A kindergartner is told he cannot have his mom read to the class from the Bible, but parents can read about witches or ghosts. A valedictorian has the plug pulled on her graduation speech because she starts talking too much about God. Do students retain their First Amendment rights, or has freedom of religion been spun into freedom from religion? Below are some recent cases raising that perennial question.
PENNSYLVANIA
When kindergartner Wesley Busch wanted to have his mother read a Bible story to the class for his All About Me activity, the school told his mother, "No." Even though the activity was supposed to allow students to tell about themselves, and the Bible is little Wesley Busch's favorite book, the school said that the Bible was off bounds because it promotes a "specific religious point of view." Wesley's teacher suggested Ms. Busch read something about witches and Halloween instead.
A U.S. District Court sided with the school recently, deciding that the school could ban Bible reading as too "proselytizing." In response, the conservative Alliance Defense Fund has challenged the lower court ruling, arguing that the decision frees schools to abuse students' freedoms of speech and religion.
"The school's decision to ban religious speech is nothing more than blatant viewpoint discrimination," said ADF Legal Counsel Jeremy Tedesco. "Indeed, the Bible reading at issue in this case is Wesley's speech: his mother came to the class at his request, to read his book selection, so that he could share himself with his classmates," the ADF said.
COLORADO
Erica Corder spoke about Jesus and the cross in her 30-second portion of a graduation speech at Lewis-Palmer High School in Denver in June 2006. Following her 30 seconds, which were part of a full speech made by all 15 graduating student speakers, Corder was escorted to the principal's office. Principal Mark Brewer told Corder that her speech was "immature" and said that she would not receive her diploma until she apologized publicly. Under coercion, Corder wrote an apology that was emailed to the entire high school community. She was required to include a statement that she knew the school would not have approved her graduation speech if she had asked beforehand. After a year of embarrassment and the school's refusal to change its speech policy, Corder has decided to sue the school district over the incident.
NEVADA
A similar incident occurred two states over. Brittany McComb's 2006 valedictorian speech was heavily censored after she submitted it for approval prior to graduation. School officials edited out Biblical references, several instances of "Lord" and the only reference to "Christ." Believing that the school was violating her right to free speech, McComb started to give her original speech at the graduation ceremony. As she began to make references to the love of God and the hole He had filled in her life, however, the school pulled the plug on her microphone. Despite a chorus of booing from the audience, McComb's speech was effectively ended. Attorneys for The Rutherford Institute soon filed a First Amendment case on her behalf.
"This is yet another example of a politically correct culture silencing Christians in order to not offend those of other beliefs," said John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute. "Brittany McComb worked hard to earn the right to address her classmates as valedictorian and she has a constitutional right-like any other student-to freely speak about the factors that contributed to her success, whether they be a supportive family, friends or her faith in Jesus Christ."
Conclusion
The First Amendment guarantees that U.S. citizens have the freedom to express themselves and their religious beliefs. While schools may not legally be allowed to promote one religious faith over another, the Supreme Court has ruled repeatedly that students within those schools retain their religious freedom when they walk through the school doors.
