Who out there thinks it’s right to hate on kids?
If you answered “yes,” you may want to consider a future in the Louisiana Legislature, because that’s exactly what they are doing.
Senate Bill 217, currently in the process of becoming law, has stirred up controversy in recent weeks because it has been painted as a discriminatory education bill.
But it’s not strictly an education bill. The bill states that individuals, schools, companies, etc. who receive a contract from the state cannot discriminate based on “race, religion, national ancestry, disability, sex or age.”
OK, that seems fine. Private institutions that receive public dollars shouldn’t be able to discriminate on any of those grounds. But the bill in question seems vague.
That’s because there are several categories of discrimination which are left out of the bill – specifically discrimination based on sexual orientation.
People across the state are concerned that charter schools, many of which are religiously affiliated, may reserve the right to deny admission or even expel children on the basis of sexual orientation, a physical handicap or a number of other categories.
The bill is being sponsored by Sen. A.G. Crowe, R-Slidell. The Times-Picayune reported that Crowe has supporters, specifically the Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Louisiana Family Forum.
Crowe and his supporters are upset because under the current law, schools who receive a Type 2 charter are not allowed to discriminate based on “sexual orientation, athletic performance, special need, proficiency in the English language or academic achievement,” according to The Times-Picayune.
Crowe’s supporters are convinced the current law is an intrusion on religious freedom.
It would only be intrusive if the schools were not taking taxpayer funds in order to operate. Under a private system, they would reserve the right to discriminate against whomever they want.
Basically, the “Crowenies” want to reserve the right to hate. They cry the government is intruding on their religious freedom while they take public funds from a system that is somehow accepted in a country founded on separation of church and state.
Taxpayer dollars are literally going to religious institutions. How is that separation of church and state?
The law may not explicitly be intended for education, but it will undoubtedly resonate to the schools.
Again, I ask you, what kind of cowards want to discriminate against kids?
SB 217 also does a good job of distracting citizens from the bigger issue. Gov. Jindal’s voucher program is designed to take students out of crappy public schools and send them to nice, private ones where they’ll be accepted as long as they’re not crippled, gay or can’t speak English.
This is putting a band-aid on a much bigger issue. This state has terrible public schools. Instead of improving them, Jindal is abandoning public schools in favor of their private counterparts.
The youth is the future. If Crowe and his merry gang of bigots want the right to keep gays or anyone with a “special need” out, stop taking public funds.
Until then, quit worrying about who the kids fancy. What are you, children?
 
Parker Cramer is a 21-year-old political science junior from Houston. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_pcramer.
—- Contact Parker Cramer at [email protected].