Posted by:
summer
(
)
Date: February 21, 2024 05:34PM
"Unlicensed, volunteer religious chaplains would be allowed to serve in Utah’s public schools under a bill advanced by a Utah House committee on Tuesday afternoon. But critics worry allowing religion to have a role in public education could be unconstitutional and harm students. HB514 from Rep. Keven Stratton, R-Orem, requires local school boards to inform the State Board of Education whether they are interested in using volunteer chaplains by Sept. 30, 2024. Local boards must also hold a vote on whether they will allow chaplains by Sept. 30. 2025. It would be up to individual local boards to set requirements and guidelines for school chaplains, including qualifications, duties, parental consent and oversight....
....Critics worry that Stratton’s proposal allows religious groups to proselytize to students. The bill does not prohibit volunteer chaplains from evangelizing in schools, as those policies would be left to individual school boards."
https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2024/02/21/unlicensed-volunteer-chaplains/________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
This is similar to a bill that was passed in Texas, and to me represents an undesirable intrusion of religion into the public schools. It could also potentially bypass safeguards in place for students such as requiring school personnel to get background checks and mandatory reporter training.