To Proactively Put in Place National Standards for Our Schools to Protect Students

Ov. 1-16

To Proactively Put in Place National Standards for Our Schools to Protect Students

WHEREAS, Synod c ongregations and recognized service organizations provide 1,745 schools, which are boldly and successfully reaching children and their families with the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ; and

WHEREAS, Our gracious Lord has blessed us with God-fearing teachers who are simultaneously both saints and sinners; and

WHEREAS, T here have been cases of moral failure that have harmed students and damaged the public reputation of schools and the churches who operate them; and

WHEREAS, The S ynod has a moral obligation to proactively protect children that we are entrusted with, wielding the first use of the Law through national standards related to the safety of children, which would have the effect of curbing potential inappropriate conduct; and

WHEREAS, T he National Lutheran Schools A ccreditation (NLSA), which serves as the accrediting body for the Synod , has declined to implement some needed n ational standards for our schools that could proactively protect children; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention direct the NLSA to implement a national standard that prohibits teachers from communicating with students via Snapchat or any other electronic application that automatically deletes messages so that they cannot be retrieved by parents or authorities unless they are intentionally saved; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention direct the NLSA to implement a national standard that prohibits teachers from dating former students until the student has reached the age of 18 or older;

and be it finally

Resolved, That the NLSA be encouraged to implement other appropriate proactive national standards for our schools, which are intended to curb inappropriate conduct and safeguard the well-being of students and our ministry to them.

Circuit 25 (Kenosha), South Wisconsin District; Circuit 26 (Racine), South Wisconsin District; Circuits 3, 4, and 6 (Metro Northwest/Central/North Shore), South Wisconsin District