The indefatigable Zack Kopplin is exposing yet another unconstitutional use of our tax dollars in public schools, this time the use of Christian proselytizing videos from Focus on the Family in many school systems around the country.





A video series by Focus on the Family titled McGee and Me has become one of the most obvious examples of the organization’s influence in some school districts. McGee and Me describes itself as “an animated wonder that teaches biblical values.” In one episode, all the bullies hate Christmas because they’re not Christian, and they’re actually bullies because their fathers were alcoholics. In the end, the conflict is resolved when the main character helps his bully find Jesus.

There doesn’t seem to be a lot of health class relevant content, but it’s been used as “comprehensive health” education in the sixth grade curriculum of Spartanburg County School District in South Carolina. It’s also used as “Character Education” by Pinellas County School District in Largo, Florida.

“From what we’ve seen of the McGee and Me series, identifying it as ‘Comprehensive Health’… is a stretch,” Chitra Panjabi, President and CEO of the Sexuality Information Education Council of the U.S. (SIECUS), told ThinkProgress over email. “Any curriculum that bills itself as a ‘Comprehensive Health’ curriculum and does not explicitly deal with sexuality is failing to provide the information and education that young people in this country need.”…

And there’s a ton of places that recommend Focus on the Family as a health or parenting resource.

Wright County in Minnesota put together a Children’s Resource Guide, where they list Focus on the Family alongside the CDC and the Wright County Department of Public Health as a tool for “general [disease] prevention.”

Lafayette High School in Lexington, Kentucky, recommends Focus on the Family as a resource that “evaluates spiritual gifts as well as intellectual abilities” to help students choosing colleges.

Thompson Elementary in San Bernardino, California, suggests checking out the organization’s website for “parenting training.” Wren Elementary in Piedmont, South Carolina recommends Focus on the Family for advice about families and family protection. Centerville School District in Sand Coulee, Montana, provides “parent information” in the form of a link to Citizen Link, the local Focus on the Family affiliate, explaining the group is “a family advocacy organization that inspires men and women to live out biblical citizenship that transforms culture.”