The Kenai Peninsula Borough School Board culminated months worth of discussion and revision approving changes to KPBSD policy on religion and customs in schools, with the approval of BP 6141.2 at the KPBSD School Board meeting on Monday, April 10th.
BP 6141.2 Recognition of Religious Beliefs and Customs, went through a year-long process, first introduced at the 4-11-2022 Policy Committee meeting. It has since been reviewed and edited at the 5-9-2022 and 6-6-2022 Policy Committee meetings, sent to legal for further input, and moved to 6-27-2022 meeting for further review by the Committee.
Following continued review, the policy statement was tabled to the 08-01-2022 to consult legal further in light of the recent Supreme Court ruling; moved through work sessions and legal input and received its first reading on March 6th leading up to its approval on April 10th.
KPBSD School Board Vice President Zen Kelly spoke on the importance of the wording of the policy.
“This board policy took a while to get from the inception of the Policy Committee all the way through second read. I really think it’s important the public hears what this policy addresses and the final draft of it.”
Kelly read the opening statement of Recognition of Religious Beliefs and Customs to the Assembly.
“The board recognizes that students education would be incomplete without an understanding of religion in society. to respect each student’s individual right to freedom of religious practice, religious indoctrination is forbidden in public schools.
The schools may teach about religion from a historical, cultural, sociological and other educational perspective. Instruction about religion will not promote nor denigrate the beliefs or customs of any religion or sect, nor should a preference be shown for one religious viewpoint over another.”
The complete BP 6141.2 Recognition of Religious Beliefs and Customs
The Board recognizes that students’ education would be incomplete without an understanding of religion in society.
To respect each student’s individual right to freedom of religious practice, religious indoctrination is forbidden in public schools. The schools may teach about religion from a historical, cultural, sociological or other educational perspective. Instruction about religion will not promote nor denigrate the beliefs or customs of any religion or sect, nor should a preference be shown for one religious viewpoint over another.
The Board expects that such instruction will identify principles common to all religions and foster respect for the diversity of religions and customs in the world. As appropriate for a particular course, teachers may objectively discuss the influences of various religions, using religious literature, art, music or symbols to illustrate their relationship with culture, literature or the arts. Such instruction should be designed to broaden the students’ understanding of social and cultural history, and understanding for the multiple ways of life practiced by the peoples of the world. Instruction about religious holidays will be carefully tied to these educational objectives.
The Board recognizes the rights of all students to engage in private religious activity, individually or in groups. This may include reading of religious texts, religious discussions, and prayer. It is the policy of the Board not to prevent, or otherwise deny participation in, constitutionally protected private religious expression in the schools. Staff members will be sensitive to their constitutional obligation not to interfere with the philosophical/religious development of each student, in whatever tradition the student embraces. Students may voluntarily pray at any time before, during or after the school day, including in a public or private place, when not engaged in instruction or other school activities, subject to the same rules of order that apply to other student activities. School-sponsored programs should not be, nor have the effect of being, a religious celebration.