Va. Schools Win Christian Poster Dispute

[unschooler]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,,-5653703,00.html

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A Virginia school district didn't violate a teacher's free-speech rights by removing Christian-themed postings from his classroom walls, a federal judge has ruled.

In her ruling filed last week, U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith said William Lee's posters at Tabb High School were part of his instructional tools and school curriculum and were subject to school review.

Lee, a Spanish teacher who advises the school's Christian students club, had displayed news articles about President Bush's religious faith, a National Day of Prayer flier and a depiction of George Washington praying at Valley Forge.

Officials removed the postings from Lee's classroom in 2004 after a parent complained, but they allowed some to stay, including a photo of Boy Scouts praying in memory of those killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

[underpants]

1. Tabb?

Tabb SUCKS!

GO YORK!

[Roland99]

2. Why does a public school need a "Christian Students Club"?

Don't the students' respective churches have youth groups?

Shouldn't school clubs be about, oh, I dunno, school-related activities?!?!?!?

[unschooler]

3. The kids have a right to exercise their religion during unstructured

time at school.

The teacher does not have a right to harrangue them with religious indoctrination all the time they are sitting in his classroom supposedly studying language arts or something.

[Texacrat]

4. Good decision

n/t

[dxdem]

5. I don't

have any problem with an "x-tian students club," as long as they don't have a problem with a GLBT Club, or a FreeThought club, or a tree-hugging commie-pinko club...problem is, they always do. they can meet me at MY pole...

wow i hated high school...

[unschooler]

6. Did your school not permit a gay-straight alliance or a proposed "free

thought" club?