Across the country, there have been efforts to publicly fund early child education programs – usually with taxpayer money. But should preschools with explicitly religious views be able to receive this funding?
We may be about to get an answer; a Christian preschool is suing the state of Colorado over the state’s refusal to grant them taxpayer funds in the state’s new Universal Pre-K program (UPK).
School officials say the organization deserves access to funding and insist that they are being discriminated against for their religious beliefs.
However, the state argues that the school’s hiring practices – which require all employees to identify as evangelical Christians and uphold biblical views on marriage – preclude the school from receiving taxpayer funding.
The school has filed a lawsuit, and the case is now headed for court.
Here's what you need to know.
Check Please
The Darren Patterson Christian Academy, a private preschool in Chaffee County, Colorado, says they’re entitled to participate in the state’s new universal preschool program, which will ensure every preschool-aged child in the state at least 15 hours of preschool per week.
State funds are doled out to participating schools, often to the tune of thousands of dollars per student.
But the school’s application to participate in the program was recently denied, as was their request for religious exemption. Colorado’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission argued that they can’t grant public funds to schools that have discriminatory hiring practices.
The school reportedly requires all employees to sign a “lifestyle statement,” in which they must attest to being “born-again Christians” who agree with certain Christian principles, “including those that relate to restroom usage, pronouns, dress codes, and student housing during school expeditions and field trips.”
School faculty and staff must also agree to abstain from sex before marriage.
Legal experts agree that, as a private school, the school can impose whatever restrictions it chooses.
But is it also entitled to financial handouts from the federal government?
Funds For Fundamentalism
In its lawsuit, Darren Patterson Christian Academy argues that it is being iced out of funding simply because it requires employees to hold a particular faith. Officials say that being forced to either choose between joining UPK or surrender their religious principles is a First Amendment violation.
"The Supreme Court has said time and again, and across three recent cases, that the government cannot require religious institutions to give up their religious beliefs and exercise to participate in otherwise generally available government programs," argues an attorney representing the school.
The school's lawsuit clarifies that it makes no religious requirements for children; while it does hold moments of silence for daily prayer and offer Bible education classes, it does not actually require that students be Christian or hold Christian values – that rule only applies to staff.
But the state points to the service agreement between themselves and potential preschool providers, which states in part that providers “shall not discriminate against any person on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, education, disability, socio-economic status, or any other identity.”
The state says that the school cannot participate so long as their hiring practices remain.
What is your reaction? Does the school's religious discrimination argument hold weight, or should the separation of church and state take precedence?
89 comments
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Michael Holland
Nope, the children are private pay. Church and state should be seperate. If the parents dont want to pay send them to public schools like the rest of us!
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Canadian Yankee
No religious organization should have any government subsidy or finacial underwriting for any reason.
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Janis Carol Sommers
I think, we still have separation of church and state. And should funding be awarded to any school that is private pay? But, in this situation, an employee's religion is considered to be tied to their employment. No, Federal money cannot and should not be given to this school.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
You WISH we had separation of church and State. Prayer before sports events happens all the time and that’s just one example.
But I agree. An educated society is important. Tax dollars should go toward that education in the form of public schools. These funds are already cut to the bone and diverting funds to worship Mr. Magic shouldn’t happen.
Want to go to a private school, pay for a private school. Or homeschool. I only know one family that homeschooled their kids. I taught the father physics in high school. Religious family. Kids seem to be fine. But I can’t speak to homeschooling on a wider basis. I would like to see a reality show called ‘Homeschooling Maga-Style’. That would be a hoot.
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Michael Anton Goedeker
Wow Dr. Z. Worshiping Mr Magic. Can I use that line please ;-)
I agree private schools are by definition not public schools and no taxpayer can be forced to pay for someone's faith indoctrination, regardless of which religion that is. And there SHOULD be seperation between Church and State. Every country that has this is repressive by its very nature. Who decides which faith is more valid, me, you? I don't think so.
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Amber Fry
Esh... dang... Homeschooling mega style... now there's an image....
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Daniel Todd Kamm
If the organization is religiously based and affiliated with any church organization that does not pay taxes, they should not be dipping into the taxpayers' dollars. Tax the churches and then they might have a say.
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Echo
No. It's a direct violation of church and state. Now if you removed the church and religious portion then yes. But that would be public schools.
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James Riggle-Johnson
Aren’t private schools funded by the fees they charge to parents? Also, the school claims the children don’t have to be born again Christians, but if the employees of the school have to be, won’t that influence what the children are learning? Isn’t this indoctirination? Christians want it both ways. They want to discriminate based on their religion, but don’t want to be discriminated against based on their religion. No, I don’t think they should get tax payer funding, but my opinion won’t make the decision. The courts will and it will keep going up to the Supreme Court unless they get what they want. The conservative court will probably give them whatever they want.
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Amber Fry
They are supposed to be, that and funded partly by whatever church they are affiliated with which should have the money since it isn't taxed. They should know better than all that by now.
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Charles Leroy Good II
Here we go down the path of the death of public schools. My question is do these religious schools get to choose the students they want, or will they adhere strictly to state public school requirements and acceptance rules. This is not a good path to go down.
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Lionheart
Why should religious schools get any state funding for indoctrinating young minds that are not yet capable of critical thought, using logic and reason? Mentally abusing young children's minds with fantasy stories in an attempt to convince them its all real should never be funded.
What should be state funded is the therapy needed, later in life, to help them with their RTS (Religious Trauma Syndrome).
🦁❤️
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David Arthur Lewis
I think they call it "Grooming"...
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ServantOfJudgement
Why should any preschool get government funding? I don't think little Johnny can grasp the 68 genders yet. I haven't seen any skull tattoos and split tongues licking sharpened teeth in church daycare. The mugshots from secular daycare workers say it all. I wonder what little Susie will grow into when she becomes numb to demonic decorated teachers. Maybe a lizard lady? I won't judge, I'll just scratch my head. Could be worse I guess, Susie could have become someone who believes there's something greater and good in the world. That would be very irresponsible of her elderly black female native American mother who prefers to be recognized as a middle aged heterosexual Caucasian male. Still, I won't judge.
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Kenneth Lafe Eric Sanderson
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/religion/nearly-1-700-priests-clergy-accused-sex-abuse-are-unsupervised-n1062396
If you want more articles just like that one with more priests, just let me know.
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SueW
I must have missed the part where the Bible addresses the “Christian principles” of “restroom usage, pronouns, dress codes, and student housing during school expeditions and field trips.”
Can someone give me a citation please?
Short answer: are you freaking kidding me? I sent one child to private school, and held my nose at religious content I wasn’t all in with, because my child needed the smaller classes and structure. I never would have done that with a school that discriminated in any way, and I definitely don’t want my tax money going to those that do.
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Catherine
No.
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Brien
Do churches pay taxes? Religious schools are private organizations no matter how they try to hide it. So, which religion gets tax money? Who decides that? Maybe one of the zealot goobers should open a satanic pre school and apply for money. Again, who decides on brainwashed beliefs?
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
No.
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David Arthur Lewis
This is not a question of religion. It is a matter of law. "Freedom of religion" does not confer the freedom to discriminate, or the freedom to violate the law of the land. The school does not qualify for federal funds because they are a religious institution and therefore tax-exempt. The school does not qualify for state funding because of their discriminatory hiring practices. Sure they can sue, but they will lose. Funding religious discrimination is un-American and unconstitutional.
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Kenneth Lafe Eric Sanderson
What conservatives want, with their revisionist history and forbidding of any meaningful education of children, leaving them xenophobic and vulnerable, and particularly religious conservatives, who in addition want young children indoctrinated into their religion, is for YOU the taxpayer to pay for it.
That's what this is about. That's what the school voucher program is about. That's what the school curriculum battles and all the book banning is about.
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Russel A. Kester
I don't think it should get taxpayer money. I believe there was a case, possibly in Maine, that received taxpayer money for it's playground. I think that was reported here by the Monastery. That said, given other decisions made by the court's in Colorado, I think they court will say no. However, if it goes to the supreme court, it would probably be reversed in favor of the school because the supreme court as currently constituted has nine Catholic justices who consult the Catholic Catechism instead of the Constitution.
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Amber Fry
I think that will depend on if that playground will be a public access or strictly for the members of the church. It's a little sticky but a lot of public parks and playgrounds an be initiated by any group as long as it's part of the deal to be public.
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Tom Herman
How about we withhold our tax dollars by the amount that goes to a private religious institution? Public money should not go to a private religious school the tax payers have no control over, period.
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Ealdormon Piparskeggr Robinson
I think, NO.
No religion should be supported by tax dollars. As far as I am concerned, the only religious property, which should be tax exempt is the footage where the primary purpose is worship.
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Kenneth Robert Shaw
A Secular Nation. That means NO MONEY FOR ANY RELIGIOUS SCHOOL EVER. We are already going down that deep dangerous hole. Taxes? How about those like me with no children? Then if my tax money goes to a religion, why not no taxes for me to pay for any schools at all? Not fair of me to support what I don't need, want or believe in. School should not be about a fantasy belief. Can of worms. This is an old argument and the more the US supports religious schools, the further we get away from all of our fundamental rights for all to get a good education. Let people who want their children brainwashed by their specific religion pay what ever they want. Otherwise, wow, we get free education and that, this childless man, am happy to pay for. But religion is basically paying for fantasy education. Nope. Never. EVER. I am a Minister of people to marry and give counseling in an non denominational way. No fantasy should ever be paid for by a secular government. Take a good look at what happens to "Religious governments" and human rights. Yeah.
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Peter Senderowitz
No religious institutions should get our money nor should any of them get tax breaks. Let the Faithful dig into their own pockets if they want to keep their beliefs alive! Separation of Church and State my dears!
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Tecla Caryl Loup
No public funds should go to religious schools of any sort. Period.
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Sherrell K Zitting
Since the Moderator says that "the body of a post may not be more than 5,000 characters", I will post this in 3 parts:
PART 1
Throughout human history, the majority has always been wrong and perverse and godless. That is the nature of the fall of man. Is that to be rewarded, and the full-time discriminate worshipper of God punished? Obviously no.
All public schools have religious students and discourses and studies (as in geography curricula that studies the cultures and beliefs of the societies of the world), and they are publicly funded.
To be discriminate is obviously a virtue, to recognize a distinction or differentiate, as even babies can discriminate between different facial expressions of emotion. Is such discrimination a crime? Obviously no.
So, "should preschools with explicitly religious views be able to receive this funding? "
Again, no human or human government, in their right mind, would ever consider discrimination on the basis of race, age, views, beliefs, and so on. That is a direct violation of our very laws, both canon, statute, common, natural, and Constitutional law.
What is the rule of law on discrimination? Equality before the law is the principle that most embodies the concept of Rule of Law. It is paramount that the law guarantees the absence of any discrimination on grounds such as race, colour, sex, language, RELIGION, political opinion, national or social origin, birth etc. https://www.venice.coe.int › pages Rule of law - Venice Commission - The Council of Europe
I will take these one at a time:
Rev Kev says: "They have the right to discriminate based on their faith. But they also have to accept the consequences of their decision.
"That aside, I don't think teaching kiddies about a particular god is either a fundamental of education, nor is funding a religious school a specific or protected right explicitly listed in the Constitution. The freedom of religion is mentioned but that doesn't include government funding of schools. So I'm not sure where a "violation of Constitutional freedoms" comes into play here.
Sherrell Zitting See, they have that right to discriminate or to be discriminate, and the consequences of exercising a legal right is never to punish, for that would not protect a right, but just the opposite. It would punish the right, to deny funding equally before the law.
Teaching "kiddies" about their particular Creator is the very source of their education and of their very existence. That is the most fundamental aspect of the education of a religious school, and being a lawful right as you just confessed, it is not punishable by withholding the same support that godless schools receive. "The freedom of religion is mentioned" (Constitutionally), AND THEREFORE that does include funding, or else it would not be a recognized freedom (as you here have recognized and therefore must pay with your taxes, equally for ALL schools, all of our citizens before the law. To violate that is a blatant violation of their Constitutional freedoms which are recognized, and therefore not punished or denied support.
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Michael Anton Goedeker
God man what are you smoking????
This -> (as in geography curricula that studies the cultures and beliefs of the societies of the world) is by no means relgious training or teaching. That is history in a unbaised way of what different countries have had in the past. Christianity isn't even that old to be honest so your view that history is the same as a private religious school and by your illogical conclusion is the same as a relgious school is beyond idiotic to say that its completly flawed and a lie.
Christianity is said to have started with the crucifixtion(sp) of Jesus, that would be AD 30-34. But the beginings of that relgion go back much further to Babylonia and Summeria and further back via Shamaism and Animism systems more than 30,000 plus years ago. Christianity is not the only valid word of God so no you are wrong. No one will go to hell for saything that and No you are not the moral or Human voice of the Creator. Regardless of what fantasy you tell yourself at night or here or anywere else for that matter.
Every living being and awareness has a direct contact to Creator (my beliefe system) which has been arounf more than 30,000 + years longer than yours has and I am not dead, not going to hell and certainly not the devil.
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Sherrell K Zitting
PART 2 No Part 3
Charles Good says: Sherrell, someone is misleading you. Please check your facts and get back to us with your honest findings.
Sherrell Zitting I am back to you, and now you have the findings. Be Good.
Colleen McAllister says:
Sherrell K ""Zetting"" (come on girl, get it right), you are wrong. Our government should not be subsidizing religious organizations other than the existing tax breaks. And no publicly funded school should be teaching about God. That is best done at home or in church."
Sherrell ZITTING: The majority of students in public schools are religious, and they are subsidized. Your name says it all, Mc-ALL-is-ter. So now it IS your turn (is-ter) to accept and subsidizing ALL (Mc-all), since equality before the law is the principle that most embodies the concept of Rule of Law. It is paramount that the law guarantees the absence of any discrimination on grounds such as race, colour, sex, language, RELIGION, political opinion, national or social origin, birth etc. ALL publicly funded schools should be teaching about God (if only as elective curricula), for He is the very Creator and doer of all things, all people, all schools, all subsidy, equally.
Is. 45 5. I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
6. That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else.
7. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.
Teaching elective courses about God for all who elect to receive that key portion of their education, ""is best done at home, AND in church, AND, especially electively at school, where they receive their formal education, to include He who created all nature, science, art, mathematics, the universe, and all things under the Sun, though you seek to deny Him, your very Creator.
Back again to Is. 45:
5 I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else.
7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.
Do you see the light? Or do you yet remain in darkness? Well, God is the doer of both, according to your just deserts, and being dark, you cannot deny the light and support and funding for our godly children who seek the light of education from the Creator of education and of all things under the Sun.
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Merlin
Remove church tax exemption. Become secular. Can not promote ANY belief.
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Tecla Caryl Loup
Amen. As it were.
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Steven Ferrell
Public systems have become indoctrination systems for the far left liberal ideology. If taxpayer dollars can fund that, they should be able to fund this school as well.
People mistake the separation of church and state. It is the separation of church from state meaning the state cannot force one certain religion onto the people as the English did at one time with the Church of England.
If the pre-school meets all the academic requirements of any other pre-school, they should be entitled to the same funding.
After all, isn’t the goal academic achievement, or if s the goal of the state indoctrination?-
Amber Fry
Actually not true. Schools have been regularly dug at by the right for decades and have been slipping away from all that. Separation of church and state is also so they don't favor any one religion over another as they did in England. The way to assure that was to keep religious influence out of government by keeping it entirely out. Believe what you wish but do not enforce it on others. In the case of these schools it has more to do with tax exemption than religious discrimination. Because they are privately funded by the people who send their kids and the church they are affiliated with which is tax exempt and should have the funding for it, they are not eligible for public school funds.
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Mabh
Will this school accept the children of single or same sex parents? Will they gatekeep how children express their gender? Will they require adherence to their religion as a requirement for entry. Will they protest if local Wiccans, Muslims, or Sikhs get funding as well? The establishment clause has long been held to create separation between church and state. In fact, the distinction was made by one of the founders the originalists on SCOTUS claim to revere. This school should not recieve.public funding.
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Daniel Ginther
It's called reverse discrimination to withhold funds....If every teacher was a transvestite and they were being denied funds because of it, every Homosexual group would be up in arms and in our faces ! Show them the money !
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Brian Keith Elmore
Absolutely not!!! It is bad enough that the U.S. government isn’t trying to put a stop to all of garbage the Supreme Court is barfing out, which is based on their “religious convictions.” Now these “Christian” schools expect the government to give them taxpayer’s money to fuel their hate factories is wrong and unjust. They shouldn’t ask for our tax dollars, they should ask for our prayers.
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Rev. MichaelRS
You solved the problem by giving everyone Slschool vouchers so they can utilize them where they wish.
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Ellen B. Wentzel
I don't think they should get any more funding than any other school. Probably not, as there are many religions.
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Sherrell K Zitting
All schools that teach fundamentals of education, especially of God, to America's children must be funded by America's government. No discrimination and no violation of Constitutional freedoms.
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Rev. Kev
In this case, the discrimination causing the issue is on the part of the school.
They have the right to discriminate based on their faith. But they also have to accept the consequences of their decision.
That aside, I don't think teaching kiddies about a particular god is either a fundamental of education, nor is funding a religious school a specific or protected right explicitly listed in the Constitution. The freedom of religion is mentioned but that doesn't include government funding of schools. So I'm not sure where a "violation of Constitutional freedoms" comes into play here.
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Charles Leroy Good II
Sherrell, someone is misleading you. Please check your facts and get back to us with your honest findings.
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Colleen McAllister
Sherrell K Zetting you are wrong. Our government should not be subsidizing religious organizations other than the existing tax breaks. And no publicly funded school should be teaching about God. That is best done at home or in church.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Uhh, were you homeschooled by Jerry Falwell?
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Amber Fry
This isn't a religious specific issue but the fact that they are not a public based program as public schools are, therefore they are not subject to the tax funds. Private schools, including religions based ones, are all outside of the mandatory funding laws. Aside from that they should be funded both by the families who send their kids there and whatever church they are affiliated with. Since that church isn't paying taxes it should have the funding.
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Eric Douglas Reed
Yes, if they are discussing biblical truth.
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Amy Varela
What biblical truth? The names of places that actually exist, or the myths and fairy tales which are, in fact, not truths? Or do you mean the creation story, in which the moon is a light and the sun and the moon are the same size? Or all the stories that were taken from much earlier myths, such as the flood, Jesus giving sight to the blind, raising the dead, being born of a virgin or being crucified for the sins of man? All those things were done by much earlier gods and goddesses in much earlier religions. The bible is a collection of myths and fairy tales.
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ServantOfJudgement
Amy
Today, we can restore sight to the blind, raise the dead and impregnate a virgin without intercourse. Why can man to these things but God can't? Why do you think it's easy for us but impossible for he who made us? When my friend died and was dead but was brought back, should I call him a liar? Another friend can not have children yet he has 3 boys that are his. Is that a myth? I was legally blind, now I can see. Should I tell my doctor his practice is a fairy tale?
Why?
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Lionheart
But who knows what is truth in that book? Much of it seems to be very far-fetched fantasy. We do know some places are real that are mentioned, but as for some of the people referenced, and their associated stories, it seems much of it is fanciful fiction, with no demonstrable evidence whatsoever.
Children, and their mystical magical minds, would be better off reading Harry Potter. There is very little, if any, blood and gore in those stories, and I don't remember reading of any incest mentioned, little children of the first-born being killed, or stoning people to death, slavery being condoned, or cutting off boys foreskins. Know what I mean, Eric?
Thank you for your post though. 🤗
🦁♥️
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ServantOfJudgement
When governments fund schools, hose schools teach what the government says to teach. 501C3 can not speak against government or get their tax free status revoked. This is designed to throttle back critiquing from churches. Its a bad thing and should go away. Any money from the government comes with strings attached. The government wants to indoctrinate children as quickly as it can hence these preschool funding programs appeared. Lately, philosophy seems to be the primary goal of government funded schools where gender education is the emphasis with this latest flavor of indoctrination.
Not only should a religious preschool not get guv bucks, no preschool should get guv bucks. Raise your own kids if it's even remotely possible.
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Amber Fry
Nope. What it does is makes sure everyone is taught the same or similar subjects, Government funds are for public schools, not private schools. Religious schools are private organizations affiliated with churches outside of a tax status so should be funded by the people who send their kids and the church it's affiliated with. That's the point of being private. Now if they wish to drop the religious affiliations and private funding so they can qualify for the federal programs then fine. But if the government funds every private religious schools it will dig into the already regularly cut funding of the public ones.
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ServantOfJudgement
Amber,
Only wealthy people can send their kids to private schools. All news outlets say the wealthy people are white people, especially NPR. That means as a rule, only white people can afford private schools or face government indoctrination, according to the to NPR and their kin. NPR is state media. That means the State believes only a certain race can afford private schools. Why does the state protect racism? Why does the state teach all whites are racists? Why would the state lie to its citizenry for decade after decade be trusted with our children? The state experimented on black americans, gave them diseases and then lied about it, why do you think it's save to trust a known liar? How many genders will the state teach my daughter about? Will she believe she is a racist when they tell her? When they tell her she evolved from a magic bean sprinkled with glittery lightning dust will she fail the course if she doesn't believe the improbable and unproven fake facts? There is education and there is indoctrination. Currently, our public schools offer indoctrination sprinkled with education. Government funding=government regulated=government indoctrination. No preschool should ever be government funded, parents need time with their children to install a mental firewall against the insanity of the day, whatever the flavor may be.
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Russel A. Kester
SOJ, you're post isn't completely accurate. I worked with a wonderful young lady who sends her child to an all black school, and I worked with another black gentleman who attended one of the city's best Catholic schools..I believe it's true the Clarence Thomas also attended Catholic schools. I've been doing a little research on single sex boys school's because of a conversation I had here with a fine person and saw all types of races represented. NPR like similar programing is directed at a particular audience. It seems best to take their programming with a grain of salt if at all.
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Tecla Caryl Loup
I am not in favor of beginning or ending any governmental meeting with a prayer/blessing/invocation. I would feel it necessary to leave the room if I were confronted with such an action.
By the way, Clarence Thomas doesn't seem to be much of an exemplar these days. I don't think I would use him as a gold standard.
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Russel A. Kester
Tecla, I would agree that our government shouldn't have paid chaplains. I mentioned Clarence Thomas as a counter to the claim that only wealthy, white people are able to send their kids to private schools. But you are absolutely right that Clarence Thomas is not a gold standard, far from.
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Kenneth Lafe Eric Sanderson
So you believe an ignorant electorate is beneficial.
How quaint.
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ServantOfJudgement
No Kenneth, I just want knowledge taught, not indoctrination.
I was taught in school there are two genders. Was I taught correctly? Now there are 68 genders. Is that correct? I was taught a singular person was he/she. Now they're teaching a singular person can be they/them. There's a movement to punish me I'd I use the wrong pronoun even though I was taught current pronouns are wrong.
Indoctrination is bad when the result is madness. Quantifiable madness, it can be measured. Am I crazy for accepting government standards or are you?-
Christine
Mrs. ServantOfJudgement, you were taught gender in schools?!?!?! I'm glad things are so much better now that they stopped doing that.
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ServantOfJudgement
Christine,
Oh my, did you just gender me? Tisk tisk, I thought you guys hated people doing that. An attempt at an insult perhaps? Using gender as an insult is even worse I heard. I'm terribly angry you've misgendered me as an insult. I feel like a mushy minded codlege (theyre coddle centers nowadays)kid where the deep level programming is installed. Boy oh boy am I offended. I'm so mad I'm going to cry to my diary about how unfair and mean people are to not recognize my true gender. I want my mommy.
Grow up and de-program.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
SOJ, I bet you don't even have a gender, or atleast as we define it on this planet.
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ServantOfJudgement
You might be right carl, I don't see my gender listed in the 68 genders work offered me to read up on.
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Christine
I don't care about your gender preferences, sorry not sorry. I'm just shocked you were so heavily indoctrinated at your age by being taught gender in schools and was expressing how glad I am that the practice is no longer being done these days. My thoughts were focused on the topic. Stop taking things so personally; almost nothing is actually about you
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ServantOfJudgement
Christine, There are still plenty of schools that aren't running the glitchy Woke 3.2 operating system. They still teach things we find with Reality 1.0 operating system, it's extraordinarily bug free. I recommend you dump your hard disk and put in for an operating system without all the janky programming.
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Kenneth Lafe Eric Sanderson
Simple minds make everything simple - and explains why it took modern humans 150,000 years to stop living in caves.
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Kenneth Lafe Eric Sanderson
SOJ - read and learn.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender
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John Robert Milner
Some States allow educational vouchers to families and allow them to spend the vouchers any way the family wants, including private schools. Remember, parents do pay taxes! However, payments directly to schools, using State funds, authority lies within the individual State! With that said, I do not believe Federal funds should be spent on private religious institutions! Separation of Church and the Federal government should be sacrosanct!
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Amber Fry
Of course not. It should be funded by the church it's affiliated with because it doesn't have to pay taxes. This is why separation of church and state is so important to establish and explain extremely well both at school ages as well as adults who seem to let those lines blur more and more these days.
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Rev. Jim Sutton
I see that a lot of people are using the "separation of church and state" argument. Big news people, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS "SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE" ! ! ! Take the time to ACTUALLY READ the First Amendment. It only states two things. One, the U.S. will not establish a national religion or church. Two, the U.S. will not promote or support in any way any religion over another religion. As I've pointed out many times before, IF there was said separation, then the 'law' has been broken since the day the amendment was passed with every governmental meeting that began with a prayer or blessing or invocation. The tax/funding issue basically depends on the laws and how they're interpreted on a state-by-state case.
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Russel A. Kester
Jim, while the idea of the separation of church and state might be akin the the social contract as neither as specifically written in ink, still our country has a history of not allowing taxes to go to churches. And that's a good thing. I can think of many religious institutions and causes to which I don't want my tax dollars funding. Yes, I disagree with the public schools right now, but you and I can vote in new school board trustees or run for the board ourselves. We cannot do these things with private churches or schools.
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Rosalie Stafford
Aside from the fact that NO school, neither public nor private, should be tax-funded, let's look at what's really going on ...
The private Christian school teaches one agenda, same as gov't-funded public schools teach another agenda: the secularist, satanic, anti-Christian POV. Fair is fair: the Christian school deserves to be funded. After all, the parents of those students very likely pay a disproportionate amount of property taxes which go to fund gov't-indoctrination centers.
People who bandy about the phrase "separation of Church and State" (which does not appear in our Founding Documents) do not understand that the secular/satanic Church and State effectively merged within the last few decades. For example, we see "queer propaganda" comic books being used as teaching tools in tax-supported schools -- but NOT uplifting books which speak of virtuous principles (such as the books read by our Founding Fathers).
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Tecla Caryl Loup
Hmpfh. I attended both parochial and public schools. I didn't receive any teachings or attitudes about satanism or in fact any religion in the public school system. And no information about homosexuality. Didn't find out what that meant until after I graduated.
If churches or other religious groups want to meddle in politics, then they should not be exempted from taxation.
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Leslie Hubbard-Darr
The State's program is directed to the CHILDREN of the State, not the individual schools that serve them. Colorado's "new universal preschool program, which will ensure every preschool-aged child in the state at least 15 hours of preschool per week." If it's for the kids, then support the kids. Separation of church and state has zero to do with this program, as it is intended to support children getting a good start in their education, regardless of where they choose to begin their journey. In fact, NOT providing the funding to Christian school children is a direct violation of "separation of church and state," in and of itself, as it would discriminate against those who choose religious education, which is protected by our Constitution and the Religious Freedoms it specifically outlines.
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Russel A. Kester
Leslie, if the school doesn't follow all laws required for state funding then it doesn't get the money. This school could change it's policies and qualify. It hasn't. That's on it, not some bad people who won't give money to Christian children. Those same children can go to a public school and get their education for free. We must focus on the school that wants the funding, not the children.
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Tecla Caryl Loup
That's quite a creative take on funding religious teaching. If a parent wants their child to receive religious instruction, then send them to catechism or Sunday school.
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Sharon Wynette Taylor
I like that there is a place who cares about the moral standards and values of the ppl it hires.However, when the company opened it knew the stipulations around funding based on the entity itself and the religious institutions status vs taxation.
The parents and children are being punished, not the institution. It’s sad that this is even an issue. If you have it , give it. People are so evil and heartless and hold onto money that’s FORVTHE PEOPLE. God doesn’t like us for this I’m certain. Do better ppl!
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Esla Murphy
I believe that state funds should be allocated to where they are needed. Education is fundamental for the future of not just our children, but of our nation. It does not matter whether the funds go to a private or public sector, as long as it is put to good use. How I come to this conclusion you may ask, well I will explain.
In order for a mother to be able to go out and work, she must have a place for her child to be cared for, and what better place than a preschool, whether it is public or private. If the mother does not have higher education, and makes minimum wage it'll be hard for her to place her child in a preschool program without assistance. Not always is there space for children in public government funded facilities.
Let's put our money into educating children, so that the future of this country sees a better tomorrow. Let's see that todays children have a better chance at an education, for a brighter future. Let's give them a better chance at a better life. Let's help them get out of minimum wage jobs. Public school are crowded, the teachers are overwhelmed with the amount of students. The teacher to student ratio is at the highest point, so let's allocate some funds into private schools. This is for the future of our nation, not just the future of the child.
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Tecla Caryl Loup
Private schools can teach their versions of truth, which may be "creative". I attended a parochial school for seven years, and I must say that quite a number of the things we were taught were false. I am lucky to have esacped.
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Esla Murphy
I believe that state funds should be allocated to where they are needed. Education is fundamental for the future of not just our children, but of our nation. It does not matter whether the funds go to a private or public sector, as long as it is put to good use. How I come to this conclusion you may ask, well I will explain.
In order for a mother to be able to go out and work, she must have a place for her child to be cared for, and what better place than a preschool, whether it is public or private. If the mother does not have higher education, and makes minimum wage it'll be hard for her to place her child in a preschool program without assistance. Not always is there space for children in public government funded facilities.
Let's put our money into educating children, so that the future of this country sees a better tomorrow. Let's see that todays children have a better chance at an education, for a brighter future. Let's give them a better chance at a better life. Let's help them get out of minimum wage jobs. Public school are crowded, the teachers are overwhelmed with the amount of students. The teacher to student ratio is at the highest point, so let's allocate some funds into private schools. This is for the future of our nation, not just the future of the child.
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Katharine Q Toler
Then they should come under the purview of the state the same as all other taxpayer funded schools are. Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it.
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Esther Campbell
From the beginning of creation the imposing of one's views and beliefs started in heaven by the devil and the angels he convinced to join him to come up against God our creator of heaven and earth. There isn't anything new on earth. People reinvent to fit into today's society. God help us if we are not strong to stand against those who are trying to impose their beliefs and ideas on all who is for God, his Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. I live and die for truth and righteousness of God Almighty our creator.
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Russel A. Kester
Esther, in your post who do you think is trying to impose their ones views and beliefs, the school or the government?.
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Bond Wright
Esther: Your style -of- religion comments are EXACTLY why my tax dollars should not fund them. I don't want a single cent of my hard -earned money to promote your "religious dogma". Keep that to yourself out of the public schools. (Leave those kids alone). Have all your brand of religion schools as much as you want without trying to rip off the American Citizen's (me and others like me) hard- earned tax dollars. This is nothing but a power play. There is power. There is good power and then there is bad power. There Is power OVER and then there is EMPOWERMENT This crude grab for tax dollars by the Christian church is nothing but a power grab (power over). It is why the description "Christian fascists" has recently appeared in our national dialogue these past 5 years or so. (I didn't do it). If you want to be a Christian--so be it. Keep it to yourself. Do what you will and harm none. Have the guts and moral fortitude to pay your own bills and stop trying to SUCK it out of everyone else. Have your delusion and eat it, too. Go for it.
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Johnny Jones
My feeling is privately funded education institutions should be simply that....privately funded. If a religious based school holds its staff and/or students to a particular belief pattern, it might not even be in their best interest to solicit government funds, and any of the conditions that may go along with receipt of such funds.
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Donald J. Schutz
I did not read the entire Article. Discrimination discrimination. The school's hiring practices. The state's funding are both discriminatory. The state won't give money because of their beliefs. The school's hiring practices because of their beliefs. The school has been defending their rights long before the state instituted the new sanctions.
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Daniel Gray
For all the ones whining about the myth of separation of church and state and that no religious school should receive taxpayers money, I would advise them to read this
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-oks-use-public-money-religious-education-rcna21627
and then hush.
No taxpayer funds should be channeled to this organization. We must continue to keep the separation between church and state.
As a Christian i think separation of church and state is of major importance. As much as we fight to keep the government out of our faith why on earth are they inviting it in like this. They likely just want to be in the news a while like everyone else nowadays. Christian schools can and should take care of themselves. To ask for government money is to invite government inquest and oversight. People should really take the time to consider the consequences of their actions, not just for themselves but to everyone else who could be impacted by their actions.
That is a path we should not travel. The money is nowhere near worth the cost we would have to pay in the long run.
There is no such thing as Separation of church and state and never was.