Being a Pro-Teacher Parent

• Guest Author: Kori Pennypacker, CEO at Bible2School
• Posted: October 22, 2025

Have you ever been in the stands of a youth sporting event when a player’s parents become hostile? They yell in anger sowing discomfort and division among the crowd. These parents passionately perceive their child has been wronged and react by spewing negativity. However, the parents’ behavior rarely changes the situation for the better, and quite often it leads to more frustration causing everyone from the players, to the coaches, to the refs to make emotional calls rather than wise ones. When emotions run high and facts are lacking, unknowingly our reactions can cause our children to suffer.

What about something as important as our child’s religious freedom? As Christian parents, what is the best way to respond if we believe our children’s religious freedoms are being violated?

“Jesus is the reason for the season, but we can’t talk about Jesus in public school,” was the answer my young son’s elementary teacher shared with him during class one cold December day. My son had brought up the name “Jesus” during a class Christmas activity. The teacher’s answer surprised me. Negative emotions rose to the top of my throat. Is that true? Why wouldn’t my son be allowed to say “Jesus” in a public school? Can she say that to him?

As with any questions that arise about our children’s public school experience, we, as parents, need to keep our emotions in check and be well-informed before assuming anything. In fact, I would say it is beneficial to take a deep breath and shift into the posture of being a “pro-teacher” parent to handle these questions.

A “pro-teacher parent” means that you view your relationship with your child’s teacher as a valued partnership. After all, you are on the same team partnering in your child’s educational development and growth. To clarify further, a “pro-teacher parent” needs to:

Assume a teacher has the best intentions. As parents, we are protective and skeptical beings, especially when it comes to our kids. But when we slow down to pray and humbly evaluate our thoughts, it helps us remember to assume the best about others, not the worst. That includes educators. The kindest thing you can do for someone when it comes to conflict is to assume the best about their intentions and motivations.

Ask good questions. In order to partner with your child’s teacher as a “pro-teacher parent,” you need to know the teacher’s point of view. What exactly did the teacher say to your child? What was her rationale behind the statement? Is this a school policy or is this her individual understanding of religious freedom in public school? Clarify and ask questions, then clarify again.

Know the law. What is extremely important in this partnership is for each of you to know the religious freedoms of students and teachers, according to the Constitution. Here is what teachers can legally do:

• A teacher has the right to pray at times when not acting in an official capacity.
• A teacher has the right to read their Bible at times when not acting in an official capacity.
• A teacher has the right to teach about religion in their classroom.
• A teacher has the right to accommodate a student’s religious rights.
• A teacher has the right to neither encourage nor discourage a student’s participation in a religious club or class. 

Assuming the best, asking good questions, and knowing the law is extremely important as a “pro-teacher parent.” You are on the same team partnering in your child’s educational development and growth. Both of you want your child to flourish.

For more information on this topic, check out the podcast episode, When Your Child and Their Teacher Disagree about Christmas.