Peter Greene reports on the persistence of Christian Nationalism, this time in Louisiana:
Louisiana just passed a law to require classrooms to display the Ten Commandments, and critics have already raised the alarm about the violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Civil Liberties groups are already challenging the law.
As Greene notes, this is disturbing enough - and demonstrates a clear preference for one particular religious tradition.
It’s also part of a larger trend of Christian Nationalists seeking to meld government institutions into playgrounds for a very specific brand of Christianity.
Advancing the Hillsdale Vision
While Gov. Bill Lee failed to secure his signature policy initiative (universal school vouchers) this past legislative session, he has indicated he will continue the fight until the end of his term in 2026.
In fact, he’s already campaigning for preferred candidates who support his dream of funneling public funds into unaccountable private (and primarily religious) schools.
Lee’s affection for Hillsdale College’s charter schools is also troubling.
Make no mistake, Hillsdale’s plans include not only the collapse of Tennessee public schools, but also the ability to treat local taxpayers as an ATM machine in support of an extreme agenda.
And whether through vouchers or charter schools, Lee is hellbent on advancing his radical agenda that would effectively dismantle public education as we know it in Tennessee.
Is Lee Lamenting Lizzette?
One reason Lee struggled to push vouchers over the finish line this past legislative session was his Education Commissioner, Lizzette Reynolds.
Not only did Reynolds fail to persuade GOP lawmakers to vote for vouchers, she also created some paperwork problems - claiming benefits she hadn’t yet earned and taking trips paid for by lobbyists.
A new report reveals that average teacher pay in the state ranks Tennessee 44th in the nation – and among the lowest in the Southeast. Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia all pay their teachers more than Tennessee does.