Religious Liberty Commission holds hearing with education focus

The Department of Justice’s Religious Liberty Commission heard testimony on Monday from experts and teachers about the importance of overlapping religion and education. The commission held several panel discussions at the Museum of the Bible in Washington D.C. The group convened with reflections on the late Christian political commentator Charlie Kirk, specifically his role in witnessing to students in higher education.

Among those giving testimony was the chief education officer of Turning Point USA’s education arm, Dr. Hutz Hertzberg, who emphasized the importance of instilling Biblical values in young children. More and more students are coming into colleges after already being indoctrinated with anti-American, woke ideology, he said. He urged people not to trust the public education system to train children in truth and morals, and he highlighted the importance of teaching children the absolute authority of Scripture.

Georgia Pastor Jentezen Franklin, a member of the commission’s religious leader advisory board, also spoke. He emphasized the importance of faith leaders standing up for truth in the political arena and said that faith leaders too often shy away from politics. He cited Biblical characters like Daniel and Esther as examples of political figures who carried out God’s work by not separating religion from politics.

Among the others offering testimony to the Religious Liberty Commission:

• Joe Kennedy spoke about his experience as a high school football coach prosecuted for praying on the field before games.

• Virginia teacher Monica Gill recalled fighting the Loudoun County school district’s policy forcing teachers to falsely affirm students’ non-Biblical beliefs on biological sex. Gill encouraged teachers not to abandon classrooms and emphasized the importance of being salt and light to misguided children.

• Connecticut teacher Marisol Arroyo-Castro testified about her experience suing her school district after administrators ordered her to take down a crucifix in her classroom, insisting its presence violated the Constitution.

Dig deeper: Read Lauren Canterberry’s interview with Arroyo-Castro for more background on her case.