Kentucky Senate Passes Religious Expression in Schools Bill

[rug]

Feb 14, 2017
Written by Don Byrd

Late last week, the Kentucky State Senate passed SB 17, a bill advocates claim will bolster the religious freedom rights of students and teachers in public schools. Among other things, the measure permits students to “engage in religious activities in a public school” and “express religious viewpoints in… assignments.” The bill also protects the right of student religious groups to use school facilities and other school resources to the same extent that nonreligious groups have access.

The bill appears to have arisen in response to a school play controversy. In December, 2015, to avoid improperly promoting religion, Kentucky’s Johnson County schools required the removal of religious references during a public school production of “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” State Senators also tried to address the issue last year with similar legislation.

While proponents believe the bill guarantees religious expression is protectied, critics argue SB 17 is not necessary. Student religious expression is, after all, robustly protected by the First Amendment. The law, they say, could lead to confusion and an increase in costly legal disputes.

You can read the bill, which now goes to the State House for consideration, here.

http://www.lrc.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/17RS/SB17/bill.pdf

http://bjconline.org/kentucky-senate-passes-religious-expression-in-schools-bill-021317/

[Zoonart]

1. Marching Backwards

[rug]

9. That is a great speech.

[tonyt53]

2. As a Kentuckian, I am deeply embarrassed by what we have turned in to

We are heading down the same path as KS. People stayed home and didn't vote for governor, and we got the shithead that we now have. They voted against anything and everything Democrat last November, and this is what we have now.

That thing mentioned about Johnson County Schools goes a heck of a lot deeper than it appears on the surface. Additional lines were added to make it more "religious" than is originally was supposed to be. The thumpers wanted to slide in more religion and were caught.

The weird part of this is, there are churches that rent space on community college campuses for Sunday church services. Many school systems will rent their gymnasiums to religion affiliated groups for whatever purposes they choose. Been this way for years. This bill aims to now make religious shaming part of the school day. All school systems allow students to pray as long as it doesn't interfere with the classroom. Many high schools have students that gather every morning for a group prayer. Yep, religious shaming is now legal in Kentucky schools, as if some of the schools aren't shitty enough.

[rug]

8. Don't be. Like most places, politicians in Kentucky are exploiting division to maintain power.

[procon]

3. Sneaking around the Constitution does not make religion indoctrination legal. nt

[DK504]

6. Right.

"The bill also protects the right of student religious groups to use school facilities and other school resources to the same extent that nonreligious groups have access. "

This sounds rather unconstitutional to me.

[msongs]

4. so anti-religion people can now do the same things the religion mob can do. nice nt

[rug]

5. See post 3.

[angrychair]

7. All rise

Welcome to the first meeting of our high school Satanic Church of the Eternal Darkness...let us fall to our knees and praise our dark lord Satan...