips as they are now. The bigger idea is that we give what we owe, not trying to find our way outside of the rules, but instead living as upright citizens.
Furthermore, respect and honour are called for. We can honour the government with our prayers, our speech, our voting and, yes, with our time and thoughts in these consultations. Paul doesn't instruct us to agree with the policies of our time but he does encourage us to do what is right.
It will look different for each of us - some will go to town on the consultations, others might remember to commit our leaders in prayer, and still others might consider joining a union to see change from inside the school system. Whatever we do, let's take seriusloy our role as citizens of our nation, and of heaven, for God's glory.