PORTFOLIO ASSIGNMENT #6

Portfolio Assignment #6: Religion in the Classroom

Paula Ellico
College of Southern Nevada

PORTFOLIO ASSIGNMENT #6

A kindergartener teacher named Karen White just previously got affiliated with the religious
beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses. Part of this religious groups' beliefs include not celebrating holidays or
birthday. This meant that she could no longer do these things in her classroom for her kids as well. She
announced this to her students and their parents, but they weren't too happy. Parents went to Bill Ward,
the principal, in which he ultimately recommended that she be dismissed. He thought he newly
acquired beliefs would interfere with giving the children what they need.
In the court case Bannon v. Palm Beach Country, a high school student was required to remove
religious parts of the mural she was painting for school by her principal. After it went to court, they
ruled that that ruling was just and was not violating the students rights of freedom of speech and
freedom of expression. The student wanted to express her religious beliefs, but the court ruled that the
principal had the right to get in the way of that. The principal in this case could dictate what the student
could do regarding religion at school. Now, if the principal in that case could do that, what's to say that
Bill Ward can't do the same to Karen White? If the student couldn't show her religious beliefs, why
should Karen White be able to? This court case supports the idea that Bill Ward's decision was justified.
In the court case Downing v. W. Haven Board of Education, a teacher was told to cover the shirt
she was wearing that said Jesus 2000. When this case went to court, they concluded that no rights of
the teacher were violated. Just like in the Bannon court case, the person who wanted to express their
religion was told that they could not. If in both of these cases it was ruled that no rights were violated,
it is easy to infer from this information that the same conclusion would come for Karen White's case.
Although changing a shirt and changing things you do in a classroom are different, the basic idea of the
court cases are whether or not someone can freely express their religious beliefs. The answer to that is
no, they can't. The Downing and Bannon cases both ruled that the principals could make the person not
able to freely express their religion in a school setting. With taking that into consideration, again, it's
easy to conclude that the Karen White case will receive the same verdict. This court case supports the

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idea that Bill Ward's decision was justified.

In the court case, Engle v. Vitale, the verdict stated that no student is to be compelled to say
prayer at school. This verdict is implying that it is not mandatory to participate in this kind of religious
behavior in school. It's also not mandatory that they don't. Therefore, how can it be ruled that Karen
White be required to put aside her religious beliefs and how she desires to express those beliefs? It's not
affecting the children and their learning. If students aren't required to participate in religious practices,
why is it justifiable that a teacher be forced to not participate? Free will is the choice to do or not to do.
There is no forcing or dictation, just a choice. With that, how is it justified that they take away that
choise? This case is against the idea that Bill Ward's decision was justified.
In the court case is Wallace v. Jaffee, the Alabama Supreme Court tried to get a moment of
silence mandated, but the United States Supreme Court never officially made a ruling, so it is neither
banned nor mandatory. This is basically saying that people aren't required to or to not participate
participate. Just like in the last case, Engle v. Vitale, you aren't forced to express or participate in
religious activities. Therefore, you can see how it can't be forced that someone not express their
religious beliefs. So, if someone doesn't want to incorporate a non-mandatory idea into the classroom,
there is nothing to force that they should. This can be directly applied to the Karen White court case. If
she wants to participate in expressing her religious beliefs, she has the right, too. This case is against
the idea that Bill Ward's decision was justified.
In conclusion, I'm siding with the side against Bill Ward's recommendation that Karen White be
dismissed. I'm supporting this side because as the Engle and Wallace cases, it is evident that people can
not be forced to or not to participate in religion related activities. Those verdicts can easily suggest the
same result for the Karen White case.

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References

Underwood, J. (2006). School law for teachers: Concepts and applications. Chapter Eleven
(209-226).
Bannon v. Palm Beach Country U.S. School law for teachers: Concepts and applications (214).
(2006).
Downing v. W. Haven Board of Education U.S. School law for teachers: Concepts and
applications (219). (2006).
Engle v. Vitale U.S. School law for teachers: Concepts and applications (212). (2006).
Wallace v. Jaffee U.S. School law for teachers: Concepts and applications (212). (2006).