A newly-proposed charter school in Chicago set to open in 2015 would hold classes during the morning and then indoctrinate the children into Christianity in the afternoon:

… After school, a nonprofit, faith-based, after-school program affiliated with the Moody Church would take over and help kids with homework, feed them dinner and teach them about the Bible. … “I think it’s unfortunate that we are being singled out for this type of an action. I think everyone who starts a charter school has a belief system whether they are Muslim or Buddhist or agnostic or atheist,” said Michael Rogers, executive director of Chicago Education Partnership and a leader at By the Hand. “I don’t… recall this group attacking any other charter operators for their belief system.”

That’s because charter schools run by Muslims and Buddhists and atheists aren’t trying to push their religion onto the students. There are charter schools affiliated with religious groups in Chicago, but the schools themselves remain non-sectarian.

Since the school would be funded in part through tax dollars, this is just a lawsuit waiting to happen, says Americans United for Separation of Church and State:

“The public charter school that Chicago Education Partnership proposes would unlawfully endorse religion and coerce participation in religious activity,” Americans United for Separation of Church and State wrote in a letter to members of the Board of Education.

If you’re unable to separate your desire to educate children and bring them into your religious fold, you sure as hell have no business trying to open up a charter school. The city has an education crisis already; throwing religion into the mix will only make things worse.

(Image via Shutterstock)



