ADL Deeply Disappointed in Congress Approving National School Voucher Plan

[Thom Little]

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) expressed deep regret at the approval by Congress of the first national voucher program for private and religious schools as part of the fiscal year 2006 Defense Appropriations bill today.


Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:

Without hearings and under the rubric of providing assistance to displaced students in the Gulf Coast region in the aftermath of the tragic Katrina and Rita hurricanes, Congress has approved restart funding and tuition assistance for public, private, and religious schools without necessary constitutional and anti-discrimination safeguards.

We are very sympathetic to the plight of the students who attend the devastated schools in the Gulf Coast region, but this funding scheme does not provide appropriate firewalls against taxpayer funding of religious instruction and proselytizing – and sets a disturbing precedent for the future.

The provisions approved by Congress do not include necessary prohibitions against using these funds for religious education – or even worship services. Under the bill, parents would be forced to affirmatively act to 'opt-out' their children from these religious worship activities or classes. In addition, this bill would permit federally funded religious discrimination in hiring teachers for these private and religious schools.


http://www.adl.org/PresRele/RelChStSep_90/4844_90.htm

[acmejack]

1. They're certainly not the only ones!

[rurallib]

2. Effin' regressives are shoveling so much money to the fundies

between this and that goddamned 'faith based initiative' bullshit. Now the fucking government is getting so intertwined with religions (christians - catholics included) that it is going to take some people of immense courage to stand up to this situation and break these bonds.
I almost cried when #1 asshole backdoored the congress and instituted faith-based (by the chuchies' votes) initiative. Now it seems like it's always been there and there will be hell to pay for those who want to cut the money pipeline.
I have a hard time deciding what the worst thing this asshole has done. Marrying government and religion is right up there. Look at what good it has done elsewhere.
Slowly we become a third world country.

[KamaAina]

3. And again they use the hurricane survivors to push their far-right agenda

They tried, and failed, to win sympathy votes for ANWR drilling by tacking 9 billion in disaster relief onto that. Now here they come with a national voucher program! "Displaced students", my ass! There are hurricane evacuees in something like 48 or 49 states. Thus, these vouchers, that is, taxpayer-funded religious education, could be used anywhere and everywhere. :grr:

Oh yes, the playing field is tilted grotesquely toward on religion, Christianity. Imagine the outcry if, say, a group of Wiccans were to demand their fair share of the faith-based bonanza!

[Donna Zen]

4. Ted Kennedy

Is this the legislation sponsered by Ted Kennedy? I just wrote about this in response to an e-mail from my union. Of course Kennedy also sign on to NCLB. Basically Kennedy is alright with me, but his attitude toward public education shows a lack of understanding.

[No Exit]

5. I'm glad Foxman is speaking out; people listen to him.

He blasted Bush a few weeks ago, and it caused quite a firestorm. Hope he keeps it up.