An Arkansas preschool has come under scrutiny for including religious instruction and programming despite receiving significant public funds in block grants from the state's Education Department. Making the story even more interesting, Growing God's Kingdom is owned by state representative Justin Harris.
Americans United's Joe Conn wrote about the issue last week:
Americans United attorneys were quite surprised to find that…Growing God’s Kingdom has received over $1 million in state funds since 2005. The school, it turns out, is quite clearly a sectarian ministry.
Staff members are required to “share the love of Jesus” with students, and the school operates with a Christian curriculum that includes a “Bible time” for verses, stories and prayer. The handbook assures parents that staff members will “strive too [sic] ensure that your child feels the love of Jesus Christ while preparing them for Kindergarten.” The preschoolers, it continues, will be taught “the word of God” so that they can “spread the word of God to others.”
AU wrote a letter to state officials on November 1.The Arkansas Times reports Rep. Harris has indicated via Facebook an intention to fight charges of church-state impropriety.
