Iowa policy puts religion in school

July 9, 6:09 PMPortland Humanist ExaminerMicha J. Stone

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In Iowa officials are proposing a policy that will put religion back in the public school. The school board in Spencer, Iowa is proposing a sweeping policy change. A change that will sanction prayer at graduation exercises and other extra-curricular activities, allow for the distribution of religious materials on school grounds, and allow the employee (e.g. teachers) expression of personal religious beliefs. In addition, the school district wants religion in the curriculum, mandating two classes: "The Bible in History and Literature" and "Critic of Darwinism, a scientific approach".

The proposal, "Religious Liberty at Spencer Community Schools", if adopted, paves a road to school-sponsored evangelizing. While it is possible the officials may have good intentions, the actual proposal is a blatant endorsement of Christian beliefs. If school sanctioned prayer and the allowance for distribution of religious materials on school grounds is not enough evidence for religious bias, than mandating two classes, Bible Study and a pseudo-science class challenging evolution, simply fails to pass the smell test. Add to that list "the employee expression of personal religious beliefs" (e.g. How Mr. Brown the Phys. Ed. teacher "got Jesus") and the proposal becomes a first amendment land mine. Why would any public school policy encourage teachers sharing their religious beliefs with students?

The proposal claims to be a "recognition of both the Establishment clause, and the Free Practice clause of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution". Yet this is more than free practice, this is mandated and enforced practice. If you want to graduate, you must pray; If you want to play sports, you must pray, (or at least pretend to pray and/or be forced to suffer the superstitious non-sense of others); In class you must listen to your teachers testimonial if they choose to share...

The policy proposal is simply abhorrent. Those making and endorsing the proposal are way out of line. It seems clear their goal is to endorse or advance a religious belief, Christianity. As such it will surely fail any legal challenge. And it should. Indeed, where are the parents of Spencer, Iowa? Where are the defenders of reason and free thought? Where is the outrage?

 File download: Read the proposal: "Religious Liberty at Spencer Community Schools" (Word document)