Where Will Public Funding of Religious Schools Take Us


Where the state where I live, our Baptist Governor and big Republican majority passed a bill without hearings that gives money to students to spend on any school they or their parents wish. Several Republican governors with Republican legislatures have passed such bills. It goes without saying most of the non public schools in this state or any state are religious schools. Left unresolved is whether there will be education standards in the future and, if there are, what will they be.

While we are all aware of Catholic and Protestant sponsored schools, I don't think we can assume these are the only alternatives that will exist going forward. Today I read about the "Trump cult", the QAnon group. According to the article, this group believes sincerely Trump is a god or god-like figure. The article describes his fans as "all-consuming for Trump."

What one wonders, then, is whether a group like this could start elementary schools across the country that focus on the Wonders of Trump. President's pictures are in all of our Post Offices. Trump's pictures would be in every classroom. The history of the 2020 election might be featured explaining why Trump actually won and Biden is an illegal President. A field trip would be marching at the local Capitol with signs about "The Steal."

I've always thought those trying to put Christianity into government as naive. They do not seem to realize that when they are given a pass to get into the public treasury or into laws others will come along soon to do the same. Certainly, liberal parents may start additional private liberal schools. What would be more harmful the conservative Christians, however, would be brands of conservative Christianity more appealing than their own. A school that teaches Trump is Jesus' favorite might be one of them.

 While I'm in favor of good public schools for all children. Parents who are religious can teach religion in homes and churches. Yet, it may well be that the time of good public schools and the universal and equal opportunity they meant to achieve is gone in many parts of the U. S. Some areas do not support them with tax money. Others want to shoehorn many different views into every classroom. It makes the future of education precarious. 

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