1

Artifact #4

Alyssa Collins

EDU 210

06/23/2019

Dr. Dale Warby

2
Artifact #4

A kindergarten teacher, Karen White, is a Jehovah Witness. She informed the parents that

because of her religion she will not be participating in decorating the classrooms for holidays, or

any kind of gift exchanges. She could also not recite the Pledge of Allegiance. The parents did

not approve. Bill Ward, the principle, filed for a dismissal of White because she could not

effectively meet the needs for her students. White sued the school saying that her First

Amendment rights of freedom of religion have been harmed.

One case that supports White is Wisconsin v. Yoder. In this court case, three families were

prosecuted in Wisconsin because the law required that all children had to attend public schools

until 8th grade. The three families are Amish and do not believe in sending their children to

school past 8th grade. The court rules in favor of the Amish families for the free exercise of

religion.

Another case that supports White would be West Virginia State Board of Education v.

Barnette. In this court case, Jehovah witness students were sent home for not saluting the flag.

They were also threatened with reform schools and their parents could face prosecution. The

court ruled that having public schoolchildren salute that flag was unconstitutional. This would

violate their first amendment rights.

One case that is for the Ward would be School of Abington Township Pennsylvania v.

Schempp. In the court case, Pennsylvania law required public schools to read from the bible at

the opening of each school data. The district court rules that this violated the first amendment

and was unconstitutional. They stated that Public school cannot sponsor Bible readings.

Another court case that would rule in favor of Ward is Bannon v. Palm Beach County. During

construction, a student painted a mural that was religious as part of the school’s beautification
3
Artifact #4

project. The principle required that the student removed the religious mural. The court ruled that

the principle did not violate the students First Amendment right, free speech or free exercise.

In my opinion, the courts should rule in favor of Ward. The teacher should participate in

decorating the classroom. My opinion comes from Bannon v. Palm Beach County. The school

has every right to dismiss teachers or change the school in a way that will benefit the students.

By decorating the classroom or reciting the Pledge of Allegiance makes the students feel more

included with everyone in the school.

4
Artifact #4

References

Stone v. Graham, 449 U.S. 1104 (1981)

School Dist. Of Abington Township, Pa. v. Schempp, 374 U.S. 225 (1963)

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

Wisconsin v. Jonas Yoder, 406 U.S. 205 (1972)