Gettysburg, USA - State Reps. Will Tallman (R-Adams/York) and Eugene DePasquale (D-York) have co-authored that would repeal the “garb statues” of the Public School Code.
House Bill 1581 would repeal Section 1112 of the PSC, which prohibits Pennsylvania school teachers from wearing any garb, mark, emblem or insignia that would indicate he or she was a member of any religious order or sect while performing their duties as a teacher. Violators are required to be suspended from teaching for one year, and multiple offenses are punished with permanent disqualification. A public school director can also be held criminally liable for failing to enforce this prohibition.
“This is about restoring religious neutrality to our public school system and upgrading an old and discriminatory law,” Tallman said. “We want every teacher to be free to exercise his or her religion, regardless of that faith.”
According to Tallman’s press release, Pennsylvania is one of only two states, along with Nebraska, to retain such legislation.
“This antiquated law, which was implemented during a time of anti-Catholic sentiment in our country, affects public school teachers of all faiths,” DePasquale said. “Worse yet, it prevents people who do wear religious garb as part of their faith from becoming teachers in public schools.”
The Rev. Sandra L. Strauss, director of Public Advocacy at Pennsylvania Council of Churches, was pleased with Tallman and DePasquale’s proposed legislation.
“While we oppose religious proselytizing by public school teachers in the classroom, we support the right of teachers to follow religious conscience and the practices of their religious tradition in their dress,” said Strauss. “We thank Reps. DePasquale and Tallman for addressing this outdated legislation.”
Hank Butler, executive director of the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition, was happy to see Pennsylvania join the rest of the country, except Nebraska, in enabling religious freedom of expression.
“The Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition is encouraged by the leadership of Reps. DePasquale and Tallman in putting forth legislation enabling religious garments to be worn by employees in public schools,” said Butler. “This archaic law prohibiting religious freedom has run its course in all but two states in our nation. It is time for Pennsylvania to join the rest of the country, repeal this law and enable religious freedom of expression to be allowed in our schools.”