Americans United reports on two – not one but two – bills under discussion in the Alabama legislature proposing a government establishment of religion.
One egregious bill, HB 318, would require public school teachers to recite prayers each morning at the beginning of school. Proponents of this bill have tried to create the illusion of constitutionality by specifying that the prayers must be the same ones recited by the United States Congress.
That’s quite a massive step up – from allowing to requiring.
HB 281 claims to allow religious student expression in public school classrooms, but actually is unnecessary and potentially harmful. Students can already observe their religion as long as it isn’t coercive or disrupt the school’s educational mission and activities.
HB 281 crosses that line. If passed, it would allow students to use the classroom to proselytize to fellow students. The bill doesn’t differentiate between personal observance, which is allowable, and outward promotion and proselytization of religion, which is blatantly unconstitutional.
Again, students are a captive audience required to be in school by law.
Well yes but that’s why. It’s such a golden opportunity to force religion on people whether they want it or not.