Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Portfolio Artifact #6
Edgar Roa
Karen White, a kindergarten teacher, informed her students and the parents of her
students that she could no longer lead certain activities or participate in certain projects because
she had changed her religious beliefs. Her newly acquired affiliation with Jehovah’s Witnesses
prohibits her from participating in certain activities such as: decorating the classroom for
holidays and planning for gift exchanges during the Christmas season. She also cannot not sing
“Happy Birthday” or recite the Pledge of Allegiance. The parents of her students protested. Bill
Ward, the school principal, recommended her dismissal based on her not being able to meet the
Karen White should not be dismissed, The Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment
guarantees individuals the right to worship as they choose (Underwood, 2006). Nobody can
interfere with White’s religious beliefs or practices as long as she is not influencing her students
personal beliefs. White cannot be dismissed just because the parents of her students are not
happy with her decisions. In 1981, in Stone v. Graham, the court ruled that schools cannot
endorse or promote religion (Stone v. Graham) . In America, we are allowed to practice any
religion we choose. Teachers are normal citizens that have the same First Amendment rights.
The only difference is that teachers cannot express their religion in the school setting. White was
not expressing her religious beliefs in school; therefore, Ward does not have a valid reason to
dismiss her.
Karen White has done nothing wrong. She has done nothing disruptive or harmful. She
was just not planning to join in the festivities and activities because her new religion does not
Portfolio Artifact #6 3
allow her to. In 1962, in Engel v. Vitale, the court ruled that students are not obligated to recite a
state-composed prayer (Engel v. Vitale). The same rule should be applied to teachers. The
parents of White’s students and Ward should realize that White is not obligated to do anything
else but teach. Teaching does not include decorating a classroom for holidays or reciting songs.
The Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, prohibits discrimination based on race, color,
religion, sex or national origin (Cornell Law School, 2007). Ward is discriminating her because
of her religion.
The students of Karen White are kindergartens. They are young children who are easily
influenced because they believe everything. In Marchi v. Board of Cooperative Educational
Services, the 2nd Circuit ruled that school officials could order a teacher to refrain from using
kindergarten grade level it is very difficult for a teacher of a different religion to not interfere
with a majority of the student’s beliefs. It is also difficult to not influence the student’s opinions
or beliefs, since kindergarten is the year where most students develop their personality. White
may need to be dismissed because it may be difficult for her keep her private citizen beliefs and
White may not be influencing her students on purpose, but she is influencing her students
unintentionally. By not allowing her classroom to be decorated during holidays and/or planning
for gift exchanges during the Christmas season, White is suppressing her student’s First
Amendment Rights. Many students consider Christmas a religious holiday. In the Tinker v. Des
Moines case, the court agreed that students do not leave their rights at the schoolhouse door
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(Tinker v. Des Moines, 1969). White should make an arrangement so her students could be able
to do the activities their parents want, and if she cannot, she should be dismissed.
White should not be dismissed. As a teacher, White cannot express her religious beliefs
around her students, but she can when she is not teaching. In Stone v. Graham, the court ruled
that schools cannot endorse or promote religion (Stone v. Graham, 1981). Based on the
information, White has never promoted or endorsed her religion at school. In addition, she has
not influenced her students beliefs on purpose. White has done nothing wrong. She refused to
join in the creative activities because of her new religion. In Engel v. Vitale, the court ruled that
students are not obligated to recite a state-composed prayer (Engel v. Vitale, 1 962), which
should be the same for teachers. White is only required to teach. She is not required to do
creative activities like present exchanges and Christmas decorating. White should not be
dismissed just because the parents of her students do not support and respect her religions
principles. White’s First Amendment rights should be respected and she should be able to
References
Cornell Law School. (2007, August 06). Employment Discrimination. Retrieved February 19,
Marchi v. Board of Cooperative Education Services of Albany, 173 F.3d 469 (2nd Cir. 1999).
Underwood, J., & Webb, L. D. (2006). School law for teachers: concepts and applications. Upper