Running Head: Artifact #6: Religion and Public Schools 1

Religion and Public Schools

Amanda L. Laymon

College of Southern Nevada

Artifact #6: Religion and Public Schools 2

Religion and Public Schools

A recently converted Jehovah's Witness, Karen White, is a kindergarten teacher. Upon

her conversion, she told her students and parents that she will no longer lead or participate in

activities or projects that are associated with religion. These activities include holiday

decorations, gift exchanges, birthday celebrations, and the Pledge of Allegiance. Following this

announcement, the parents protested which led to the principal, Bill Ward, requesting her

dismissal due to failure of meeting the students' needs.

The first case to assist the school district in dismissing Karen White from teaching is

Bannon v Palm Beach County (2004). In this presented case, a public school was participating in

a beautification project. The principal and supervising teacher of the project invited students to

paint murals around the school. A few of these murals contained religious quotes and images.

These murals were causing a distraction to the learning environment, which required the

principal to ask the students to edit and remove the religious elements from their work (“Bannon

v Palm Beach County”, 2004). When taken to the Court of Appeals it was found that the murals

were school sponsored, and the school did not violate the students' freedom of expression by

removing them (Underwood et al., 2006, p. 214). Bannon v Palm Beach County (2004)

sufficiently defends the school district's case due to Karen White's choice of religious expression.

The school supports her as a teacher, and by bringing her religious views into her classroom the

school has the right to dismiss her.

The second case to assist the school district in dismissing Karen White from teaching is

Hazelwood School District v Kuhlmeier (1988). In this presented case, a school newspaper

included articles that mentioned women based topics, including birth control and student

pregnancy, as well as, the effects that divorce has on students. The principal of the school
Artifact #6: Religion and Public Schools 3

removed these two pages due to their choice in topic. When taken to court to fight their removal,

the court found that the newspaper was a part of school curriculum and the school's actions to

remove the two papers from the newspaper were justified. Due to this case freedom of speech

can still be restricted if it causes harm to others, even though it may not be disruptive

(Underwood et al., 2006, p. 121). Hazelwood School District v Kuhlmeier (1988) sufficiently

defends the school district's dismissal due to Karen White's use of religion in the classroom. The

school felt it was harmful to the students' education and can therefore dismiss Karen White from

teaching.

The first case presented in favor of Karen White is Wisconsin v Yoder (1972). In

Wisconsin v Yoder (1972) the Conservative Amish Mennonite Church were taken to court due to

violating Wisconsin's law regarding school attendance. Wisconsin requires students to attend

until at least the age of sixteen. Amish children stopped attending after eight grade due to their

religious views. They felt their lives and their children's lives would be endangered if they

attended high school (“Wisconsin v Yoder”, 1972). The courts ruled in favor of the Amish

community stating that Amish children do not have to attend school after they have learned the

basic educational skills (Underwood et al., 2006, p. 211). Wisconsin v Yoder (1972) properly

supports Karen White's case, because just as the Amish community were expressing their

freedom of religion through school attendance, White was expressing her freedom of religion by

not participating in outside curriculum activities. She had no negative intensions, she just didn't

want to participate in something that went against her beliefs and was not a required lesson.

The second case presented in favor of Karen White is Wigg v Sioux Falls School District

(2004). In Wigg v Sioux Falls School District (2004) a third-grade teacher who has worked in the

school district since 1988 attended an after school religious class in the school library. Included
Artifact #6: Religion and Public Schools 4

in the class were nine students, some of which were in her class. After attending the class, one of

the other staff members at her school questioned concern to the principal on whether the teacher

should be attending or not. The principal told the teacher not to attend, but the courts ruled in

favor of her stating that her participation was a private matter and within her rights (“Wigg v

Sioux Falls”, 2004). Wigg v Sioux Falls School District (2004) defends Karen White's case,

because just like this third-grade teacher participated in religious activities at school, White was

participating in her religious freedoms at the school. White was expressing what she thought was

right not what she thought would upset everyone.

My decision regarding this case is for the school district in dismissing Karen White from

teaching, with the use of Bannon v Palm Beach County (2004) and Hazelwood School District v

Kuhlmeier (1988). Although White was doing what she believed to be true, she was participating

in religious activity that disrupted her students' education. Under Bannon v Palm Beach County

(2004) the school has the right to remove material that disrupts and prevents learning in the

educational environment. White's announcement was a disruption to her students and was

preventing them from learning cultural aspects that are related to the holidays (“Bannon v Palm

Beach County”, 2004). Hazelwood School District v Kuhlmeier (1988) added further

clarification to the school's duties. The school can put restrictions on harmful and non-disruptive

material. White did not intend to cause a disruption, but by bringing religion into her class she

was harming the education and beliefs of her students (“Hazelwood School District v

Kuhlmeier”, 1988). She failed to acknowledge the education and most beneficial lessons for

them. Had she stuck to the curriculum and not thought about her own personal views but all the

students' views as well she would not be dismissed, but she didn't and should therefore suffer the

consequences.
Artifact #6: Religion and Public Schools 5

References

"Bannon v Palm Beach County". (2004). Find Law. Retrieved from

http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-11th-circuit/1302084.html

"Hazelwood School District v Kuhlmeier". (1988). United States Courts. Retrieved from
http://www.uscourts.gov/educational-resources/educational-activities/facts-and-case-
summary-hazelwood-v-kuhlmeier

Underwood, J. & Webb, L.D. (2006). School Law for Teachers: Concepts and Applications.
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.

"Wigg v Sioux Falls School District". (2004). Find Law. Retrieved from
http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-8th-circuit/1033214.html

"Wisconsin v Yoder". (1972). Justia U.S. Law. Retrieved from

https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/406/205/case.html