I do think that passing out permission slips IN class to something (anything) OUTSIDE of class is wrong. The school should not be doing that, and probably is violating some rule when they do.

There IS a rule about having to have a slip, in most schools, to skip taking the bus, or to take a bus other than one;s usual to go home with a pal, but the slip is for the contracted bus company to deal with risk management, I believe.

A note like that is supposed to come from the parent, directly, not via an activity that requires staying.

In other words, part of what sounds messed up here, as far as boundaries and separation go, is that the school has been "helping" with Good News Club publicity.

The "draw" to join it should happen outside of school entirely, via community publicity, just like other activities, unless the club is motivated by students starting it on their own, which I think unlikely. Students should have freedom of speech to invite friends to come, and use print materials to do it if they wish, but the teachers should not be involved in xeroxing and distributing the flyers or slips.

I know Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts, etc. usually get "school dispensation" to distribute stuff in class, but in that case they supply their own paper and teachers as a rule hate doing it, from what teaching friends have shared with me, because it is ONE MORE THING. But it is really supposed to be school biz only.

And that, IMO, is an entirely winnable fight that should be undertaken-- but only if people at the local level want to fight it, and if it's OK with them, then it should not be our biz.

~Susan