The Family Policy Network, a conservative Christian advocacy group, has released a position paper regarding its support for “parental rights” bills being proposed in Virginia and Tennessee. The main issue regards after-school clubs at public schools, recent court rulings have allowed for the existence of gay-straight alliances and non-Christian religious fellowships alongside more traditional clubs (SADD, 4-H, Fellowship of Christian Atheletes).

“…scores of public school children have learned important values and engaged in meaningful community service as a result of their participation in school-based clubs. The number and scope of school clubs has increased dramatically in recent years. Currently, clubs promoting astrology, atheism, feminism, homosexuality and even witchcraft are common in public schools, and have often alarmed parents, teachers and administrators in school districts throughout the nation.”

Since “traditional” values (read: Christian and conservative) are no longer the sole voice in after-school clubs, the FPN wants a comprehensive notification and “opt-out” policy for all students.

“Working with parents, educators and legislators; Family Policy Network has drafted a legislative proposal to require school officials to inform parents of school-based clubs, and ultimately to guarantee a parent’s ability to determine whether their own child may participate… FPN’s model legislation requires school districts to give parents information about all non-academic activities in which their child may participate. Parents must be notified of the name of each available club, its mission statement, and cost of participation (if any). Additionally, schools must provide a list of any and all faculty or other adult sponsors involved with each club; as well as any local, regional, state or national organizations with which the club is affiliated and/or associated.”

It might seem fair until your learn that FPN is quick to state that this is “opt-out” only, and they do not advocate “permission slips” or “opt-in” legislation since that could hurt participation in clubs run by their supporters. Under legislation such as this, each parent could tick off a list of groups that the child isn’t allowed to participate in (enforced I would assume by the school). So a Democratic-leaning child of Republicans could be barred from attending a Democrat club, and a Christian child could be allowed to only attend Christian clubs.

“FPN does not support these “opt-in” proposals because they create an undue burden for popular and wholesome clubs like the Key Club or FCA. In order to hold accountable a controversial club that may never have more than 20 or 30 participants, the opt-in legislation has the potential to harm the ability for wholesome clubs like FCA or Key Club to reach hundreds of students.”

Again, this may seem “fair” on the surface, but it favors the majority, removes autonomy of thought and association from (predominantly teenage) children, targets parents and teachers who want to support controversial clubs, and works to isolate and eliminate any club that may run counter to a dominant local ideology. For while a well-mobilized Christian community may “opt-out” their children from anything left-leaning, non-Christian, or outside their social norms, Pagan parents or parents of gay children are generally more likely to allow their children to attend a Christian club if they so desire. Thus allowing free reign to “wholesome” groups while choking off membership in more controversial clubs.

This isn’t about “parental rights” it is about politicians scoring points with conservative Christians and creating laws that work to eliminate support networks for teens who may hold different views from their parents.

Tags: Christianity, Family Policy Network, LGBT, Paganism, Tennessee, Virginia, Wicca, Witchcraft