A bill pre-filed by State Rep. Reed Ingram, R-Montgomery, proposes an amendment to the state constitution requiring schools to lead students in the Pledge of Allegiance or face funding cuts.
The bill would require each local school board other than approve a policy establishing that the pledge of allegiance be conducted at the beginning of each school day. Failure to approve such a policy would result in the State Superintendent of Education withholding 25 percent of that school board’s money. The Legislature could then further reduce the board’s funding for continued violations,
The constitutional amendment would go beyond the pledge; it would require local school boards other than also hold a vote on whether to begin each day with prayer and reading of the Bible “or other religious text.” Local boards do not have to adopt such a policy, but a failure to hold a timely vote would automatically trigger a 25 percent loss in funding similar to the failure to adopt a policy mandating the Pledge of Allegiance. The Legislature could further reduce the school district’s funding for continued failures to hold a vote.
The prayer and Bible reading would be voluntary for students and employees, requiring a consent form to be signed. The amendment would prohibit the prayer and Bible reading from being conducted in the presence of a student or employee who has not signed the consent form, and the religious time could not be a substitute for instructional time.
The bill is the latest form of Alabama Republican efforts to inject religion, particularly Christianity, and nationalism into schools alongside other bills including display of the Ten Commandments, mandated conducting of the National Anthem and voluntary religious instructional time for students.
