Over the next two days the Pennsylvania House Education Committee will be holding hearings on the proposed statewide private school voucher program here in Philadelphia. Such voucher programs would take necessary funding away from the public schools and funnel such funds to religious institutions of indoctrination. This program is a violation of the principle of Separation of Church and State.
The Freethought, Humanist, and Atheist community generally value strengthening the educational opportunities for everyone. Quite a few of the Philadelphia based atheist groups host educational lectures of a variety of subjects, but that can never replace a well-funded public school system. Studies conducted in Cleveland, the District of Columbia, and Milwaukee have shown that the voucher program has no improvement on student academic achievement.
In addition, private and religious alternatives to public schools are free to discriminate against students and faculty for religious and non-religious reasons. They are also not required to abide by Title IX or the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The school voucher program is a way to get around Constitutional protections on student rights.
The hearing is open to the public and this Examiner encourages those who support the Separation of Church and State to attend and voice your opinion. Click HERE for more times and location.
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