Received this via e-mail, from family in Texas. This is law today.

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/html/HB03678F.htm

This is an act, "relating to voluntary student expression of religious viewpoints in public schools"

It's a monster. Gotta say, "well done" to the extremists on this one. This, combined with our currently iffy court, is gonna make quite the impression.

Look at this:

Sec. 25.155. ADOPTION OF POLICY. A school district shall
adopt and implement a local policy regarding a limited public forum
and voluntary student expression of religious viewpoints.


FREEDOM TO ORGANIZE RELIGIOUS GROUPS AND
ACTIVITIES. Students may organize prayer groups, religious clubs,
"see you at the pole" gatherings, or other religious gatherings
before, during, and after school to the same extent that students
are permitted to organize other noncurricular student activities
and groups. Religious groups must be given the same access to
school facilities for assembling as is given to other noncurricular
groups without discrimination based on the religious content of the
students' expression.

RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION IN CLASS ASSIGNMENTS.
Students may express their beliefs about religion in homework,
artwork, and other written and oral assignments free from
discrimination based on the religious content of their submissions.
Homework and classroom assignments must be judged by ordinary
academic standards of substance and relevance and against other
legitimate pedagogical concerns identified by the school district.
Students may not be penalized or rewarded on account of the
religious content of their work.

STUDENT SPEAKERS AT NONGRADUATION EVENTS
The school district hereby creates a limited public forum for
student speakers at all school events at which a student is to
publicly speak. For each speaker, the district shall set a maximum
time limit reasonable and appropriate to the occasion. Student
speakers shall introduce:
(1) football games;
(2) any other athletic events designated by the
district;
(3) opening announcements and greetings for the school
day; and
(4) any additional events designated by the district,
which may include, without limitation, assemblies and pep rallies.
The forum shall be limited in the manner provided by this
article.


Essentially, this bill requires the schools to promote religion, on the public dime.

The slippery approach here, used to circumvent existing law, is a requirement for the school to state they are not associated, condone, etc... the religious positions so presented. Additionally, the idea that no specific religion is promoted, and is "voluntary", at first glance appears solid, but really isn't.

I've written here, many times, that I value freedom of religion, matters of faith, and generally will stand up for people to believe what they will.

Know what?

I'm not entirely sure I can continue that practice. The harm is growing too great to exercise the tolerance I know I should continue to exercise.

We all need freedom from religion. That's the flip side to our freedom of religion. Now, non-religious people must hear that crap a very high percentage of the time. Religious people also need to hear other religions during those same times.

What does Jesus have to do with Football, for example!

Wonder if they will allow the Pastavarians to speak? Muslims? Wiccans?

And that classroom work? I can only imagine the frustration that many of the educators are going to experience, having to deal with all that noise mixed in with ordinary studies.

Sounds pretty fair minded to me. Doesnt specify any relegion.

Students may organize prayer groups, religious clubs,
"see you at the pole" gatherings...

Seriously, "see you at the pole"? is this a prayer group for strippers?

It could be....

Like none of you have ever seen someone, and thought, "God please let that top/bottom fall down another inch".

Not at a school. But, hey. That's just me, Nwokie.

Good for Texas!

I wonder if they would allow any Wahhabi Muslim gatherings in the public schools of Texas?

Andrew

" Doesnt specify any relegion."

Andrew, it might come under the same category as a couple of guys in a pink Volkswagen Bus with "Gay Power" written on the side. They could certainly try it.

Actually, the way this law is written, not only could they try it, but the school would have to make every effort to insure they were successful at it. It is now illegal to do anything about it. They get equal time, equal access, equal protection.

I'm pretty sure the Baptists that pushed this law were not really thinking that part through.

Oh well. People wonder why there are so many ACLU cases. Look no farther than the big star state of Texas.

Maybe they were thinking ahead, if any Wahhabu Muslims try it, they will then know who they are.
Same with Wiccen etc.

Let's take it section at a time.

"Students may organize prayer groups, religious clubs, "see you at the pole" gatherings...before, during, and after school to the same extent that students are permitted to organize other noncurricular student activities"

Case law has supported this numerous times over the past 20 years or so, and it's little more than a formality to write it into law. However, I do question the "during" school part of it. I'm not so sure any club, whether it be the pep club, ski club, or religious group should be doing their thing during class time. If "during" means it's only during a lunch break, then I don't have a problem with it. If a student or his/her parent(s) do not approve of the activity, there is no requirement for them to join.

"Students may express their beliefs about religion in homework, artwork, and other written and oral assignments free from discrimination based on the religious content of their submissions. Homework and classroom assignments must be judged by ordinary academic standards of substance and relevance and against other legitimate pedagogical concerns identified by the school district. Students may not be penalized or rewarded on account of the religious content of their work."

I think they pretty well covered themselves in this one too. As long as a writing assignment or art project is not required to be on a specific topic or within narrow parameters, I don't believe limits should be placed on how a student can express his/her thoughts and beliefs. There have been numerous cases where student projects have been censored due to religious content, or where a lower grade was given merely because the teacher and student had different worldviews, not due to artistic merit. Now if we are talking about a science project things can get grayer, and this law could be problematic in that respect. A student expressing views other than standard Evolution must come up with something really compelling based on legitimate evidence if they expect their work to be accepted. Submitting Genesis 1:1 wouldn't and shouldn't cut it.

"STUDENT SPEAKERS AT NONGRADUATION EVENTS"

I see this section as being the most problematic. While I believe a student's freedom of speech should be as wide open as practical, administrators and teachers must have some control over the learning environment and should have the latitude to limit disruptive activities. It is in this area where I believe Christians who push their agenda too far are often in error. Do they really want Muslims to pray to Allah at the opening of a football game? I doubt it, but this is the door they are opening by their short-sighted push for public prayer and Bible reading at School events.

I largely agree with this assessment. I have the biggest problem with the speakers --and the mandatory creation of a forum for them, where no forum may currently exist.

IMHO, that's a promotion clause and will increase the noise level, without adding significant value.

Where writing, etc... are concerned, I've already had to go to bat for various content, sometimes religious content, produced by my own kids in school here.

I do suspect that clause will cause friction in the sciences, however. We will see. What is and what is not "compelling evidence" will be interesting to see sorted out.