Chris Jones: Greene Publishing, Inc.
On Friday, June 9, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed into law Senate Bill (SB) 436, which has been dubbed the “religious expressions in schools” bill. SB436 is the Senate version of House Bill (HB) 303, which was filed by Jacksonville Democrat Kim Daniels. The bill's objective was to protect religious faith in public schools, by mandating that schools not “discriminate” against students, teachers, or employees “on the basis of a religious viewpoint or religious expression.”
Now a law, it reaffirms court rulings on First Amendment rights, while giving school districts guidelines on what is and is not allowed. Critics argue that the new law will blur the lines between church and state. However, Christian groups see the law as a much needed layer of protection against what many interpret as a trend in anti-Christian rhetoric. Religious expression can apply to things such as wearing religious clothing, using religious themes in assignments, or praying at school.