Supreme Court: if states fund private schools, they must fund religious schools

essentialsaltes

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In a ruling that will open the door to more public funding for religious education, the Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled in favor of parents in Montana seeking to use a state scholarship program to send their children to religious schools.

The court said that a Montana tax credit program that directed money to private schools could not exclude religious schools.

The 5-4 ruling was penned by Chief Justice John Roberts and joined by the court's four conservative justices.

"A State need not subsidize private education. But once a State decides to do so, it cannot disqualify some private schools solely because they are religious," Roberts wrote in the majority opinion.


I can only hope that taxpayer-supported creationism and madrassas will cause states to realize they should stop funding private schools entirely, but I don't think that will be the case.
 
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SimplyMe

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I'll agree with the ruling, schools should not be defunded just for being religious. There are some great religious schools. At the same time, their should be clear standards set up that schools need to abide by -- including that they teach the required curriculum (including science, not creationism, and not discriminating against minorities) to be eligible to receive public money.
 
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essentialsaltes

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including that they teach the required curriculum (including science, not creationism, and not discriminating against minorities) to be eligible to receive public money.

That would likely fall afoul of First Amendment protections.
 
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chevyontheriver

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I can only hope that taxpayer-supported creationism and madrassas will cause states to realize they should stop funding private schools entirely, but I don't think that will be the case.
Then they can maybe also look at some of the crazy things that pass for education in the government schools.
 
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essentialsaltes

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Montana Constitution:
The leg- islature, counties, cities, towns, school districts, and public corporations shall not make any direct or indi- rect appropriation or payment from any public fund or monies, or any grant of lands or other property for any sectarian purpose or to aid any church, school, acad- emy, seminary, college, university, or other literary or scientific institution, controlled in whole or in part by any church, sect, or denomination.

States' Rights!
 
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SimplyMe

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That would likely fall afoul of First Amendment protections.

It shouldn't. The state has the right to set standards for education, particularly when the state is paying for the group to educate students. I won't say they could prevent a school from trying to teach creationism, but they can require that Evolution be taught as accepted science. At the same time, they likely could ban the teaching of "Intelligent Design" as that was set up particularly to get around religious claims in secular schools -- so can't now be marketed as a religious belief.
 
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FenderTL5

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"A State need not subsidize private education. But once a State decides to do so, it cannot disqualify some private schools solely because they are religious,"
I agree with this part of the ruling.
otoh, I don't think public funds should be going to the for-profit schools, period.
 
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cow451

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I can’t wait to see my tax dollars going to support the hundreds of new Islamic schools that will be protected by the Trump Supreme Court.
It will be balanced by the Confederate Calvary Heritage Artillery Academy, Inc. chain of schools that will be opening in Mississippi and Alabama this very Fall. You'll love them... everybody will want to send their kids there... the "Fire and Fury" Marching band will play at every CCHAA football game.... and the cheerleaders will all look like Ivanka... she's really hot, you know...

The Trump Foundation and Laundromat Association has pledged huge contributions.
 
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Goonie

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It will be balanced by the Confederate Calvary Heritage Artillery Academy, Inc. chain of schools that will be opening in Mississippi and Alabama this very Fall. You'll love them... everybody will want to send their kids there... the "Fire and Fury" Marching band will play at every CCHAA football game.... and the cheerleaders will all look like Ivanka... she's really hot, you know...

The Trump Foundation and Laundromat Association has pledged huge contributions.
Indeed but let's not forget the Pastafarian school of cookery, every bowl of pasta a prayer to his noodliness!
 
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Redwingfan9

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In a ruling that will open the door to more public funding for religious education, the Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled in favor of parents in Montana seeking to use a state scholarship program to send their children to religious schools.

The court said that a Montana tax credit program that directed money to private schools could not exclude religious schools.

The 5-4 ruling was penned by Chief Justice John Roberts and joined by the court's four conservative justices.

"A State need not subsidize private education. But once a State decides to do so, it cannot disqualify some private schools solely because they are religious," Roberts wrote in the majority opinion.


I can only hope that taxpayer-supported creationism and madrassas will cause states to realize they should stop funding private schools entirely, but I don't think that will be the case.
The Christian response to this should be concern rather than rejoicing. Whenever the government starts funding something they want to control it. We believers should not want any government control of our schools.
 
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Aryeh Jay

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The Christian response to this should be concern rather than rejoicing. Whenever the government starts funding something they want to control it. We believers should not want any government control of our schools.

I think it is a good thing, that way the government can ensure the correct Christianity is represented.
 
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Aryeh Jay

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What is the correct Christianity and how will the government ensure it is represented?

I’m pretty sure that the Government can sort that all out and come up with something everyone can agree on.

It can be regulated by having Government inspectors and a series of fines for non compliance.
 
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