Michael Landon apparently realized that just because a non-profit organization, a nursery school operated by a church, in this particular episode of this fine show, are separate from the particular church itself, unless stated otherwise. Believe it or not, there are Christian churches out there, that do operate non-profits not as proselytizing devices. Mike, correctly though that the trend at that time and its true today was to convert these organizations into indoctrination facilities, rather than charities of love and tolerance. Even the dialog is accurate. For example, when the stiff shows up and says, "Ah, Mark! Fine Christian name." and Mark replies, "Mm. Well, I was named after Mark Twain, wrote Huckelberry Finn." Almost exactly something I heard today in real life. It reminds me of the message from a season one episode "Child of God". Particularly the line, "A man once asked me, would I rather face an Atheist with a gun or a Christian? Of course, I told him I would rather face neither. But you see what the man was really saying was that because the one man said he was a Christian, and the other man was an Atheist, is that because the one man said he was a Christian that automatically made him better than the man who said he was an Atheist. Is that true? Or is that just a judgment?
5 Reviews
Could have been handled more realistically
jarrodmcdonald-129 November 2016
Warning: Spoilers
This episode is frustrating to watch. The idea is interesting and it's certainly worth exploring on a television show. But there are several fundamental flaws with the way the story is written, to the point where the implausibilities almost mute the sincere message about tolerance and acceptance that is intended by the author(s).
One major problem is that all the teachers know they have signed on to work at a school that is run by a pastor. It would be very naive of them not to think Christianity would be the norm in this particular environment. Christian sensibilities would already inform the school's policies and overall mission statement, even before the board clarified the language on such policies. Also, I sincerely doubt the teachers could be forced out mid-year, as they would be under a contract for the duration of the current academic calendar.
There are other problems. When several of them walk off, in what amounts to a strike, we have scenes where Jonathan, Mark and the pastor visit classrooms without teachers. There is no way this would be allowed to happen. Parent volunteers and other substitutes would be there helping, until the new teachers arrived; and the kids would be put into other rooms with the teachers that hadn't walked off. Or else the board would temporarily close the school until a deal could be reached to get all the teachers back on the job.
I think the scene where some of them decided to walk off was very unrealistic. While most staff members would sympathize with the non-Christian teachers being given an ultimatum, they would not just support them blindly for the sake of principle. They have bills to pay, spouses who would tell them to keep working, etc. So while the issue about non-Christian teachers working in a Christian school is an interesting one to examine on a program of this nature, the way it was done in this episode seems fairly contrived and almost undermines the good intentions that Landon and his scriptwriter had in mind.
I do have to say there is some good comic relief where Mark makes faces with a kid on the playground and goofs around with some of the others. Victor French was born to do that kind of stuff, and it's fun to watch. It's too bad the rest of the episode wasn't as great.
One major problem is that all the teachers know they have signed on to work at a school that is run by a pastor. It would be very naive of them not to think Christianity would be the norm in this particular environment. Christian sensibilities would already inform the school's policies and overall mission statement, even before the board clarified the language on such policies. Also, I sincerely doubt the teachers could be forced out mid-year, as they would be under a contract for the duration of the current academic calendar.
There are other problems. When several of them walk off, in what amounts to a strike, we have scenes where Jonathan, Mark and the pastor visit classrooms without teachers. There is no way this would be allowed to happen. Parent volunteers and other substitutes would be there helping, until the new teachers arrived; and the kids would be put into other rooms with the teachers that hadn't walked off. Or else the board would temporarily close the school until a deal could be reached to get all the teachers back on the job.
I think the scene where some of them decided to walk off was very unrealistic. While most staff members would sympathize with the non-Christian teachers being given an ultimatum, they would not just support them blindly for the sake of principle. They have bills to pay, spouses who would tell them to keep working, etc. So while the issue about non-Christian teachers working in a Christian school is an interesting one to examine on a program of this nature, the way it was done in this episode seems fairly contrived and almost undermines the good intentions that Landon and his scriptwriter had in mind.
I do have to say there is some good comic relief where Mark makes faces with a kid on the playground and goofs around with some of the others. Victor French was born to do that kind of stuff, and it's fun to watch. It's too bad the rest of the episode wasn't as great.
Great episode
hitlersra28 June 2020
Pretty nonsensical
renata7726 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This episode takes the controversy about teaching religion in school to an entirely new level. It demonizes a Christian church funded school board for (gasp!) requiring that the school teach of all things, Christianity, and that the teachers be Christian. Of course, the leader of the board is a sanctimonious buffoon. The characterization implies there is something inherently wrong with a church funded school following the principles of Christianity, which is ridiculous.
First of all, a church-sponsored school would have a charter outlining a statement of faith and principles at the outset, which would inform the hiring practices and purpose of the school, one of which would be teaching principles of Christianity. To imply this is somehow evil and intolerant is ridiculous.
In the story, the board leader says flat out that those teachers not having Christian faith should be dismissed, but this soon is twisted into "Why do I have to deny my own faith to keep my job?" That was not what was being asked. Also, somehow this policy leads to students being dismissed as well.
Of course, something like this happening in the middle of a school year would be wrong, but that situation would never happen in the first place, as the teachers would have already been Christian.
There is nothing wrong with any parochial school, of any faith, teaching its students the basis of that faith. That's freedom of religion.
First of all, a church-sponsored school would have a charter outlining a statement of faith and principles at the outset, which would inform the hiring practices and purpose of the school, one of which would be teaching principles of Christianity. To imply this is somehow evil and intolerant is ridiculous.
In the story, the board leader says flat out that those teachers not having Christian faith should be dismissed, but this soon is twisted into "Why do I have to deny my own faith to keep my job?" That was not what was being asked. Also, somehow this policy leads to students being dismissed as well.
Of course, something like this happening in the middle of a school year would be wrong, but that situation would never happen in the first place, as the teachers would have already been Christian.
There is nothing wrong with any parochial school, of any faith, teaching its students the basis of that faith. That's freedom of religion.
Bad message
broncojack-2366310 June 2021
I have enjoyed Highway to Heaven for many years but I must say this episode is very disappointing. However this does show that Hollywood was already teaching the anti Christian hate message by making it look like Christianity is bigoted. When you watch this episode and realize that they're trying to teach you that a Christian school has no right to teach Christian values it is mid boggling .What is a Christian school supposed to teach if not Christian values and one would expect the teachers to hold to those values also or else it would not be a Christian school Here's a thought, if you don't want your children to learn about Christianity then don't send them to a Christian school. Its called public school. Very disappointed in this episode and the terrible message it sends.
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