Several Des Moines elementary schools have recently come under fire for ignoring constitutional provisions for separation of church and state.

Heartland Club is a Christian organization sponsored by 11 conservative churches and church groups. Voluntary in nature, the club is conducted after school has let out. It pays about $5000 per year to operate at several area schools.

A Supreme Court decision states that as long as a group doesn’t interfere with school activities it must be allowed access to public property. Groups must only provide a rental fee and liability insurance.

Since the activity is conducted after-school, and intentionally free of either direct or indirect coercion, there really isn’t a danger of violating any constitutional or personal rights.

But what some parents object to is the lack of distinction between education and religion in the mind of a child.

While this raises an interesting question, it’s not as disturbing as an issue, as say, prayer in the classroom.

Instead, in this case, responsibility is left to the parent. Since the state in no way sanctions club participation, it itself is not at fault for invoking any related confusion in a child’s mind.