Religious freedom in schools

Freedom of religion is one of the cornerstones of our democracy. Earlier this month, the Ohio House approved the Ohio Student Religious Liberties Act, which will better protect students' rights and provide greater clarity for our schools when dealing with the religious expression of students. My legislation doesn't create any new rights. Instead, it is intended to protect the religious freedom of all students, regardless of their faith or beliefs.No student — be they Muslim, Jewish, Christian, atheist or agnostic — should ever feel that they must surrender their rights and beliefs because they attend a public school. It's also important, especially in today's increasingly diverse (and litigious) society, that our schools be given clear, unambiguous guidelines to help them chart a clear pathway for balancing the rights of students while also staying within constitutional guidelines.These aren't new rules, rather, this legislation is designed to reflect what the courts have consistently said in regards to religious expression in our public schools. Opponents of the legislation, House Bill 164, have falsely claimed that students could submit inaccurate classwork in the name of religion. This myth has no foundation and can be easily disproved.The plain language of the bill itself makes clear that grades and scores "shall be calculated using ordinary academic standards of substance and relevance." Further, the bill makes clear students will be neither rewarded nor penalized based on the religious or non- religious content of their work.Here's an example: If a class is being tested on the theory of evolution, all students, regardless of religious beliefs, must demonstrate an understanding of the theory of evolution. A student cannot say, "My religion tells me the world is only 6,000 years old, therefore I don't have to answer the question." In other words, the student will be tested and graded on the material in the class.Similarly, if students are assigned to write a book report on any book of their choosing, they cannot be penalized for picking a religious text (or a non-religious text), so long as they fulfill the requirements of the assignment.The examples are endless but the goal is the same: To ensure students are treated equally.Similarly, we're also making clear that a student may engage in religious expression before, during and after school hours in the same extent and in the same manner as a student is permitted to engage in secular activities. Religious and non-religious activities are treated equally, which has long been the view of the courts.Too often, lack of clear guidance for our schools has caused confusion for students, parents and teachers alike. It's time to ensure that we protect the rights of all students, of all faiths, while giving our schools the legal guidance they need to ensure they are balancing the constitutional rights and freedoms of all students.It's time to pass the Ohio Student Religious Liberties Act. To read the current version of House Bill 164, please visit: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-documents?id=GA133-HB-164 *Editor's note: Ginter is serving his third term as a state representative for the 5th Ohio House District, which encompasses all of Columbiana County. House Bill 164 is now pending in the Ohio Senate.