God's Not Dead 2 Read Free

years. Voted teacher of the year last year.”
    Len’s pudgy face looks up at me with a sort of aha glance. I nod and grin but am not sure exactly what I’m reacting to.
    “She was in class talking about Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. and then casually slipped in a Bible verse and some thoughts on the Christian faith.”
    “What sort of thoughts?” I ask.
    Len finds another sheet on his desk and hands it to me. “This is the initial text one of the students sent out.”
    I look at the photocopied sheet that shows a reproduction of a series of texts going back and forth.
    Ms. Wesley just said something like Jesus is the spirit and Gandhi is the method.
    Why are you texting in class?
    Obviously the return message was coming from a parent.
    I’m just saying, is this class or church?
    What did she say?
    She said something about Jesus saying in the Gospel of Matthew love everybody and be in heaven and shake it off.
    Did she really say all that?
    Not the Taylor Swift song. But yeah.
    “This student sounds really offended,” I say.
    “We know the kid   —he’s just a goof. But his mom put this nice post on Facebook, and it only took an hour before it began to explode.”
    He hands me another printout, this one of a Facebook page. There’s the typical random thought with a lengthy list of comments below it.
    Can’t believe my son’s junior history teacher is talking about Jesus and the Gospel of Matthew in her class. #OversteppingBoundaries
    “Don’t people realize that Facebook isn’t the proper venue for hashtags?” I ask, trying for comedy.
    Len looks at me like I just sang the Danish national anthem. In Danish. I keep scanning the page and read some of the comments.
    Was this Ms. Wesley?
    Did Zack send this to you?
    There’s nothing wrong with talking about Jesus he was a historical figure what’s wrong with that?
    Church/State lookitup
    I give the page back to Len. “So she got suspended over this?”
    “About twenty comments down, there’s one that stands out. Just reads, in all caps, ‘ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE.’ One of those parents we just love .”
    “And what did the teacher say?”
    “She admitted everything. Said she gave an answer to a question involving the teachings of Jesus. But said it was within the context of the lesson she was teaching.”
    “How long ago did this happen?” I ask.
    “A couple of weeks ago. The wheels have been turning since then. The superintendent and the school attorney got involved. The board pushed it to the AEA and it got to me. We tried to work with the parents and the teacher, but neither backed down. So that’s why you’re here.”
    “And as always, Len, I’m grateful to be here.”
    He laughs. “Yeah. I know you just love slumming it out with big cases like this.”
    “No. My partner is the one I’m slumming with.” I’m only half joking.
    Len just nods. He’s met the other half of my firm. “So how is Roger doing?”
    “He’s the same old Roger.”
    “And that’s why I always come back to the same old Tom with cases like this.”
    “The teacher has to approve of me representing her,” I remind him.
    He scratches the back of his head, endangering what little hair he has left. “Yeah. But come on. Who would say no to Thomas Endler, attorney-at-law?”
    “You’re starting to sound like my father.”
    “Oh, come on. Listen   —so when can we schedule a time for you to meet with Ms. Wesley?”
    “Well, I can’t meet tonight for dinner,” I tell him.
    “Big date?”
    I look at him and let out a sigh. “Actually, yes, though I’m not sure if I’d call it ‘big.’”
    “Do you want to send me a report after the fact?” he says with another laugh.
    “Yes. You will be the first one I think of when the date is over.”
    “I’ll find some times she’s available. Here’s the thing, though, Tom. This might make some news. Do you mind being in the center of a potential media circus?” His expression has changed into the serious