Post-Dispatch Letter on Chaplains in Schools

Board member Hal Harris had his Letter to the Editor of the Post-Dispatch published on July 3:

Regarding “Poll: Most in US support religious chaplains in schools” (June 30 print edition): Coincidentally perhaps, the Missouri legislature has put Senate Bill 49 on Governor Mike Kehoe’s desk.  This law would allow public schools to employ or invite chaplains to work with students.

The problem is that the only requirement for these personnel is that they can pass a police background check. There is no degree or training necessary, and there are no limits on their interaction with students.

In additio to the obvious unconstitutionality of the expenditure of public resources to favor a particular religious viewpoint, there is the question of whether schools should be allowing unqualified “chaplains” to be entrusted with providing counsel to students who may be seeking help in a personal or family crisis situation.

Our students expect their teachers to be trained in both subject matter and pedagogy. Schools should provide trained counselors, not self-defined “chaplains”.

Hal Harris
Creve Coeur