Religion

and Public Schools 1

Religion and Public Schools

Emily Kesler

EDU 210

Portfolio Project 6

March 6, 2017

Religion and Public Schools 2

A kindergarten teacher named Karen White took on the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses

over the course of a school year. She proceeded to inform her parents and students that she

would no longer be able to lead her students in some activities as they conflicted with her

religious beliefs. According to Karen, her new religion meant that she could no longer recite the

Pledge of Allegiance, sing the song “Happy Birthday,” decorate the classroom for any holidays

or participate in gift exchanges that were Christmas themed. The parents of Ms. White’s

students were very unhappy with this and protested. The principal recommended that Karen

White be let go as she was no longer able to tend to all the needs of her students.

In the case, Wisconsin v. Yoder, the supreme court ruled that enforcing a stare

compulsory attendance law against Amish children forcing them to attend school past eighth

grade was infringing upon their religious rights (2006). Because by eighth grade, students have

learned basic educational skills and if their religion deems that they no longer need to attend

school, then they have the right to do so. The Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment

guarantees individuals the right to worship as they choose. Much like the Amish were granted

their right, Karen White is granted her religious rights to participate or not participate in

activities.

In the case, West Virginia State Board of Education v Barnette, Barnette was a student

and a Jehovah’s Whiteness whom because of her religion, denied saying the Pledge of

Allegiance while in school. Barnette was dismissed from school and charged with adolescent

delinquency (casebreifs). The same thing happened to Karen White when the principal

recommended her dismissal from the position because she did not want to recite the Pledge of

Allegiance. This situation violates White’s religious rights.

Religion and Public Schools 3

In the case, Florey v. Sioux Falls School District, Florey, an atheist school teacher

claimed that singing Christmas Carols at the holiday concert violated his right of establishment

and the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment (2006). The court ruled that Florey’s

arguments were not supportable. The court ruled that as long as the activities showed an

“advancement in students” knowledge of culture and heritage, the Christmas carols were

permissible. Being that Christmas carols provide students with an advancement of knowledge in

culture and heritage, Ms. Karen White should have not issue teaching the subject matter as it is

not preaching a religion.

In the case, Clever v. Cherry Hill Tp. Board of Education, the court of New Jersey ruled

to uphold constitutionality of holiday acknowledgement in public schools where their calendar

recognizes mutually nonspiritual and religious holidays (2006). With acknowledgement of all

holidays, Ms. Karen White should not be partial to her religion when it comes to celebrating any

appropriate even in the classroom. Ms. White must not take away the students’ rights to celebrate

whatever holiday they please because of her own religious views.

I feel that the court would rule in favor of the principal’s decision to let Ms. Karen White

go. She is taking away from the students “advancement in knowledge” by deciding what they

will learn based on her own personal religious views. By not allowing her students to decide and

learn about different holidays, both spiritual and non-spiritual, she is taking away their right to

religious freedoms.

Religion and Public Schools 4

Works Cited

Underwood, J., & Webb, L. D. (2006). School law for teachers: concepts and applications.

Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall.

West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette. (n.d.). Retrieved March 07, 2017,

from http://www.casebriefs.com/blog/law/constitutional-law/constitutional-law-keyed-to-

chemerinsky/first-amendment-freedom-of-expression/west-virginia-state-board-of-education-

v-barnette/