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A bill making its way through this year’s General Assembly aims to outline broader religious rights for students in Kentucky’s public schools. Sponsor of the bill, Sen. Al Robinson, R-London, says the intent of it is to reiterate Constitutional freedoms already in place by "clearly stating students' rights in statute."

Franklin County Public Schools Superintendent Chrissy Jones says the district’s existing guidelines already strive to maintain the “separation of church and state” as outlined by the Constitution, while not encroaching on religious freedoms.

But SB 15 would provide even more specific protections, Robinson and supporters say.

For example, it would permit students to express religious or political viewpoints free from discrimination and prevent school board members from altering a student’s prepared remarks — without their consent — before they deliver a speech.

That can be a bit of a gray area now.

Last year, a Franklin County High School student delivered a Christian prayer at the school’s graduation ceremony. While some in the audience — including agnostics, atheists or members of non-Christian religions — may have found it alienating or insensitive, such an act would be expressly permitted under proposed legislation that’s already passed the state Senate by a 31-2 vote.

SB 15 would also allow teachers to use the Bible as a classroom text reference, as long as they’re not providing “religious instruction.” It does not specifically mention the usage of other religious texts, however.

It outlines sweeping rights for students to display religious items on their clothing and would allow religious student groups to meet at schools during non-instructional time. That already happens at many public schools in Kentucky, including FCPS, where members of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes meet once every two weeks at Franklin County High before school begins to testify about their faith and discuss topics or broader community projects that are rooted in their religion. Western Hills also sponsors a chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes

“[And] I am not aware of any student being prevented from wearing any clothing related to his/her religious practices,” added Jones. “We acknowledge we have several different beliefs within our diverse student population.”

The bill broaches topics that have become taboo in public schools as school administrators strive to remain “politically correct” while balancing the rights of students who are afforded both freedom of religion — and freedom from it — under the Constitution.

“I can speak from my own experiences, I have found the students to be accepting of different religious beliefs. In all my years in administration, I do not recall any controversy amongst students due to differing religious convictions,” Jones said. “We always strive to teach students to be accepting of others with differing views whether these are religious based, political, etc.”

If signed into law, SB 15 would also be applicable to Kentucky’s colleges and universities. It still requires approval from the House before the governor considers signing it into law.

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By Brent Schanding
The State Journal
Date: 02-10-2016
Kentucky Press News Service