Tiffany Benson, founder of Restore Parental Rights in Education, said that faith should not be mandated in schools and emphasized the importance of freedom of religious choice. The statement was made on the Grand Canyon Times Podcast.
“I don’t believe that Christianity should be mandated in school,” said Benson, Education Activist Podcast Host. “I don’t think any religion should be mandated. We all have free will.”
Arizona has seen intensifying debates about religion in public schools, particularly around parental rights, curriculum content, and the First Amendment. According to Arizona Policy, state guidelines affirm that students have religious liberty protections but public schools cannot sponsor religious activity. This balance fuels disputes over free exercise and establishment concerns. These tensions have surfaced in school board meetings and legislative discussions.
Public opinion in Arizona on religion in schools is divided. According to Pew Research Center, about 53% of Arizona adults fall into a middle category when asked about teacher-led prayers to Jesus in public schools, indicating no clear consensus. This reflects how attitudes on faith in education remain contentious in the state compared to stronger views nationally.
State-level policies across the U.S. vary widely in addressing religion in education. As reported by Education Week, Republican-led legislatures in several states have introduced bills permitting Bible courses, prayer accommodations, or religious displays in schools, often testing the boundaries of church-state separation. Arizona is among the states where such proposals have drawn scrutiny but not sweeping adoption.
Benson is an Arizona education activist and commentator who founded “Restore Parental Rights in Education.” According to the Arizona Daily Independent, she has written extensively on parental oversight in curricula, advocates against what she views as ideological content in schools, and produces podcast content highlighting faith and education issues. Her activism includes addressing local school board meetings and civic groups.
