Portfolio #6 Karen White V. Board of Education 1

PORTFOLIO #6 KAREN WHITE V.
BOARD OF EDUCATION 1
Karen White v. Board of Education
Portfolio #6
Kelsey McCormick
EDU 210
October 14, 2018

ARTIFACT #6 KAREN WHITE V. BOARD OF EDUCATION 2
Karen White, a kindergartener teacher, informed her students and their parents that she
could no longer lead activities or participate in projects that were religious in nature because she
is a part of Jehovah’s Witness. This included holiday decorations, gift exchanges during the
Christmas season, singing “Happy Birthday” or reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. The parents
protested her statement. The principal of the school, Bill Ward, recommended her dismissal
based on her ineffectively meeting the needs of her students.
Under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, Karen White has the right to
worship as she chooses. In the case Wisconsin v. Yoder the Supreme Court said that the state
could not interfere with the free exercise of religion unless it could show a compelling state
interest in so doing. In the Wisconsin v. Yoder case the court concluded that enforcing a state
compulsory attendance law against Amish children after they had completed the eighth grade,
infringed on their free exercise of religion rights (Wisconsin v Yoder, 1972). Karen White’s
religion does not permit her to lead or participate in any activity that may be against her religious
beliefs. Therefore, the school would be violating her free exercise of religion rights if they forced
her to do otherwise.
In the case of West Virginia State Board of Education v Barnette, the Board adopted a
resolution requiring students and teachers to salute the flag and recite the Pledge of Allegiance in
school as a part of the program of activities in all public schools. A student’s failure to do so was
seen as “insubordination” and resulted in suspension. As a Jehovah Witness the student is
forbidden from honoring the flag. Because of this The Court ruled the West Virginia State
School Board’s actions as unconstitutional because (West Virginia State Board of Education v
Barnette, 1943). The same goes in the justification of Karen White’s case. Bill Ward, the
principal, recommending her dismissal for not participating in certain activities, one being the
reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance, would be unconstitutional because it violates her religious
rights.
The principal recommended that Karen White be dismissed based on her ineffectively
meeting the needs of her students. Although she may not celebrate or participate in certain
activities because of religious reasons, that does not mean she should totally disallow it in her
classroom. In the case Clever v. Cherry Hill Tp. Board of Education, the Court upheld that it is
permissible for public schools to display religious holiday symbols in school calendars. They are
allowed to do this as long as it is absent of denominational preference (Clever v Cherry Hill Tp.
Bd. Of Educ., 1993). Just as in the case of Karen White, the principal wants to meet the needs of
the students. The students’ rights to acknowledge activities that may be religious in nature should
not take away by the teacher. As long as there are educational purposes and do not appear to
endorse the religious nature of the holiday, Karen White should allow her students to partake in
certain activities. She does not have to be involved for certain things can be student lead like the
pledge of allegiance.
In conclusion, the principal recommended that Karen White’s dismissal based on her
ineffectiveness to meeting the needs of students. I believe that there was not a justifiable basis
for Karen’s dismissal. Due to the free exercise of religion right, the Court will rule in her favor.
“The Free Exercise Clause guarantees individuals the right to worship as they choose”
(Underwood, Webb, 211). Because Karen White’s religion prohibits her to participate in certain
projects or activities, although approved by the school, that are religious in nature she should still
be allowed to work at the school. The Court will also find that the school infringed on Karen
White’s free exercise of religion rights by recommending her dismissal for disallowing activities
that she believe are religious in nature. Although there was no justifiable basis for Karen’s
dismissal, I do believe that there should be an appropriate balance in the classroom concerning
certain activities so that both the teacher and the students’ needs are met.
References
Clever v Cherry Hill Tp. Bd. of Educ., 838 F. Supp. 929 (D. N.J. 1993).
Florey v Sioux Falls School District 49-5, 619 F.2d 1311 (8th Cir. 1980).
West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943).
Wisconsin v Yoder, 406 U.S. 205 (1972).
Underwood, J., & Webb, L. (2006). Teacher's Rights. In School Law for Teachers (p. 211, 222).
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education.

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PORTFOLIO #6 KAREN WHITE V.

Karen White v. Board of Education

October 14, 2018

based on her ineffectively meeting the needs of her students.

seen as “insubordination” and resulted in suspension. As a Jehovah Witness the student is

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

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