Column by Austin Schmitt

Breckenridge County in Northwest Kentucky, just west of Elizabethtown, played host to a controversial scene that included a mixture of public education, sports and religion. With Kentucky firmly entrenched in the Bible Belt, it is no wonder that a voluntary bonding trip turned religious stirred a debate.

“Eight or nine” high school students were baptized on a voluntary trip coordinated by their football coach. Not only is the number of students baptized up for argument but also what kind of trip it was, who sanctioned the trip and what happened while on the trip is not clear.

The (Louisville) Courier-Journal first reported this story in its Sunday edition. The news report said that the majority opinion of those involved in the trip were under the impression that the trip would “include only a motivational speaker and a free steak dinner.” If this is true, then it is fair to say that the coach had no intention of blurring the divide.

However, one mom argued that the coach who supervised the trip pushed his faith on her son. She said, “Nobody should push their faith on anybody else.”

She also said that she did not give consent for her son to be baptized while attending a trip that was put on by public school employees and used public school facilities, i.e. the bus.

Now, she may have an argument. If in fact this trip falls under the school’s jurisdiction, this trip may be breaking a law, but at what cost?

In situations like these, the ones always left out are the kids. For most students on campus at UK, living the life of a 16-year-old occurred not too long ago. Everyone can remember, for the most part, what that entailed. The latter years of high school were times for learning and discovery. “The best years of your life,” as some people refer to it, could possibly begin at the 16th birthday.

When the dust settled, there was one outspoken mother visibly upset that her son chose to be baptized or was possibly forced into choosing a religion. While the details are still hazy, it is obvious that this young adult made a decision in his life.

Instead of the angry mother popping off to the media and making a big deal of this situation, she should maybe try and talk to her son to see why he did what he did. Nowhere in the article did it mention what the student was trying to do.

As impressionable as 16-year-olds are, they are also capable of making decisions in their own lives. If the kid chose to be Catholic, then let him be Catholic. What gives the mother the right to choose what religion her son decides to be? What better time in his life to decide what path he chooses to pursue than now?

While details continue to unfold in this case, keep an attentive eye to this situation. Religion and public education tend to not mix well. This is an odd case that is sure to come to an interesting conclusion.

Besides not knowing what truly happened, this “trip” raises some serious questions. How far does the line separating public education and religion extend? Who has the right to decide what religion a person follows? At what age can one truly decide what he or she wants out of religion?

Religion has always been a point of friction in this country. The U.S. Supreme Court has fought these battles for years upon years. People fought these battles so they could truly feel freedom of religion. When a public school employee takes students on a trip that involves religious experiences, does it constitute a compromise of the separation of religion and state?

The pastor of the church where the boy was baptized, Rev. Ron Davis, said when minors wish to get baptized, they must receive consent from their parent. Davis pretty much summed up the whole situation with two sentences. Apparently confused by how old the children were, Davis continued the trend of not knowing the details of the situation by saying, “Sometimes 16-year-olds look like 18 years. We did the best we could.”

Amen, Reverend. Amen.