For those wanting their children to receive religious instruction as part of their school learning while avoiding the murky waters of the church-state distinction, State Rep. Susan DuBose’s (R-Hoover) bill authorizing students to attend religious instruction during the school day seems like a no-brainer.
House Bill 342 (HB342) would require each local board of education to adopt a policy allowing students to be released from the classroom to attend religious instruction during the school day.
In 2019, Alabama passed a law authorizing local school boards to allow release time for students participating in religious instruction. With parental consent, students can leave school during the day to attend off-site religious instruction provided by a private organization.
The 2019 law puts the onus of allowing religious release on local education boards, leaving some parents facing roadblocks when their local board does not have a policy. DuBose said only 12 school systems have enacted policies.
During public hearings and committee meetings on the bill, opponents’ criticism ranged from claiming that the legislation violates the establishment clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to others, including lawmakers, claiming the bill would overly burden local school boards.
In a recent appearance on Mobile radio FM Talk 106.5’s "The Jeff Poor Show," DuBose rebuffed the bill’s critics, emphasizing its constitutionality and total lack of financial impact on local school boards and the state.
“This has been upheld by the Supreme Court as Constitutional since 1952," DuBose said. “And it allows private, faith-based, religious entities to come and offer religious training off-site; No public funds used. Parents authorize it. The faith-based entity accepts liability. So, there’s a lot that goes into it.”
“I look at it as a parents’ choice issue. If they would like their child to have moral training, if they want them to have faith-based training, it’s going to be off-site. It doesn’t cost the school system a penny of money. You know, education is changing. This is allowing for a tailor-made opportunity. If a parent decides I want my child to have faith-based, moral training, off-campus, not paid for by the school, there’s going to be transportation provided by the faith-based entity, let them have that opportunity. It’s not hurting anybody," she added.
Other critics have pointed to the possibility of religious practices perceived as more distasteful being allowed.
“You hear these scare tactics, ‘Oh. The satanic temple is going to come in, and we’re going to have to have satanic temple training,’” DuBose continued. “Well, that’s fear-mongering by people that don’t believe in freedom of religion. It’s not going to happen because of all the hoops you have to jump through, first of all, to be able to even set this up: transportation, liability insurance, all these things. Parents have to agree to have their child participate. These groups: atheists, satanic groups, they’re really philosophical groups. They’re not even religions anyway, so I don’t think it would qualify under the Religious Release Act. But, if you believe in freedom of religion, and you believe in freedom of choice, then you’re in favor of this bill.”
DuBose also stressed the bill's non-exclusivity, stating that it applies to families across the religious spectrum. She accused the bill’s critics of spreading “misinformation.”
“This is just not for Christians,” Dubose stated. “This can be for Jewish families. This is freedom of religion. In some pockets in our state where there are a lot of Jewish families, middle school ages, those kids have to go through a lot of training because they’re about to have their Bar Mitzvahs. There’s a lot of studying involved in that. This could help them prepare for that time in their life.”
She continued, “I need help from parents to say, ‘Hey. We want this opportunity.’ Call your state representative. Call your state senators. Talk to your school board folks. Let them know you would like this opportunity. Just a chance to participate if it fits within your child’s schedule. Yeah, superintendents and school board members, I think, have been scarred off by misinformation by people that are just uninformed.
The bill has come before the House Education Committee twice thus far without receiving a vote. HB342 is on the docket for a Wednesday vote. However, it could be further delayed if lawmakers’ concerns are not quelled.
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