What people are saying:

• Facebook User: Indiana does this as well.
• Facebook User: Separation of church and state please.
• Facebook User: Don’t schools let students leave for other instructions as well, musical instruction, band practice, swimming lessons, theatrical practice, physical therapy, language lessons, occupational training, intermural, competitions, and practices  to name a few.
  • Secular Education Association: Facebook User no actually they don’t. In many states and circumstances children who legitimately need medical therapies and outside interventions are constantly battling absenteeism and truancy laws.
  • Facebook User: Secular Education Association I know students went to vocational schools during school hour in the 70’s, grade schools and high schools too small or without the resources pool with other schools for some of the institution I listed.
    In some places schools choice funds help parents and schools provide the more individualize assistance in the public school the public school can or would not otherwise provide( tutors, adaptive equipment, therapists etc)
  • Secular Education Association: Facebook User Those things are not the same.

    Vocational programs, therapy, and other educational or medically necessary services exist to support a child’s education, health, or access needs. Public schools are supposed to work with those.

    Private religious instruction is different.

    It is not a school service.
    It is not medically necessary.
    It is not academically necessary.
    It is not part of the public school’s educational mission.

    It is a private religious program asking the public school to rearrange part of the school day around it.

    That is the issue.

    And it’s especially rich to compare this to therapies and interventions when families across the country have to fight like hell just to get legitimate support for disabilities, medical needs, and outside services without attendance problems, bureaucracy, or denial.

    So no, this is not “just like band” or “just like therapy.”

    One is about serving students.

    The other is about using the public school day as a delivery system for religion.

  • Facebook User: Secular Education Association it seems you see students as your property that parents are pulling or stealing off the plantation.
    Do you lose funding when students are not in your school or do the remaining students get more time with teachers? Studies have indicated more recess and unstructured time can be very helpful.
    I take it you do not object to them going out of the school for many other purposes. It is the study or exposure to religious, social, political and other perspectives and ideas you did not give them the travel papers or permission to study on your time.
    Does your objection include The Seminole Tribe of Florida Education Department. I assume there is some Creek religious instruction in their programs.
• Facebook User: Totally wrong.
  • Secular Education Association: Facebook User we agree completely!
• Facebook User: floriduh
• Facebook User: I don’t care
  Just don’t give them some DEI test so that get a “diploma”
• Facebook User: Disgusting!