Pastors for Texas Children Luncheon Held at FBC Grapeland
By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter
GRAPELAND – A luncheon, organized by Grapeland ISD Superintendent Gregg Spivey, was held at the First Baptist Church – Grapeland Life Center on Monday, May 1. The purpose of the luncheon was to provide area school administrators and public officials an opportunity to learn about the Pastors for Texas Children (PTC) organization and to receive a report on the 85th Texas Legislature, currently in session.
Spivey opened the luncheon and expressed his main reason for organizing the noon time function was his feeling “… of a greater sense of urgency to help people, especially children in our area. If we are ever going to do something, we need to start. People all over talk a good game about doing this or doing that, but somebody has to do it.”
Following the meal, the superintendent introduced PTC founder Rev. Charles Foster Johnson as the luncheon’s keynote speaker.
According to the organization’s website, Johnson founded PTC in 2013, “… a statewide ecumenical organization mobilizing the faith community for public education ministry and advocacy. He is a frequent preacher and speaker in university, church, business, education, and non-profit circles. He has written for numerous publications, and has made guest appearances on several cable network news shows. He is involved in civic and
denominational life, including the Mentor Pastor faculty at Perkins School of Theology, SMU and the Board of Trustees of Brite Divinity School, TCU.”
As Johnson delved into the heart of his presentation, he said there were over 1,100 school districts in the state of Texas. The reason for this was because of the desire most Texans have for local control.
He said during the course of his ministerial career he had been asked to become an advocate for public education in 2007.
When he asked what the advocacy role entailed, Johnson said he was informed it would be a few visits to Austin to lobby lawmakers in support of public education.
“That was in 2007, and boy, did I get an awakening. I learned of things in our beloved state that are just wrong. I learned there are legislators in Austin who do not believe in public education,” he said.
The minister said the state legislative districts served by State Sen. Robert Nichols and State Rep. Trent Ashby were well served because both believed in the public education system.
“I take no pleasure in telling you,” Johnson cautioned, “We have Senate members and a few House members who do not believe in public education for all children.”
He indicated the school property taxes paid by Grapeland residents often went to pay for other state budgetary items and not for education.
“I learned we are 46th in the nation in per pupil spending in public education. I thought we were part of the ‘Texas Miracle,’ a vibrant and prosperous state economically. Still, we are near the bottom in the investment we make in public education and yet we are still doing a phenomenal job educating our students. We have one of the highest graduation rates in the country and we are doing it on a shoestring budget,” he said.
Johnson reported after his first trip to Austin, he came back and informed those who had asked him to speak with the legislators there were significant problems in Austin pertaining to the public education system.
One area mentioned by the minister was a complete disregard for the Texas Constitution which expressly provides for state funding of public education. He indicated the monies taken from the public schools were funneled to private schools, but as a result, over time the private schools would became beholden to government funding and the stipulations that accompanied it.
As his presentation drew to close, Johnson encouraged those in attendance to contact their area state senators and representatives to speak up for public education.
He also encouraged the local clergy to look into joining PTC as a means of providing strength in numbers.
The organization’s mission statement, according to Johnson, was “… to provide ‘wrap-around’ care and ministry to local schools, principals, teachers, staff and schoolchildren, and to advocate for children by supporting our free, public education system, to promote social justice for children, and to advance legislation that enriches Texas children, families, and communities.”
Will Johnson may be reached via e-mail at [email protected].
