Iowa schools could hire religious chaplains under proposed legislation

https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2024/01/30/iowa-schools-could-hire-religious-chaplains-under-proposed-legislation/?emci=68e96e25-cabf-ee11-b660-002248223197&emdi=ae847e47-30c0-ee11-b660-002248223197&ceid=78311.

Iowa school districts could hire religious chaplains to counsel students under a bill given preliminary approval Tuesday in a House subcommittee.

House File 2073 advanced after the Tuesday meeting; a Senate subcommittee passed its version of the bill, Senate Study Bill 3092, last week. The legislation would allow chaplains to serve as an employee or volunteer at Iowa schools, providing “support, services and programs” to students.

The proposal is similar to a Texas law signed in 2023, seeking to address staffing shortages by employing chaplains as school counselors. While the Iowa bill would not employ chaplains as counselors, they would be allowed to provide many of the same supports typically covered by counseling services.

The bill does not define “chaplain,” a term that commonly refers to a member of the clergy attached to a military or first responder unit, hospital or private chapel or institution.

Multiple speakers said that they were concerned about the legislation because it does not require chaplains to be licensed, certified or have a special endorsement in order to be able to work in a school — a requirement for other school employees. Chaplains would be required to pass a background check.

Comment:
My schooling consisted of 12 years of catholic school. We had all sorts of religious folks in counseling type roles. I was molested, several of my classmates were molested. Abuse of all types was rampant. When will Iowans wake up to the realize that religion does not equal good?

This is of course yet another attempt by the religious far right to impose their views an children when they are young.