Some states ban religious clothes for teachers

[The Straight Story]

Some states ban religious clothes for teachers

PORTLAND, Ore. — A law backed by the Ku Klux Klan nearly a century ago to keep Roman Catholics out of public schools is still on the books in Oregon, one of the last states in the nation to prohibit teachers from wearing religious clothing in classrooms.

Both Pennsylvania and Nebraska have similar laws, which try to balance the constitutional conflict between protecting students from the establishment of religion in schools and the rights of teachers to express their beliefs through their dress.

Oregon’s law, originally aimed at priest collars and nun habits, survived a legal challenge in the 1980s by a Sikh convert who wanted to wear her turban in the classroom and was recently upheld by the state’s Legislature.

A Muslim teacher in Pennsylvania lost a similar challenge in 1991 to that state’s even older law for the right to wear a headscarf at school. So far, it has not posed any serious legal issues in Nebraska.

That such a law still exists was a surprise for many Oregonians who learned about it when Gov. Ted Kulongoski signed the Oregon Workplace Religious Freedom Act in July, allowing workers to wear religious clothing on the job.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Religion/1141105.html

[mzteris]

1. we have a Muslim teacher

who wears a headscarf in our Charter Public School, along with some VERY OUT Gay and Lesbian Teachers!

Yay for tolerance. One our Charter Public school's "missions" is "to promote a diverse and inclusive community."

[greennina]

2. Hate and intolerance have no place in a school!

Symbols of such things shouldn't be allowed.

[NutmegYankee]

4. They are not symbols of hate.

They are usually symbols of piety, but sometimes just a comfort to the wearer. I've known women who wore crosses not because they were that faithful but because it gave them comfort.

[Igel]

9. Let them.

I've known people who wore crosses, but I knew them for years before I found out what they had on under their clothing. It would take a bathing suit or an especially hot and humid day for the chain or pendant to become visible.

Personally, I think most of them fade into the background with time. On the other hand, if the rule's applied neutrally then it's okay, and the individual has to decide if abiding by the school's or their religion's rules is more important to them.

[The Straight Story]

7. Different people are offended by different things, what else would you like to ban there?

Are people so weak minded today that they cannot watch the prez on TV or freak out if they see a symbol and cower in fear?

It is called diversity, best learn to live without it - unless of course you are a fundie or rw'er who hates people different than them.

[bemildred]

3. Prescriptive rules about clothing are bad.

Free expression is good, as long as it does not preclude anyone else from the same, is not hate speech, etc.; and it is really important for young people to learn to tell the difference between when someone is expressing themselves and when they are trying to compel others to agree with them.

[EndersDame]

5. I do not see anything wrong with a hijab yamulke or a cross necklace

Teaching with a biased view towards those symbols yes, but just wearing them is all right by me

[The Straight Story]

6. Pretty sad how we fear so many things today

'omg it's a cross on a necklace, someone save me!'

I for one do not wish to live in an extremely sterile society.

[EndersDame]

8. I was so happy moving to austin from south Texas , I got to know Jews, Muslims Buddhits and Athiests

I think our diversity is our strength !