Running head: RELIGION AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS 1

Religion and Public Schools

EDU 210
Maria Perez Garcia
College of Southern Nevada
Running head: RELIGION AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS 2

In the follow case it involves a kindergarten teacher named Karen White, Bill Ward

school principle, and the parents of Ms. White students. This case has to do with Ms. White

deciding to let parent know that she will not be involved in any of the school activities or will be

participating in certain assignments due to her Newley affiliation with Jehovah Witness. This

meant that Ms. White would no longer celebrate events such as Christmas where all her students

would do secret Santa, or decorate her classroom for Halloween, Christmas, Easter and many

more holidays. Due to Ms. White’s new affiliation to Jehovah Witness she decided that she could

no longer sing “happy birthday”, or pledge to the allegiance. Unfortunately when the parents

found out about Mr. Whites decision many were upset and decided to protest. Bill Ward,

Principle of the Elementary school advised for Ms. White’s dismissal due to not meeting the

students needs.

The dismissal of Ms. White was not justifiable because Ms. White was expressing her

new religion affiliation to her students’ parents and students so they would be aware why she

would not be participating in certain school activates. This dismissal of Ms. White is not

justifiable due to her first amendment being violated which is her freedom of religion. In the case

Breen vs. Runkel, immediate elimination of prayer, bible reading, and bible stories was against

many of the teachers and students first amendment (Breen v. Runkel, 1985). The bible club was

not supported by Allendale public school district which upset many students. In this case the first

amendment rights or many students and teachers was being violated (Breen v. Runkel , 1985).

This case is similar to the case of Ms. White since her rights as a teacher were being violated by

the school due to her new religious affiliation.

The reason Ms. White’s also had an unjustifiable basis that for her dismissal. There was

not enough evidence in the case of Ms. White to justify that she may have been teaching religion
Running head: RELIGION AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS 3

in the classroom. In the case West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, this involved

Johovah witness members to not pledge to any symbol or object (West Virginia State Board of

Education v. Barnette, 1943). In the case of Ms. White since she has decided to no Pledge to the

allegiance she has the freedom under the first amendment to not pledged to the allegiance if she

does not please to.

Ms. White is a teacher who has recently decided to Newley affiliate herself with Jehovah

Witness, unfortunately due to her new affiliation as a Jehovah Witness she has decided to not do

any activity that may go against her belief which may go against the students needs. Although

Ms. White has her right to the first amendment, which is her freedom of religion it is involving

the education of her students in the case of not participating for the pledge of allegiance. In the

case Marchi v. Board of cooperative educational services of Albany, a special education teacher

named Marchi who taught socially and emotionally distraught teenager students underwent a

dramatic conversion to Christianity (Marchi v. Board of Cooperative Educ, 1999). Marchi

acknowledged that he shared his new experience with his students and decided to modify his

instructional program in order to teacher topics such as forgiveness, reconciliation, and god

(Marchi v. Board of Cooperative Educ, 1999). BOCES is a regional voluntary cooperative

association of school districts with responsibility for the administration of special educational

programs. When BOCES heard about the religious involvement Marchi was having in his class

they decided to right him a cease and desist, which Marchi was very much against (Marchi v.

Board of Cooperative Educ, 1999). In this case I think that the similarities that high school

teacher Marchi and Ms. White have is that they are both having their religious beliefs impact the

class which should not happen. The school and church are to be separate and no be involved or

be implanted into a students education.

Running head: RELIGION AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS 4

In a classroom it is well known that religion is to not be taught at a public school under

the Case Roberts v. Madigan, Mr. Roberts a fifth grade teacher would set 15 minutes for

students to have silent reading. During those 15 minutes students were able to bring in a book to

school and read. Mr. Roberts decided to bring in two Bible book in which he would read during

those 15 minutes. Mr. Roberts also had a display poster that said, “you have only to open your

eyes to see the hand of god” (Roberts v. Madigan, 1990). There was a parent who complained to

Principal Madigan about the bible books Mr. Roberts had in his class. Principal Madigan decided

to warn Mr. Roberts about not reading the bible during school in which Mr. Roberts was against

(Roberts v. Madigan, 1990). This case ruled that the Principle did not violate Mr. Roberts rights

because it simply prevented Mr. Roberts from teaching religion in class (Roberts v. Madigan,

1990). This case is similar to Ms. Whites case because she is letting Parents and students know

about her new religion affiliation, although Ms. White and Mr. Roberts have their first

amendment right their religion influencing the class should not happen at all. Religion is to not

be involved in the classroom.

In the case of Ms. White against the Principle Ward I believe that her dismissal was not

done under justifiable basis. Since Ms. White decided to change to a different religion it was a

good decision of her part to make her students and the parents students aware as to why she is no

longer doing any school activates that may go against her beliefs. It would be incorrect if she had

decided to keep quiet about the change she is going through and to try and teach about religion in

the classroom. She has the right as a teacher to her first amendment and not be dismissed due to

her actions.
Running head: RELIGION AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS 5

Reference

West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943)

Breen v. Runkel, 614 F. Supp. 355 (W.D. Mich. 1985)

Marchi v. Board of Cooperative Educ. Serv, 173 F.3d 469 (2d Cir. 1999)

Roberts v. Madigan, 921 F.2d 1047 (10th Cir. 1990)