The latest religious indoctrination scheme could soon be in Tennessee schools!
House Bill 1250 just passed its first committee hearing, and FFRF Action Fund needs your help to keep it from moving any further. This bill brings with it the perfect chance for Christian nationalists to spread dogma in public schools — with protections that will make it nearly impossible to get rid of them. This bill is moving quickly, so please act today to keep it from becoming law!
HB 1250 would allow school boards to employ religious chaplains — or accept them as volunteers — to preach to students during the school day. Standards for these chaplains are concerningly vague, stating that chaplains don’t even need to be certified of education. The bill even provides immunity from liability for actions or statements made by chaplains, allowing them to spread their religious ideology with no consequences. Tennessee students would be robbed of a valuable supportive presence that trained school counselors bring during a stressful time in their lives, with their problems going unheard and the only solutions they’re given coming in the form of religious parables. No student deserves to be left alone in their time of need, but this bill threatens to do just that. It’s time to fight to keep Tennessee schools from violating the Constitution with school-sponsored religious chaplains — Urge your lawmakers to reject this bill!
Religious lawmakers are trying to push this bill through the legislature as quickly as possible, so there’s no time to waste. We have included talking points through the “Take Action” button that you can use to tell lawmakers to oppose religious chaplains. If you have your own experiences to share, you can edit your message by clicking the pencil icon. After sending an email message, you will be directed to a phone prompt that you can use to call your legislators as well. Even leaving a voice message is an effective way to get your point across, so please call if you have the chance! For best results, please be succinct and polite.
(Note: You must live in Tennessee in order to take part in this action alert.)