WASHINGTON (AP/KNX 1070) — It's back to school for Karen Pence, Vice President Mike Pence's wife. But the school does not welcome all families.
Mrs. Pence's return to teaching at a Virginia school that lists "homosexual or lesbian sexual activity" as among the disqualifying criteria for employees is drawing criticism from the nation's largest gay rights advocacy group.
The office of the vice president's wife said it was "absurd" to attack both her decision to resume teaching art to elementary students as well as the school's religious doctrine.
The Human Rights Campaign tweeted that the "Pences never seem to miss an opportunity to show their public service only extends to some."
Mrs. Pence began teaching art to elementary students at Immanuel Christian School in Northern Virginia on Tuesday. Mrs. Pence accepted the job in December and was to have rebooted her teaching career on Monday. But classes were canceled after a heavy weekend snowfall across the Washington region.
Her office says she'll teach twice a week until May.
Mrs. Pence was a teacher for 25 years, including 12 teaching art at Immanuel Christian School, before then-U.S. Rep. Mike Pence was elected Indiana's governor.
Mrs. Pence's immediate predecessor, Jill Biden, wife of former Vice President Joe Biden, taught English twice a week at a Northern Virginia community college during his two terms.
According to the school's parent agreement, posted online, the school asks parents to cooperate in its “biblical morality” policy.
Per the document, parents are required to acknowledge the sanctity of marriage as an exclusive heterosexual practice. According to the parent agreement, families who participate, support, condone, or practice “sexual immorality, homosexual activity or bi-sexual activity” go against the principles of the school.
"I understand that the school reserves the right, within its sole discretion, to refuse admission to an applicant or to discontinue enrollment of a student if the atmosphere or conduct within a particular home, the activities of a parent or guardian, or the activities of the student are counter to, or are in opposition to, the biblical lifestyle the school teaches. This includes, but is not limited to contumacious behavior, divisive conduct, and participating in, supporting, or condoning sexual immorality, homosexual activity or bi-sexual activity, promoting such practices, or being unable to support the moral principles of the school. (Lev. 20:13 and Romans 1:27.) I acknowledge the importance of a family culture based on biblical principles and embrace biblical family values such as a healthy marriage between one man and one woman."