Portfolio Artifact #6

Portfolio Artifact #6
Stephanie Blair
College of Southern Nevada

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Abstract

This essay will be regarding schools and the teachers rights regarding religion in the classroom.
We will explore cases where religion has been involved and how that affect the classrooms. For relatable
purposes we will have a teacher named Karen White involved to make references and hold suit to what
is ightand what is rong

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Everyone has their views on religion and not all of them are the same, none of them every will
be. While some people kept their views to themselves, others are very admit about expressing their
views on others. Since separation of schools and region are often a common practice, when someone
tries to change the way it is handled it can cause issues. For this instance Karen White, a kindergarten
teacher, was no longer allowing her classes to participate in religious events due to her becoming a
Jehovah's Witness.
In defense of Karen, what she is doing is not really considered to be wrong. She has the right to
freedom of speech and has this right thanks to Pickering v Board of Education. While that case was
regarding something a teacher said, it did provide proof that teachers are allowed to say and not say
what they want without any further action being taken against them. For Karen this case would be
important because she is simply expressing her views and nothing more.
Also on her side is the fact that she is not trying to push her views onto her students. She is
simply just not wanting to partake in religious activities in her classroom. While happy birthday and
christmas decorations may not be seen as religious to students the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does require
schools to make accommodations for teachers religious beliefs. While the school may not agree with
what Karen does, if it is something as simple as not forcing her to sing or put up lights, those would be
reasonable accommodations that they can do for her to keep her employed.
On the other hand, the school could say that it is an integral part of the students school
experience to receive those songs and to hang the lights. In Palmer v. Board of Education a teacher
refused to teach certain parts of the curriculum due to religious beliefs. The courts determined that the
students education needs outweighed that of the teachers religious views. With that being said, Karen is
in a way refusing to teach part of what is expected for kindergarten teachers to teach their students and
this could possibly fall under that realm.
Also, it is not Karens place to decide what her students should and should not be learning about.

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The things that they are seeking her dismissal for are all things that all children are at some point taught
about in their lives. Her dismissal is not much different than that of the teacher from the case of LeVake
v. Independent School District no. 656 where the teacher was reassigned due to his refusal to teach
evolution. This is a possible option for Karen but if she refuses to teach these holidays or other religious
related topics it would only be fair to dismiss her.
While it is not fair for a teacher to be dismissed on their own beliefs, it is not fair to the students
to be receiving a lesser education due to the feeling and views of their teachers. Teachers must be
unbiased and teach what must be taught even if they do not believe it in one hundred percent
themselves. Teachers must do what is best for the students and provide them with the best possible
education and let them make their own decisions. Karen should resign if she is not willing to teach what
is expected of her or she should find a school that will allow her to do as she pleases. Students should
never suffer due to their teacher.

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References

Underwood, J., & Webb, L. (2006). School law for teachers: Concepts and applications. Upper Saddle
River, N.J.: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall.