Edu 210 Portfolio 6

Running Header: Religion and Public Schools 1
Religion and Public Schools
Briana Torres-Chavez
College of Southern Nevada

Religion and Public Schools 2
A kindergarten teacher, Karen White, recently notified her parents as well as her students
that she can no longer participate in certain activities that went against her new religion,
Jehovah’s Witnesses. She was clear that she wouldn’t be able to participate in reciting the Pledge
of Allegiance or when singing Happy Birthday to one of the students. She added that she
couldn’t take part in decorating doors or rooms when there were holidays because as a Jehovah’s
Witnesses you don’t celebrate any holidays. Many parents viewed this as a negative factor for
their students and complained to the principal, Bill Ward. He took action and decided to dismiss
her based on her unsuccessfully meeting the students needs. Under ethical and moral values who
do you believe is right? Should Karen White have defensible grounds in this scenario or should
the principal be able to dismiss her because students needs aren’t being met?
One court case that defends Karen White and her decisions would be Wisconsin v. Yoder
(1972). This court case describes how the Supreme Court concluded that the state can not
interfere with free exercise of religion, as long as it didn’t show a compelling state interest. This
court case guarantees individuals the right to freedom of religion, allowing them to be able to
worship anything they’d like. They are protected by the Free Exercise Clause of the First
Amendment. In the same way, Karen White should be able to express her freedom of religion
rights because she isn’t affecting the students curriculum. She will still continue to teach them all
they need to learn. In no way, will the students be missing out of any content that is required to
be taught. She states that she will not be able to take part in certain activities but that doesn’t
mean that the students won’t be able to participate themselves.
Another court case that defends Karen White and her decisions would be would be Engel
v. Vitale (1962). This court case argues that students aren’t forced to recite any kind of prayer
that is state composed. It describes that students and employees have the right to express
themselves how they would like to. That means, students or employees can pray if they want to,
but nothing is forced upon them. In the same way, Karen White, had the right to refuse to
participate in certain activities that went against her religion. None of these activities affect the
students learning. The students can always participate if they would want to, but Karen White
should have to right to not be part of it because she isn’t forcing her students to follow her
religion, she is just refusing to participate in other religions.
One court case that defends the principal, Bill Ward, and his actions of dismissing Karen
White would be Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971). This court case describes how the U.S. Supreme
Court ruled that there has to be a three-pronged test in order to determine if the policy or action
fosters an excessive government entanglement with religion or not. In other words, this court
case describes how the First Amendment should be interpreted. In the same way, if Karen would
be presented with this three-pronged test, she would have failed. It would probably indicate that
she is showing an excessive government entanglement with religion. By letting Karen’s religion
of Jehovah’s Witnesses stop her from participating in certain activities, she would unmotivated
students. She would stop them from expressing themselves and their thoughts on the holidays
they celebrate. Bill Ward’s action of dismissing Karen White should be defended.
Another court case that defends principal, Bill Ward, and his actions of dismissing Karen
would be Wigg v. Sioux Falls Sch. District (2004). This court case defines how a third-grade
teacher wasn’t allowed to attend an after school religious club. The principal denied her the
chance to participate in this club because he/she feared that her participation would give out the
perception in endorsement. In the same way, Bill Ward suspended Karen White because he
feared that her change of religion was going to influence her students in some way. Karen White
was showing her students her religious beliefs, she was showing her endorsement to the students.
She stopped participating in holiday activities as well as singing “Happy Birthday” which shows
the students what religion she believes in and stops them from following their beliefs or religion.
This scenario was very straightforward, it wasn’t hard knowing where my stance on the
problem was. I strongly believe teachers shouldn’t reflect in any way their religious beliefs while
being at school. Students should be allowed to celebrate and be part of holiday activities that are
done at school. As a teacher, you should respect and learn how to balance yourself when you're
in school, teaching, and your outside life. My beliefs are supported by the court case Lemon v.
Kurtzman (1971). Karen White and her actions expressed an excessive entanglement with
religion and it interferes with the students' learning and participation in certain holiday activities.
As a teacher, you are supposed to do what is best for your students, putting your religious beliefs
aside.
Refreneces
Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962)
Lemon v. Kurtzman 403 U.S 602 (1971)
Wigg v. Sioux Falls Sch. District 382 F.3d 807 (8th Cir. 2004)
Wisconsin v. Yoder 406 U.S 205 (1972)

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Running Header: Religion and Public Schools 1

Religion and Public Schools

College of Southern Nevada

mean that the students won’t be able to participate themselves.

religion, she is just refusing to participate in other religions.

Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962)

Lemon v. Kurtzman 403 U.S 602 (1971)

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

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Edu 210 Portfolio 6

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Running Header: Religion and Public Schools 1

Religion and Public Schools

College of Southern Nevada

mean that the students won’t be able to participate themselves.

religion, she is just refusing to participate in other religions.

Engel v. Vitale​, 370 U.S. 421 (1962)

Lemon v. Kurtzman ​403 U.S 602 (1971)

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

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Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962)

Lemon v. Kurtzman 403 U.S 602 (1971)

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