Karen Pence, the wife of Vice President Mike Pence, is returning to Immanuel Christian School, a private school in Springfield, Virginia, to teach art part-time.
Pence’s decision to return back to the religious private school has sparked a media frenzy. This has less to do with Pence teaching at the school, but rather has more to do with the school’s policies.
According to NBC News, civil rights and LGBTQ activists have criticized Pence’s decision to return because the school explicitly “refuse[s] admission” to those who don’t live according to the “biblical lifestyle”.
The New York Times says, “The school’s employment application requires candidates to describe their faith in Jesus Christ, affirm that they are a born-again Christian and vow to adhere to specific standards in their personal and professional lives.” The eighth item on the “Articles of Employment” requires applicants to sign their name next to an outline of the school’s beliefs, which says that “certain moral misconduct” like homosexuality and identifying as transgender are disqualifying.
Clearly, the school adheres to its values seriously. Pence, on account of her notoriety and influence, has since been blasted by the media for returning.
I myself don’t have a strong reaction about this topic. I already know that VP Pence is a hardline Christian conservative and I would assume that his wife is similar in that regard. However, I certainly don’t agree with the school’s policies.
I’ve always held true to the belief that what happens with consenting adults in the bedroom is not the business of either the government or private businesses. I myself see no issue with how LGBTQ individuals decide to live their life so long as it doesn’t affect me. To this point in my life, it never has affected me in any fashion and I doubt it ever will.
The school’s policies are reprehensible, sure, but are they legal? Seeing as how the school is still up and running, it must be to some degree.
As mentioned before, Immanuel Christian School is a private school. The institution does not keep itself going with the use of taxpayer money, so on that front, I have no issue with the school’s existence other than my disagreement with their policies. At the end of the day, I could not care less.
What’s funny to me is the scenario surrounding the controversy. The school is receiving so much publicity because it just so happens that the wife of the vice president is working there. Don’t get me wrong, the Pence stamp of approval on an institution like this stinks. But where’s the firestorm on other similar schools? It just strikes me as odd.
When all is said and done, this situation won’t matter much in the grand scheme of things. There’s a market for schools like this and that’s fine with me. If they live or die out, so be it.
Karen Pence | Photo Credit / Wikimedia
