CITIZEN: Christian moral instruction is good for all students and for society.

Many individuals on the Left voiced opposition to HB 829 from Rep. Shane Baker, which would have allowed parents to opt their children into off-campus religious instruction during the school day at government schools. Though the bill didn’t pass, I want to give an argument for why bills like HB 829 are constitutionally protected, why Christian moral instruction is good for everyone, and why the General Assembly should take action to pass legislation on this topic during the 2027 General Assembly.

So first, how are they constitutionally protected?

The First Amendment ensures that we all have a right to live according to our religious convictions and teach them to our children. This right does not stop at the door of government schools, as the U.S. Supreme Court made clear last June in Mahmoud v. Taylor. SCOTUS also explicitly recognized this right with their 1952 ruling in Zorach v. Clauson.

That decision, which has stood unchallenged for nearly 75 years, ruled that upon parental request, public school students are allowed to have release time during school hours to attend religious instruction when it is privately funded and off school property. This means that bills like HB 829 are a constitutionally protected expression of religious liberty, not a violation of it.

Now why do I believe Christian moral instruction is good for everyone?

First, Christian moral instruction is beneficial to students and schools. Let’s take LifeWise Academy, which opponents of moral instruction have publicly slandered in an attempt to stop moral instruction programs. A study conducted by Thomas P. Miller and Associates found significant benefits for students starting within the first year of LifeWise in their schools. Within the first year, school attendance increased. By years two and three, the discipline rate dropped significantly. Also, during year three and into year four, academic performance went up.

As a Christian, these findings don’t surprise me. The Bible shapes people’s consciences. There is no aspect of the Bible that won’t lead to flourishing if you apply it to your life. That’s why it’s also not surprising that most educators with LifeWise programs at their schools see benefits for students and schools, and 97% of parents with kids enrolled in the program would recommend it to others.

Second, biblical ethics are beneficial to society. If you take the ethical commands of the Bible and apply them, society will be much healthier. The Bible commands us to be faithful to our spouses (Hebrews 13:4). The Bible tells us that human life is valuable (Psalm 139:14) and to not murder people (Exodus 20:13). The Bible tells children to obey their parents (Ephesians 6:1). The Bible tells us to not steal from people (Exodus 20:15). The list can go on, but imagine the type of society we would have if everyone applied these principles to their lives.

Third, Christian moral instruction provides a meaningful story, a worldview, to understand all of life. If you aren’t a Christian, you may disagree, but at least hear me out. We are all trying to understand the world that we live in. Our hearts are naturally yearning for something outside of ourselves that is greater than ourselves. Christianity uniquely meets this yearning.

Christians believe that our fundamental problem is that we’ve sinned against God. We believe we need to be saved from our sin and that God provided that salvation in Jesus Christ. We believe Jesus took the wrath of God on our behalf by dying on a cross, and we believe that three days later he rose from the dead ensuring our salvation. We believe anyone who repents and believes in Jesus as their risen Savior and Lord will be saved. This is the gospel message that shapes the way Christians understand all of reality.

If someone disagrees, that is their right. HB 829 wouldn’t have forced anyone to attend LifeWise’s program or any other religious release time class. Instead, it would have upheld religious freedom for everyone by allowing parents to opt our children into moral instruction that aligns with our religious convictions.

We have a right to raise our children according to our religious and moral convictions. HB 829 would have enforced that right. But sadly, HB 829 didn’t pass this session, and as the law stands, school boards have the power to deny our First Amendment rights in the public schools. It has also been made clear that they have no problem exercising that power.

In October of last year, the Oldham County Board of Education voted unanimously to reject moral instruction in their schools. In August of last year, the Warren County school board voted against moral instruction in their schools. In November of last year, Kenton County and Calloway County school boards voted against moral instruction in their schools. In December of last year, the Boone County school board did the same thing. We can continue to expect many other school boards to follow suit unless something is done.

This is why next session the Kentucky General Assembly must pass legislation similar to HB 829. Even though moral instruction is constitutionally protected and Christian moral instruction benefits everyone, school boards continue to reject it. Instead of upholding the Constitution, these school boards violate the Constitution, and they will continue to do so until a law like HB 829 is passed.