AmeriCorps can't subsidize indoctrination, court rules.Teachers and instructional aides may not be placed in religious schools to teach religion and engage in sectarian activities with students as part of a federally funded community service program, a federal court has held. U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler Gladys Kessler is an United States District Court Judge for the District of Columbia.[1] She was nominated to the court by President Clinton, a Democrat, and is known as one of the most liberal judges in the D.D.C. of Washington, D.C., ruled July 2 that teachers compensated through the AmeriCorps Education Awards Program may not lead religious activities at parochial schools. AmeriCorps is a national program that sends participants into communities to serve in areas such as education, public safety, health and environment. After serving for 10-12 months, participants receive a $4,725 education award, which can be used for college expenses or to pay off student loans. Kessler noted that it is undisputed that the AmeriCorps program "offers program participants a national service education award ... to work in religious schools where they teach religion to their students throughout the school day, lead their students in prayer multiple times a day, and attend Mass with their students." The American Jewish Congress
The American Jewish Congress describes itself as an association of Jewish Americans organized to defend Jewish interests at home and abroad through public policy advocacy, using diplomacy, filed suit against the Corporation for National and Community Service The Corporation for National and Community Service, or CNCS, was created as an independent agency of the United States Government by The National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993. , which administers AmeriCorps' education division, in 2002, arguing that the program was being used to advance religion in violation of the First Amendment. In her American Jewish Congress v. Corporation for National and Community Service ruling, Kessler agreed, holding that the program "results in impermissible im·per·mis·si·ble adj. Not permitted; not permissible: impermissible behavior. im government indoctrination in·doc·tri·nate tr.v. in·doc·tri·nat·ed, in·doc·tri·nat·ing, in·doc·tri·nates 1. To instruct in a body of doctrine or principles. 2. in violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment refers to the first of several pronouncements in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, stating that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.... ." |
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