Christian references in art project earn student a 'zero'

[ruthiechan]

People tell me I'm crazy when I say that Christians are being discriminated against. Maybe that's because major news companies don't cover things like this. . .

Christian references in art project earn student a 'zero'

Jeff Johnson - OneNewsNow - 4/2/2008 12:00:00 PM

School officials in Tomah, Wisconsin, are facing a lawsuit after a high school teacher there failed a student's art project because it included a cross and a reference to John 3:16. The school district argues that the student voluntarily waived his First Amendment religious freedoms when he entered the classroom.

A Wisconsin high school senior is suing his school after receiving a zero on an art project that contained Christian references and being told that he had forfeited his First Amendment rights in the classroom. The Tomah High School student included a cross and the words "John 3:16, a sign of love" in his art project. The teacher told him to remove the scripture reference or cover it up with a border. David Cortman, senior legal counsel with the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), says the student refused.

"The teacher gave him a zero for the assignment -- and for the reason, she showed him a policy that every student has to sign," says Cortman. "Now, get this: It says, 'No blood. No violence. No sex' and 'No religion.' And [she] cited that policy as 'waiving' his First Amendment rights" when he came into the class."

The student, Cortman says, was not intimidated by the teacher's apparent anti-religious bias. "This is a student with a, top of his class, 3.5, 3.6 GPA -- [he] tore it in half and said, 'This is an illegal policy,' and handed it back to them."

As the ADF attorney explains, the content discrimination by the teacher is an obvious violation of the free exercise clause of the First Amendment -- and, in fact, favors one religion over another.

"What makes the case more egregious -- and it shows where our public schools are heading -- the same teacher allowed pictures of these demonic, evil-looking beings as part of these assignments, but yet wouldn't allow a small cross and a scripture verse," says Cortman. "So if you look at the dichotomy between what the school is saying is permissible and what they are saying they should be able to censor, I think it's definitely a sad day for public schools."

The pro-family attorney says the legal wrong is compounded by the immoral message the school is sending. "What's most offensive about this case and most egregious in the actions by the school district is the fact that their policy lumps blood, violence, sex, and religion as if those four things are equal," he states.

The student is requesting an injunction declaring the "no religion" policy unconstitutional.

Link to article: Christian references in art project earn student a 'zero' (OneNewsNow.com)

[the Ogre]

I think I would agree with the student. When I write in college, I always write about religion. Every paper, every research project focuses on the following three items:

The subject's impact on religious identity

The subject's impact on urban issues

The subject's impact on the discursive elements between various religious groups in an urban setting

I have never received a failing grade. Why? I write well and I always fulfill the assignment in the process.

The teachers in high school should be held to the same parameters that university and college instructors are in grading. Students must value their first-amendment rights, just as administrators should, and defend them whenever possible.

The problem is that it is now okay to discriminate against religious people and so narrow-thinkers will.

[Moksha]

If this goes to trial, the decision rendered in the court case would have reaching implications as to how far any school can go to abrogate first amendment rights.

[the Ogre]

If this goes to trial, the decision rendered in the court case would have reaching implications as to how far any school can go to abrogate first amendment rights.

That's right. The problem will then be when this moves on to Universities and Graduate Schools.

[puf_the_majic_dragon]

If this goes to trial, the decision rendered in the court case would have reaching implications as to how far any school can go to abrogate first amendment rights.

Ditto that. Ditto Ogre too.

When I was in high school it was standard school practice for students to stand for the pledge of allegiance every morning. I was feeling particularly upset with some of the things going on with my government at the time so I chose not to stand - and was verbally reamed by the school's head librarian for it. So I chose not to hang out in the library in the mornings.

A good book on this subject (actually - the opposite stance that I took) is "Nothing But the Truth" by Avi. Based on a true story about a high schooler who gets in trouble for singing along with the Star-spangled Banner played every morning at his school. It's an easy read, but well worth it.

I think schools are taking too many liberties with raising our children well outside their duty to educate them.

[VisionOfLehi]

If this goes to trial, the decision rendered in the court case would have reaching implications as to how far any school can go to abrogate first amendment rights.

They can't. This was already decided back in the time of the Draft. Students wore things to protest it. Supreme Court ruled that students retain the Freedom of Speech.

Precedent will get this school backhanded.

Edit: wow, um, I'm apparently too tired to write anything cohesive. Others are welcome to back me up.

[manxman]

I'm horrified. there's too much political correctness about, especially from government offices and educators. I have found much of it from graduate feminist origins in my country. Absolute claptrap. I have no trouble honouring women who honour their womanhood, but can't stand women who won't honour honourable men, few though they be, and I would exclude myself.