4 weeks ago
Florida schoolhouse districts will soon person nan action of allowing unpaid chaplains to counsel students nether a measure signed Thursday by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who dismissed critics opposed to mixing belief pinch nationalist education.
The only requirements for a chaplain to participate would beryllium passing a inheritance cheque and having their sanction and belief affiliation listed connected nan schoolhouse website. The chaplains would "provide support, services, and programs to students arsenic assigned by nan territory schoolhouse board." The rule that takes effect July 1.
DeSantis stressed that nan programme is voluntary. Schools don't person to person a chaplain and students don't person to activity pinch them. Parental support would beryllium required if they do.
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"No one’s being forced to do anything, but to exclude belief groups from campus, that is discrimination," DeSantis said. "You’re fundamentally saying that God has nary place. That’s wrong."
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks astatine a property convention successful November 2021. (Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Florida is among much than a twelve states that person sought to create schoolhouse chaplain programs. Texas became nan first nether a rule passed successful 2023.
Supporters successful Florida based on nan authorities will supply different assets for children and pointed retired that chaplains already service successful different authorities roles by moving pinch constabulary and serving successful nan military. The Legislature itself hosts a chaplain of nan time erstwhile it’s successful convention and there’s a non-denominational chapel successful nan authorities Capitol.
Opponents mention respective problems pinch nan caller Florida law, including location being nary training requirements for chaplains. They besides fearfulness that immoderate students mightiness beryllium ostracized if they are atheist aliases beryllium to a non-Christian belief successful a Christian mostly district.
"When you person a subject chaplain, they spell done intensive training and they person to beryllium successful a position wherever they tin supply accusation which is factually correct and due to nan situation," said Democratic Sen. Lori Berman of Palm Beach County.
Without that training, a chaplain could supply psychologically damaging counseling, Berman said. She suggested schools adhd much societal workers, guidance counsellors aliases psychologists if they request them.
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"Let's put nan trained professionals successful and not immoderate unlicensed, untrained group pinch a belief affiliation," Berman said.
