Lawmakers in more than a dozen states have proposed legislation to allow spiritual chaplains in public schools, a move that proponents say will ease a youth mental health crisis, bolster staff retention and offer spiritual care to students who can’t afford or access religious schools.
Conservatives also argue religious foundations will act as a “rescue mission” for what they say are public schools’ declining values, a topic that has galvanized Republican-controlled Legislatures to fight for issues such as parental oversight of curriculum, restrictions on books and instruction on gender identity and state-funded tuition assistance for private and religious schools.
But many chaplains and interfaith organizations oppose the chaplaincy campaign, calling the motivation offensive and describing the dangers of introducing a position of authority to children without clear standards or boundaries.
“Lawmakers”, huh AP? That’s your take is it? Kind of a “both sides” implication eh.
AP, cut the shit. Stop being republiQan toadies and stand up for truth for once.
As someone who has been forced to have a chaplain around, they are usually great people that are very uplifting. Absolutely no need for the religious part though. Until there is a true non denominational “chaplain” which is really just a counselor with extra privilege, you will alienate people who feel you can be, and do good things without any need for a sky daddy. All I wanted was someone to listen and maybe offer some advice, please don’t bring your millennia+ worth of baggage to the conversation.
You ever notice that all these headlines say “Lawmakers want” and “Politicians want” and virtually never say “Voters want”?
It’s almost like maybe it’s an Us vs Them thing?
It also often doesn’t say which lawmakers. Not even what party they belong to. And it’s usually the same party every time…
Fucking 2024 and they are still trying to get weirdos to tell children about their imaginary sky friend. Anything else on the news today? Did some country build a big pyramid out of rocks or another one all excited about this new metal called bronze or another one predicting the future by reading dead animal organs?
Schools: We need more qualified therapists for kids because social media, gun violence, climate change are destroying kids mental health.
Conservatism: We can’t solve any problems but how can we turn this thing into an authority position for weirdos and pedophiles?
If they actually cared about student mental health they would hire mental health professionals or improve training and requirements for councilors, if they cared about staff retention they would provide better compensation and benefits for staff.
But they care about neither students nor staff, they just want an excuse to preach in government organizations to further erode the separation of organized religion and public service leading to shit like political cults and theocrats.
Conservatism is a threat to humanity and should be openly treated as such.
I was deprived of a school psychologist. Australia has been giving these religious nutjobs free reign for decades now.
