Liberty Counsel sent a demand letter to Greenfield Public Schools to cease its unlawful discrimination in failing to approve the application of Providence Christian Academy because of its religious mission using a Christian school curriculum. School Committee Member Elizabeth Ann de Neeve is using her position to publicly voice her personal beliefs, and to falsely misrepresent the Christian school and the Abeka curriculum it intends to use.
Instead of approving the church school’s application at the committee meeting on July 12, 2023, de Neeve made unlawful and false comments such as: “In the Abeka textbook America: Land I Love, Satan is blamed for the spread of the theory of evolution and modern psychology; it is taught in the ‘Civil War’ section that black slavery was just cheaper than indentured servitude, and slaves were immigrants.”
De Neeve continued using her position to voice her public opposition to the Christian school with a July 25 post on her Facebook page, stating:
“I am calling for action because this private school is using a controversial creationist curriculum called Abeka, which is associated with nationally-funded right-wing Christian groups and teaches students a very different view of the world from what’s taught in the rest of Greenfield’s public and private schools.”
De Neeve encourages her Facebook followers to write the school committee, education secretary, and tell friends and neighbors to oppose the approval of this Christian school.
Providence Christian Academy, which is affiliated with Providence Moldovian Baptist Church, has provided all pertinent information that the Greenfield School Committee requested, in accordance with Massachusetts law. The school will use the Abeka Christian school curriculum which is accredited by the Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools.
Greenfield School Committee will hold a special remote meeting tonight at 6 p.m. Included on the agenda is: “Vote to approve Providence Christian Academy.”
Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, “School Committee Member Elizabeth Ann de Neeve must cease her hostile, false, and unlawful anti-Christian tirade against Providence Christian Academy and the Christian curriculum it intends to use. She should be removed from her position and the Christian school approved immediately.”
