Lawmakers in Pennsylvania are preparing to introduce a bill that allows public school teachers to wear religious garb in the classroom.
Current law prohibits every Pennsylvania public school teacher from wearing any dress, mark, emblem or insignia that would indicate they belong to any religious order or sect, while teaching in class.
…
"In its current form, this law affects public school teachers of all faiths, and it prevents those who wear religious garb as an expression of his or her faith from becoming teachers in public schools," [co-sponsor Rep. Eugene] DePasquale said. "Repealing this law is not about providing a pulpit from which a teacher could proselytize his or her faith but, instead, is about providing for religious neutrality so that every teacher, regardless of religious faith, may freely exercise his or her religion in the most ordinary way."
Pennsylvania is one of only two states (along with Nebraska) to still have such strict prohibitions on religious attire in the classroom. Recently, Oregon repealed a similar provision, following encouragement from several groups including the Baptist Joint Committee.
