Doris Lederer, Ph.D. | Paradise Valley
I was shocked to read that religious zealots in the Arizona House have passed SB 1269, a bill that would allow chaplains in public schools.
In 2024, the non-partisan Consumer Affairs ranked Arizona the worst state in the country for public education. As a result of low funding, Arizona has low reading and math scores, low graduation rates and the highest pupil-to-teacher ratio in the country.
Our Republican-controlled state Legislature’s answer to this problem? More God! Never mind that those who want more God in their children’s lives can apply for ESA’s of $7,000 per child and send them to religion-based schools, our state government wants to impose its religious beliefs on everyone!
Separation of church and state is enshrined in our Constitution, a document which omits any mention of a god or deity. This was intentional. The framers wanted the government to be secular, thereby protecting religious freedom for all. In fact, many of our founders would probably be considered atheists today.
For proponents of this bill to argue otherwise is disingenuous and self-serving. The precise words “separation of church and state” may not be in the Constitution (neither is “fair trial”), but the guaranteed right to religious freedom is.
SB 1269 is not the solution for what ails Arizona’s failing public schools. It is dangerous. If students are suffering from drug issues or psychological problems, they don’t need the attention of someone who “acknowledges the existence of and worships one or more supernatural entities that possess power over the natural world.” They need trained professionals. They also need smaller classes with more emphasis on math, science, literature and history.
If our state representatives are truly interested in the well-being of our public school students, they should focus on that. Parents can address religion.
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