Emile Lester

Professor of Political Science and International Affairs University of Mary Washington

Fredericksburg VA

Dr. Lester is an expert in church and state issues, especially controversies surrounding teaching religion in schools.

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Spotlight

Nov 5, 2018

1 min

Can white evangelicals still swing the midterms?

Evangelicals overwhelmingly voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 election. And they overwhelmingly prefer Republican candidates in the midterms. They’re also reliable voters -and support for Trump among white evangelicals remained at an all-time high with just days to go. Democrats, on the other hand, will rely on a less-certain electorate of young and diverse voters. This could make the difference in Tuesday's outcome. “Social conservatives could swing important races across the country if other voters don’t turn out in the numbers Democrats are hoping for,” writes Dylan Scott on Vox.com, which called white evangelicals “the sleeping giant of the midterms.” Still, according to The New York Times: “Young evangelicals are questioning the typical ties between evangelicalism and Republican politics. Many said it had caused schisms within their families. And many described a real struggle with an administration they see as hostile to immigrants, Muslims, L.G.B.T.Q. people, and the poor. They feel it reflects a loss of humanity, which conflicts with their spiritual call.” Emile Lester, assistant professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington, is an expert in religion and politics whose research published by the First Amendment Center has been featured in The New York Times, The American Interest, USA Today and on C-Span, NPR and various other media outlets around the nation. Emile is available to speak with reporters about the political behavior of evangelical Christian voters. Just click on his icon to arrange an interview.

Feb 26, 2018

2 min

Misleading our children – is revisionist history harming the education of our nation’s students?

It’s astounding and almost as if it’s a scene from a movie – meddling, mid-level politicians trying to revise and alter curriculums to ensure children in classrooms are only getting certain points of few and perspectives when it comes to key moments in American history. It’s a level of petty-propaganda usually associated with paranoid regimes in far-away countries. But these days, it’s a homegrown problem. In Texas, the state Board of Education is being slammed for altering facts, twisting perspectives and intentionally omitting moments in history from it’s curriculum. According to USA Today, “The state is considering revisions to the 2010 standards, which a group of academics slammed in a report Thursday. Among their complaints: lessons downplaying slavery as the Civil War's cause, exaggerating the influence of Moses on U.S. democracy and applauding the National Rifle Association and Newt Gingrich's Contract with America. "The quibble over wording here could not be more misleading," said Emile Lester, a report co-author and political science professor at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia.” So how does this happen and how is it allowed in modern America? And how common is this throughput the country? Is it a matter of too much power in the hands of those with an agenda or a reflection on an education system in a sate of neglect by elected officials? There are a ton of questions that need to be asked. That’s where an expert from at the University of Mary Washington can help. Dr. Emile Lester, associate professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington, an expert in church and state issues is available to speak with media regarding this issue. Simply click on Emile’s icon to arrange an interview. Source:

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Biography

Historically inaccurate and biased social studies textbooks will likely end up in high school classrooms nationwide after they were adopted by the Texas State Board of Education in 2014. That’s the opinion of Emile Lester, associate professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington, an expert in church and state issues.

Dr. Lester, who reviewed the proposed textbooks at the request of a Texas watchdog agency, testified before the Texas Board of Education that the high school textbooks contained widespread errors and prejudices--including information that weakens the separation of church and state, minimizes how violence was used to spread Christianity and gives biased portrayals of Muslims and Islam. Despite his testimony, the Texas State Board of Education adopted the textbooks, a decision that could have national impact. Since Texas is a large purchaser of textbooks, these books will likely wind up in schools across the nation.

In other research Dr. Lester found that high school students who take a course in world religions are more tolerant of those who worship differently. A 2006 study, which he co-authored, considered the effects of the unique Modesto, Calif., public school requirement that all high school students take an extended course on world religions. His report, published by the First Amendment Center, finds support that this knowledge breeds support for the rights of others, provides a fuller appreciation for shared moral values among world religions, and does not encourage a change in the students’ own religious convictions. His findings received the attention of The New York Times, C-SPAN and USA Today, National Public Radio, and Voice of America.

Author of "Teaching About Religions: A Democratic Approach for Public Schools," Dr. Lester served on the Newseum panel, “Does GOD Make a Difference? Taking religion seriously in schools and universities” and was a featured panelist at the “God in American National Symposium on Religious Literary” hosted by PBS and the Pew Forum on Religion in Public Life. He also participated in a national symposium titled “Public Schools, Religion, and the First Amendment” in New York to promote conversation on how public schools, religion, and the First Amendment intersect.

Dr. Lester's new book, "Liberalism and Leadership," reevaluates the views of Arthur Schlesinger, the great liberal thinker, and the implications that President Obama's legacy has for Democrats, especially Joe Biden.

Areas of Expertise

Teaching Religion in Schools

Minority Religious Groups

Political Philosophy

American Constitutional Law

Church and State Issues

Education

University of Virginia

Ph.D.

Government and Foreign Affairs

2000

London School of Economics

M.Sc.

Political Theory

1996

George Washington University

B.A.

Government

1995

Affiliations

Religion and Education (Journal) : Editorial Board

Media Appearances

Liberalism and Leadership (With Good Reason)

With Good Reason online

2020-11-02

Emile Lester says Schlesinger’s work can teach us a lot about what makes a successful liberal presidency.

After public outcry, Texas unlikely to ax references to ‘heroism’ of Alamo defenders from history curriculum

Dallas News.com; Herald-Mail Media.com online

2018-09-17

"I appreciate history is complicated," Emile Lester, a political science professor from the University of Mary Washington, told the board when he spoke in favor of removing the reference to Moses. "But sometimes right is right and wrong is wrong."

Texas Board Of Education To Vote On Social Studies Curriculum

Red River Radio online

2018-09-17

Emile Lester explained “For example TEKS 1C of the high school government course asks students to view Moses as a major influence on our founding documents.

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Articles

Learning about world religions in Modesto, California: The promise of teaching tolerance in public schools

Politics and Religion

2011-01-01

After cultural and religious controversy in Modesto, Calif., community leaders attempted to increase tolerance and respect by requiring a unique world religions course
for high school students. The first large-n empirical study of the effect of teaching about ...

How teaching world religions brought a truce to the culture wars in Modesto, California

British Journal of Religious Education

2009-01-01

Despite a growing consensus among scholars and activists about the importance of religion,
proposals for teaching about it have often been a source of division rather than unity in
American public school districts. Faced with familiar cultural conflicts, Modesto, California, ...

A More Neutral Liberal Education: Why Not Only Liberals, But Religious Conservatives Should Endorse Comparative Religious Education in Public Schools

Polity

2007-01-01

If we value religious tolerance and autonomy, we must breach the silence about
religion in public schools, and add a comparative religious education to the compulsory
curriculum at the high school level. This education would expose students to a variety of ...