Let's see, Chicago has a teacher shortage, they're one of the least desirable places to teach, their schools are all failing, what should they do?
I know, turn away willing and able student teachers because we don't like their Christian beliefs!
Why would Chicago Public Schools, which are a disaster on every level, turn away cheap labor from student teachers who attend a 100+ year old Chicago institution?
Could it be that they hate Christians?
Here's more from the Alliance Defending Freedom's press release on the lawsuit:
Moody Bible Institute's Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education degree program prepares future elementary school teachers. Prospective teachers are required to spend a minimum amount of time in classroom observation, practicum, and student teaching hours. Chicago Public School officials, however, refuse to allow Moody students to participate in its student teaching program unless Moody abandons its religiously based hiring practices and hire employees who disagree with Moody's core mission and biblical values.
Chicago is trying to force Moody to abandon their Christian hiring principles in exchange for letting their students teach in schools for practicums and internships.
As if Chicago is in a position to be choosy about teachers.
In January 2024, the Illinois State Board of Education approved Moody Bible Institute's Elementary Education degree program. But Chicago Public Schools refused to allow Moody's participation in the student-teaching program, citing its policy that colleges and universities participating in the student-teaching program cannot 'discriminate against any individual with respect to compensation, or other terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of . . . religion, . . . gender identity/expression, [or] sexual orientation.' When Moody sought a potential amendment to the policy recognizing its rights as a religious institution, Chicago Public Schools continued to refuse to accommodate Moody's religious rights.
ADF attorneys filed The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago v. Board of Education of the City of Chicago with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division.
I imagine this won't go well at the District Court level in Illinois, but ADF has seen some great legal victories at the national level throughout the years.
We'll keep you updated.
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