What do you think about this? I am blown away by it. My husband told be about it this morning and was shocked at how bad it has gotten with public schools. We have had our son in private school up until this yr. Reading things like this makes us want to put him back in for next yr. I would love to know what ya'll think of this....
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MADISON, Wis. — A Tomah High School student has filed a federal lawsuit alleging his art teacher censored his drawing because it featured a cross and a biblical reference.
The lawsuit alleges other students were allowed to draw "demonic" images and asks a judge to declare a class policy prohibiting religion in art unconstitutional.
"We hear so much today about tolerance," said David Cortman, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal advocacy group representing the student. "But where is the tolerance for religious beliefs? The whole purpose of art is to reflect your own personal experience. To tell a student his religious beliefs can legally be censored sends the wrong message."
Tomah School District Business Manager Greg Gaarder said the district hadn't seen the lawsuit and declined to comment.
According to the lawsuit, the student's art teacher asked his class in February to draw landscapes. The student, a senior identified in the lawsuit by the initials A.P., added a cross and the words "John 3:16 A sign of love" in his drawing.
His teacher, Julie Millin, asked him to remove the reference to the Bible, saying students were making remarks about it. He refused, and she gave him a zero on the project.
Millin showed the student a policy for the class that prohibited any violence, blood, sexual connotations or religious beliefs in artwork. The lawsuit claims Millin told the boy he had signed away his constitutional rights when he signed the policy at the beginning of the semester.
The boy tore the policy up in front of Millin, who kicked him out of class. Later that day, assistant principal Cale Jackson told the boy his religious expression infringed on other students' rights.
Jackson told the boy, his stepfather and his pastor at a meeting a week later that religious expression could be legally censored in class assignments. Millin stated at the meeting the cross in the drawing also infringed on other students' rights.
The boy received two detentions for tearing up the policy. Jackson referred questions about the lawsuit to Gaarder.
Sometime after that meeting, the boy's metals teacher rejected his idea to build a chain-mail cross, telling him it was religious and could offend someone, the lawsuit claims. The boy decided in March to shelve plans to make a pin with the words "pray" and "praise" on it because he was afraid he'd get a zero for a grade.
The lawsuit also alleges school officials allow other religious items and artwork to be displayed on campus.
A Buddha and Hindu figurines are on display in a social studies classroom, the lawsuit claims, adding the teacher passionately teaches Hindu principles to students.
In addition, a replica of Michaelangelo's "The Creation of Man" is displayed at the school's entrance, a picture of a six-limbed Hindu deity is in the school's hallway and a drawing of a robed sorcerer hangs on a hallway bulletin board.
Drawings of Medusa, the Grim Reaper with a scythe and a being with a horned head and protruding tongue hang in the art room and demonic masks are displayed in the metals room, the lawsuit alleges.
A.P. suffered unequal treatment because of his religion even though student expression is protected by the First Amendment, according to the lawsuit, which was filed Friday.
"Students do not shed their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse gate," the lawsuit said. "No compelling state interest exists to justify the censorship of A.P.'s religious expression."
Elizabeth is a discussion leader for arizonamoms she writes about everything from her needing mommy advice to crazy and silly stuff that happens. She lives in the West Valley with her husband and 3 children, Joshua 12, Brooke 2 and Mason 10 months
If you think placing your
If you think placing your kid in private school means he is safe, you are wrong. Earlier this year a student at VCH (private) overdosed on herion, 2 years ago a junior high age homeschooled boy in Colorado committed suicide because he claimed he had no friends and no reason to live. A year ago a A student and athlelic at well known Phx HS, from a well to do LDS family committed suicide because fo the pressures of his family to be the best, a student at an east valley christian school was suspended for simulating sex acts with his pencil to other students. It happens anywhere, parents need to be involved daily with there kids, and put aside that they are tired from work ect.. Children were not asked to be brought into this world, so parents need to be there for them completely, before you know it they will be gone and on their own. Then you can have your own life.
" just my Opinion"
I know. What happened to
I know. What happened to "One Nation, Under God, indivisible, with Liberty, and Justice for all". I think a lot of us ask ourselves this question when we hear things about this. Your right. There needs to come a time when we won't be persecuted for our religous beliefs as this country was founded "Under God". Can't please everybody I'm afraid, and at some point we will have to all give in to the idea of what the base of our country was founded on. It didn't say what God specifically in the document, but no God isn't considered acceptable.
Religion is in the heart of the beholder is what I believe, but it should absolutely not be a discussion in school. School is supposed to teach history, math, science, english, social studies, personal health, art, music, dance the whole nine yards. It's an institution for teaching the practicalities of life, and only if elected to do so other small groups or clubs that the student chooses on their own behalf. We can say our morning pledge, but a discussion should only be held in religious groups, familys and friends. Needless to say I absolutely do not believe that it should have been a discussion at all.
My aunt has taken her daughter out of many schools as to avoid things that are happening. This is not a wise solution. This has only taught my cousin that avoidance is the only answer. So what can be done about this? You teach your kids to stand up for their beliefs, for your family morals, as this is their right as future voting citizens that has made this country what it is today. Even if it means a fat lip. There are bad things everywhere as the last person to post mentioned. All you can do is give your children the tools for life, and at some point they take the wheel. Part of growing up. Good luck.
Lisa - Mom to her spunky little Scarlette