Category Archives: Education
Does Your Child’s School Respect Your Family Values?
Reading, Writing……Sexuality and Drugs
What will your children be learning in the school they attend this year? Will their teachers and school district support your family values?
As we approach a new school year, parents need to go the extra mile in checking out their local school district’s website and asking to review curriculum, as well as perusing the school library for inappropriate materials.
Excitement and Good Cheer! Christians Getting Involved in Government
From the desk of WFA president Julaine Appling:
I got my first civics lesson pretty early in life. My mom believed people needed to be involved in elections. So it was natural for her to want me to learn what this politics thing was all about. Early on she took me with her to put up yard signs and to hand out literature during campaigns. That was ok, but what really got my attention was when she took me to the polls.
That was back in the day with the big voting machines with the half curtain and all the levers you had to pull for each of the candidates you wanted to vote for. Holding my hand, Mom would go to the machine, pull the big lever to close the curtain, and then begin pulling the little levers, explaining to me what she was doing and who we were voting for and why. Then, when she was done, she’d pull the big lever again and I would hear the click click click as all the votes Mom had cast were registered and the curtain would open. I was hooked—for life. Voting was a big deal in our family—always. Both of my parents took it seriously and taught me to as well. But more than that, I caught the excitement of voting from my mom especially.
Election Day wasn’t just another day in our house; it was an exciting day. We’d get up early, go to the polls, make some calls and check to see that all of our friends remembered it was Election Day. Then, after the polls closed, we’d gather to watch the returns come in to see if our candidates had won. It was a fun day, but it was also about responsibility, duty and opportunity for us. And it remains that for me today.
Frankly, I think all American Christians should find Election Day exciting. The opportunity to vote shouldn’t be met with “oh no, it’s voting time again. I have to hear and watch all those stupid ads, have who knows how many phone calls and get all that mail. I just wish it would go away.” That’s the wrong view!
Some Christians need a change in view and attitude on this issue. This is a time when we as believers get to directly influence our God-given government, which in itself is a blessing. Having a Republican form of government rather than a democracy or a dictatorship or really any other kind of government is an incredible blessing, one that we should be grateful for. But this distinctive form of government requires knowledgeable citizen participation to work right.
“We the people” is not just a nice saying; it’s a statement of responsibility. We as citizens have the duty, the obligation, the honor of participating actively in our government. As Christians, I believe we have a stewardship responsibility in this area. Taking a pass, sitting it out is not the answer. It’s not the right decision. Frankly, it’s that approach that has helped to put us where we are right now in this state and country. Christians not exercising their civic stewardship. We should be involved, and we should be involved far more cheerfully and with more excitement than we often are.
Go to ivoterguide.com for YOUR WI Voter Guide!
And now you get to practice being involved in your government with some excitement and good cheer by getting ready to vote in the Fall Partisan Primary Election next Tuesday, August 12. Here are some easy steps to do that. First, visit myvote.wi.gov to find out what races will be on your ballot. Just click on Regular Voter on that home page and then follow the directions. When you get to your voting record, you’ll see “What’s on my ballot” on the left sidebar. Click on that and you’ll see your sample ballot.
Once you know the races, spend some time checking on the candidates and where they stand on the issues important to you. Visit their web sites, call their campaigns, talk to people who you trust. See if there are voter guides online. I know there are. If you don’t have access to the internet, call us and we’ll do our best to help you. Call 888-378-7395; that’s 888-378-7395.
If you can’t make the polls on Tuesday, August 12, you can vote early at your clerk’s office through the close of business this Friday, August 8. Or you can get an absentee ballot and send it in by mail, but it must reach the clerk no later than Election Day.
And finally, maybe you can be instrumental in lighting a fire on this important issue in the life of a young person, just like my mom did for me. Think about who you can take with you to the polls and how you will share the excitement you have regarding the blessing of living in America where “we the people” is more than just words on a document. I’ll see you at the polls!
Early Voting in Wisconsin Begins TODAY
Early election voting has begun at city clerks’ offices
across the state of Wisconsin.
Voters who are unable to get to the polls for the primary election on Tuesday, August 12, are now able to cast their ballots.
Click HERE for general voter information and to see if you have a primary on your ballot.
- HOW DO YOU KNOW WHO TO VOTE FOR?
- WHO ARE THE CANDIDATES?
- HOW HAVE INCUMBENTS VOTED IN THE PAST?
RIGHT AT YOUR FINGERTIPS!
****BE INFORMED! Click HERE for our NEW Wisconsin Voter Guide! ****
Vote wisely by choosing candidates who:
- Best align with your values
- Have a reasonable chance of winning, as evidenced by endorsements, donations, yard signs, phone calls, etc.
NEW! Wisconsin Primary Voter Guide Released
Who are our leaders – REALLY? What’s behind the polished speeches
and promises to make our lives better?
>>>>>Click HERE to watch a video that explains how YOU can affect change in Wisconsin, and in Washington, with your VOTE.
Less than 20% of voters actually vote in the PRIMARY elections in their state, yet did you know…
- primaries determine the election?
- in low-voter-turnout elections, your vote matters more than ever?
Wisconsin’s Primary Election is Tuesday, August 12.
That’s less than 3 weeks away! How do you know who to vote for? Who are the candidates? How have incumbents voted in the past?
YOUR customized voter guide is NOW AVAILABLE – CLICK HERE!
The Wisconsin Voter Guide is a combination of:
- Voting records/ratings
- Financial contributions
- Endorsements
- Candidate website
- Comprehensive candidate survey
Each candidate is evaluated by a panel of volunteers, people like you, who are dedicated to helping others vote wisely.
Click HERE for general voter information and to see if you have a primary on your ballot.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
- Access the Voter Guide TODAY. Take a close look. If you want, print off your local races and be prepared for the Wisconsin Primary Election on August 12!
- SHARE SHARE SHARE this Voter Guide with everyone you know who is eligible to vote in Wisconsin! Print off extra copies of the Voter Guide candidate results for your local race and distribute them to neighbors and others in your voting district.
- Copy and paste this link: http://goo.gl/ORWhCW (this is just a shortened URL that goes directly to our WI Voter Guide) in an email, on Twitter, or on your Facebook, and let others know about this valuable voting tool!
NEW STUDY: AMERICA – Improving or Getting Off Track?
The Heritage Foundation has just released its 2014 Index of Culture and Opportunity.
The 2014 Index of Culture and Opportunity tells how social and economic factors relate to the success of individuals, families, opportunity, and freedom. Through charts that track changes, and commentary that explains the trends, the Index shows the current state of some key features of American society and tells whether specific indicators are improving or getting off track.
>>>>>Click HERE to access The 2014 Index of Culture and Opportunity on line.
Wisconsin Family Action also recently released the new publication, Wisconsin’s Cultural Indicators, 2014 Edition, which is the only document of its kind, giving statistical overview of Wisconsin, her values, and the impact on traditional families. We trust that public officials, educators at all levels, business leaders, pastors, ministry leaders, and lay citizens will find this Wisconsin Cultural Indicators 2014 Edition instructive and helpful as they make decisions affecting Wisconsin’s future.
>>>>>Access YOUR copy of Wisconsin’s Cultural Indicators, 2014 Edition, HERE
Parenting With Purpose – For Today, or For Eternity?
From the desk of WFA president Julaine Appling:
Purposeful Parenting
(Part 3 in a 3-part Series)
Are you parenting with purpose and intention or are you just kind of winging it and trying to survive each day, hoping that somehow your children will grow up with strong character and a sincere desire to know, love and serve the Lord? Are you parenting for today or for eternity?
Parenting is a high and holy calling. While it brings unbelievable blessings, it also comes with enormous responsibility. Being purposeful and intentional in the rearing of the precious lives God entrusts to parents helps to ensure that the responsibility is handled well and increases the blessings.
With the sincere hope that giving some practical suggestions for intentional parenting will be helpful in that regard, this week we wrap up the short series “Purposeful Parenting,” based on a blog post by Whitney Hopler of Crosswalk.com. Hopler is doing a practical application of a book written by Jim Burns, The Ten Building Blocks for a Solid Family.The first two commentaries covered the building blocks of be there; express affirmation, warmth and encouragement; build healthy morals and values; discipline with consistency; ruthlessly eliminate stress; and communicate well. This week we deal with the last four building blocks.
The seventh building block is “play together.” Recently, I’ve been to places where my family vacationed during my growing up years. Floods of happy memories came back as I recalled fun times, play times together with mom, dad and my brother. All families need play time…both planned for and spontaneous. But if you don’t plan for some fun, it’s likely it may not happen given today’s hectic schedules. Playing with your children allows them to see another side of you—a side that is extremely important.
“Love your spouse” is the eighth building block. Someone very wise has said that the best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother. It seems to me it could also be said that the best thing a mother can do for her children is to love her husband. Children thrive when they sense they are safe and protected. And nothing nurtures that sense than a loving, low-conflict, Christ-centered relationship between their mother and father. So build in date nights and marriage retreats and more. It’s one of the best things you can do for your children.Burns’ ninth building block is “remember that the best things in life aren’t things.” Hopler says this is about developing a family budget, sticking to it and avoiding debt so that the family is on a strong financial foundation. One of the most important gifts you can give your children is to teach them about tithing and giving—make it a joyous personal practice and an expectation of your children.
And, finally, the tenth family building block according to Burns is “energize your family’s spiritual growth.” The author rightly notes that a parent’s “greatest calling in life is to leave a spiritual legacy for kids.” That requires paying attention to your own relationship to the Lord, purposefully strengthening it daily with Bible reading and prayer. Your children seeing you read your Bible and praying is more powerful than you can imagine. Have family devotions and prayer regularly. Attend a Bible-preaching and teaching church—faithfully—as a family. Make your family’s spiritual growth a top priority and attend to it with energy and passion, not as a dictator or autocrat but as a loving, attentive, giving father.
Burns talks in terms of building blocks for healthy families. Building something requires a vision, a plan, a foundation, dedication and attention to following the plan, a system, good materials, knowing and following certain rules and more. How many of us have driven by a building that was begun but never finished or seen a building collapse because of poor planning, bad execution, rules not followed, poor workmanship, bad materials. Building a building takes time, purpose and intention. How much more so in building a family and how much more important. Purposeful parenting, purposeful family building is all about time–and eternity.
Common Core; The Ripple Effect of Rejection
South Carolina and Oklahoma are now in the lineup of states who have decided to block the federal Common Core State Standards (CCSS) program in their public schools, instead opting to use their own state standards.
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) currently uses CCSS to cover math and English, and “promote literacy” in history and social studies, science and technical subjects for students from kindergarten through high school.
“It’s unfortunate that Wisconsin’s Republican leadership bogged down attempts to block Common Core in our state this session,” says Julaine Appling, president of Wisconsin Family Action.
On March 6, 2014, Appling testified in favor of SB 619, which created a model academics standards board in the state of Wisconsin. The bill provided transparency, professional participation, public involvement and legislative oversight to the revision process of Wisconsin’s academic standards.
>>>>>read the full testimony HERE
The bill failed to pass in the Senate after Education Committee Chairman Senator Luther Olsen (R-Ripon) refused to take any action on the bill after the public hearing. No pressure to do so came from Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau). Read moreHERE.
Germantown School District has already voted to develop its own set of standards. >>>>>read more HERE
Gauging the Well-Being of Wisconsin
From the desk of Wisconsin Family Council president, Julaine Appling:
“Wisconsin’s Cultural Indicators, 2014 Edition: Gauging the Well-being of Wisconsin”
In 1997, Wisconsin Family Council released the first edition of Wisconsin’s Cultural Indicators. It was a well-received publication in part because it was the only document of its kind that brought together important statistics giving a panoramic snapshot of Wisconsin. We released the second edition in 2008.
Modeled after William Bennett’s The Index of Leading Cultural Indicators at the national level, our Wisconsin’s Cultural Indicators provides an overview of important indicators that impact Wisconsin’s best natural resource: traditional families. When Wisconsin’s families are healthy, Wisconsin is healthy. When our state’s families are weak, struggling, and dependent on the government, that is sure to be reflected in the overall health of the state. As the family, so the state.
The greatly expanded 2014 edition of Wisconsin’s Cultural Indicators follows in the footsteps of the 1997 and 2008 editions and continues to track critical indicators, typically, over a substantial amount of time, almost 50 years in some instances. When we present these indicators graphically, we are able to see trends—trends that reveal how healthy or unhealthy our state is in specific areas and in a general sense. As we look at these trends, we are also able to assess whether or not interventions have been helpful. This in turn can provide direction for policy and decision makers on whether or not to maintain such interventions or to introduce others.
In this 2014 edition, we basically doubled the size of the publication because we added what I consider to be an extremely important section. Entitled, “Family Structure,” this opening 29-page section shows in graphs, charts and tables that family structure really does matter to Wisconsin’s well-being. On every measure we considered, husband-wife families do better than single-parent families in Wisconsin.
For instance, single-mother households are much more likely to live in poverty. Single-parent households are much more likely to take government assistance, including Food Stamps and other income assistance. One table we provide shows that a single-mother with two children would lose $2,600 every month in government-subsidies if she were to marry. In annual numbers, this single mom has over $36,000 of taxpayer money coming into the household from credits and programs such as Earned Income Credit for both the state and federal government, Child Tax Credit, WIC, and other subsidies.
Other statistics show that Wisconsin’s marriage rate has dropped nearly 38% in just the last 12 years and that Wisconsin’s total fertility rate has been below replacement levels since 1975. Replacement level is 2.1 children per woman. We have vacillated between 1.7 and 1.9 for 39 years. The data also shows that while teen births have gone down, births to unmarried women have steadily risen since 1960, when only 3% of babies were born out of wedlock to 2010 when 37% of Wisconsin babies were born to unwed mothers. That figure correlates closely with 50% of the babies born in 2010 having their births paid for by Medicaid.
On some indicators we separated out Milwaukee from the rest of the state. Milwaukee numbers show an even more startling difference between married and unmarried households. I believe it is very fair and very accurate to say that written all over this publication is the impact of fatherlessness on a state and a community.
Quite honestly, the data tells the story. We do provide some analysis and additional information from current research. Our hope is that public officials, educators at all levels, business leaders, pastors, ministry leaders, and lay citizens will find this Wisconsin Cultural Indicators 2014 Edition instructive and helpful as they make decisions affecting Wisconsin’s future. We want this publication to make a real difference in our state as we work to improve and increase Wisconsin’s best natural resource—her married mom-and-dad families.
This unique and significant report is available online HERE.
Milwaukee Data Show Decline of Family Hurting the City
Press release from Wisconsin Family Council:
Wisconsin’s Cultural Indicators, 2014 Edition shows children suffer
when the traditional family is on the decline
Madison, WI—Today Wisconsin Family Council (WFC) announced the online release of Wisconsin’s Cultural Indicators, 2014 Edition. WFC first released this premier publication in Appleton, Wisconsin on May 27th. The Wisconsin’s Cultural Indicators, 2014 Edition, provides an overview of important indicators impacting the well-being of children and families in the state of Wisconsin and Milwaukee in particular.
“This timely compilation of data highlights how much the disintegration of the family unit is hurting Milwaukee,” said Julaine Appling, president of Wisconsin Family Council. “While some blame government, the failure of programs, the judicial system or the education system for problems in Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s Cultural Indicators shows the root problem: where the family unit is no longer the underpinning of society, everyone suffers at every level of society, especially the children.”
The seventy-page publication provides a breakdown of data and trends between Wisconsin and Milwaukee for indicators such as “Children and Family Structure,” “The Relationship Between Government Assistance and Family Structure,” “Childbearing and Poverty Status,” “Sexual Activity Among High School Students,” and “Illegal Drug Use on School Property,” as well as a “Government Entitlement Analysis” that uses Milwaukee County rates.
“We know, for example, that 73 percent of children in Milwaukee living in single-mother households were in families receiving government assistance in 2010, compared to 56 percent of single-mother households statewide,” noted Appling. “Both figures are staggering, but they highlight the unique needs in Milwaukee. So many children in Milwaukee are missing out on the great benefits of living with a married father and mother. It is our hope that Wisconsin’s Cultural Indicators will help leaders and concerned citizens in Milwaukee craft policy and programs that strengthen marriage and families and by so doing, strengthen the city of Milwaukee.”
Wisconsin’s Cultural Indicators, 2014 Edition is available online.
Wisconsin Family Voice 