AUSTIN, Texas — Over 100 chaplains across the State of Texas have signed a letter asking school districts not to create chaplaincy programs to aid in helping students with their mental health.
"Over the last few years, we have seen an increase in mental health issues in our students," State Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston) said during the 88th legislative session.
Middleton authored Senate Bill 763, a controversial new law that will require districts to say "yay" or "nay" to creating a chaplaincy program to provide mental health support to students.
"That's that's not my area of expertise," Austin-area Rabbi Kelly Levi said.
Levi is one of at least 100 chaplains who signed the letter on Tuesday, begging school districts to decline the legislation because they feel they aren't qualified to do what it asks.
"I wouldn't want anybody to even ask me to go in to support these kids for the things that a school psychologist is there for," Levi said.
SB 763 does not require any training or qualifications to be a school chaplain. A prospective candidate must simply pass a background check.
The Texas American Federation of Teachers (AFT) also disagrees with the law.
"Professional standards and certifications exist for a very good reason and this is one of them," said Kelsey Kling with the Texas AFT.
Districts will also have to decide if chaplains are paid or volunteers. If paid, the law allows schools to use school safety funds to compensate them.
"So, a school district who is looking to minimize their budget in some ways might be thinking it's better to have a volunteer come in to support these children," Levi said. "If they haven't learned how to properly care for the different needs of our students, they're not going to be able to provide the support that these students need."
Another concern is the philosophy of the separation of church and state, which State Sen. Middleton said "wasn't a real doctrine" during the legislative session.
"As you refer to the separation of church and state, that isn't an actual doctrine that was a letter from Jefferson to Danbury Baptist," Middleton said. "That wasn't a real doctrine. What is a real doctrine is the establishment clause."
Middleton said at least 90% of chaplains are Christian, which worries Levi, a Jewish mother.
"There is a great concern that there will be evangelizing from some of these chaplains," Levi said. "I think that for those of us who are not part of the Christian world, we are worried."