This Kentucky thing is not going to be easy ...
Justin Bathon on Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at 6:40PM Sometimes I love that I am in Kentucky, and some days I dread that I am in Kentucky. Today is one of those latter kind of days.
If you didn't see it splashed all over the Internet or in the comments earlier (thanks Matt Foster!), then I guess I should give you some background. A coach here in Kentucky, in Breckinridge County between Louisville and Owensboro, took his football players on a bus to the local church and baptized about 1/2 of them. Worse yet, the Superintendent was present, didn't stop it and is actively supporting the coach's actions in the newspapers.
Here is what I want to see happen. This superintendent and coach may or may not lose their positions in the local districts because of political issues/favorable boards, but, our local professional standards board should reject their licenses. This behavior is simply unacceptable and irremediable ... as in they should never teach again. Period. This is not questionable legal ground here and the actions of the superintendent in openly violating established law should be enough to revoke her license. I hate to take such a hard stance against a local superintendent, especially female superintendents which we need more of, but it's inexcusable.
Also, I want to know who taught that superintendent's education law class (and I am going to find out). They should be extremely embarrassed today.
Update: CNN has picked it up. (h/t @jonbecker).
Reader Comments (2)
What I assume will happen is the common response that this is somehow an attack on religion; it's not. It's a response to utterly unconstitutional behavior.
I have no problem with folks catching a baptismal if they feel the spirit. I do have a problem if they do it while being coerced by an agent of the government.
Wow. That's something else. Keep us posted as the story progresses!