In a move that has sparked constitutional controversy, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill allowing religious chaplains to counsel students in public schools. By stating that schools are returning to their “original intent” as religious institutions, DeSantis has drawn criticism for what many see as a misunderstanding of the nation’s history and a breach of the First Amendment.
The law in question, mimicking a similar 2023 Texas legislation, permits religious ministers to volunteer in schools to counsel students. While participation by school districts is not mandatory, and parents must opt in for their children, the inclusion of such religious elements in public education has raised flags among scholars and legal experts.
DeSantis has emphatically claimed that excluding religious groups from campuses “is discrimination,” aligning his view with a conservative Supreme Court that has increasingly permitted religious presence in public schools. However, his subsequent dismissal of the Satanic Temple’s interest in the chaplaincy program has ignited a furor. Dismissing Satanism as “not a religion,” DeSantis not only appears to directly oppose the non-discriminatory ethos of the First Amendment but also contradicts the varied religious intentions of the Founding Fathers.
Historical accounts underscore the complexity of early American schooling and the Founders’ intentions. While education was indeed influenced by religious thought in its infancy, with the 1647 ‘Old Deluder Satan Act’ of Massachusetts being a prime example, it is an oversimplification to assert that public education was religious. The Founding Fathers themselves harbored differing views on the place of religion in schools, ranging from Benjamin Rush’s evangelical Protestant ideals to Thomas Jefferson’s secular vision. These nuances often get lost in the broad statements and political maneuvers of today’s legislators.
The bill signed by DeSantis effectively invites an element of religious establishment into public institutions, skirting dangerously close to the kind of government-prescribed religiosity the First Amendment was designed to prevent. Moreover, it has the potential to alienate students of diverse beliefs, or those who follow no religion, by implicitly endorsing certain religious practices.
The law has also sparked a legislative trend, with similar bills being considered in multiple states. This growing movement suggests a larger, more concerted effort to integrate religious principles into public education—a trend that raises profound questions about the separation of church and state.
The backlash against DeSantis’ law is not merely about the legality of religious chaplains in schools. It’s also about the integrity of historical interpretation and the critical importance of upholding constitutional principles that protect individual religious freedom. As the law comes under scrutiny, it’s clear that this is more than just a Florida issue—it’s a national debate on the role of religion in public life and the preservation of a secular, inclusive educational system.
The future of religion — and chaplains — in the public schools might still be evolving, a question for the courts to decide. But historians say the truth of the past is that public schools were not established as religious by the founders.
Relevant articles:
– Ron DeSantis Just Invited the Wrath of the Satanic Temple, newrepublic.com, 04/26/2024
– DeSantis said public schools were religious when US began. Is he right?, Tampa Bay Times, Wed, 24 Apr 2024 10:01:22 GMT
– ‘Chaplains’ for Christian Nationalism, Word and Way, Thu, 25 Apr 2024 15:11:50 GMT