This is the kind of thing that drives me absolutley nuts! I heard this story yesterday on Glen Beck. Apparently a senior high school student in Madison, Wisconsin created the artwork I've posted here as part of an assignment to draw a landscape. When his teacher asked him to remove the Bible reference because it was disturbing the other students, he refused, and consequently, she gave him a zero on the project. When he protested, the teacher showed him a policy he had signed at the beginning of the year which prohibited any violence, blood, sexual connotations, or religious beliefs in their artwork, and told him that he had signed away his constitutional rights when he had signed the policy.
A couple of things really bother me about what she said to him. First, how can anyone put religious beliefs in the same list with violence, blood, and sex? Basically you're saying someone's personal faith is just as bad and dangerous as those other things! Secondly, there is no way anyone in this country can ever sign away their constitutional rights. So, what did the student do? He tore up his policy in front of the teacher (gotta love this kid!) and he was promptly suspended.
The schools excuse? The student's artwork infringed on the other student's rights. What??? (me banging head against wall)
It may interest you to know that some of the other artwork in that same class included drawings of Medusa, the Grim Reaper with a scythe, and a being with a horned head and protruding tongue. Also in the school itself, Buddha and Hindu figurines are on display in a social studies classroom where 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.
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.
Humm....seems it's not all religions are banned at this school, only Christianity.
But what do we expect? Satan is not going to waste his time going after dead religions that lead people exactly where he wants them--straight to hell. No, he's going to attack the only true religion, the only way for people to truly know God, be redeemed, and end up in heaven.
I'm proud of this student, and I wish we had more Christians like him in this country. He has now filed a lawsuit against the school, and I for one, pray he wins! If he doesn't, we Christians will soon find ourselves and our faith being outlawed by this country.
If you're interested in reading this article, here's the link: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,344350,00.html
This didn't even make the local news. It's such an non issue.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like the student knew that the subject matter was inappropriate and instead of handling himself like an adult he made a spectacle of himself and the situation. That alone is enough to warrant punishment.
Wow, sorry you feel that way. But I respect your opinion and I thank you for your comment. I think the point is, if you're going to ban one religion, then ban all of them.
ReplyDeleteGod bless,
It's the school's policy that is unconstitutional and it is NOT legally enforceable. Public schools are government entities and the First Amendment prohibits them from making ANY law (or in this case policy) that prohibits the free exercise of religion. And that includes Christianity.
ReplyDeleteFrom the Constitution, the First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;"
Public schools did not exist at the time the Constitution was written, which is why it says Congress. In fact, the Founding Fathers completely opposed them and thought them detrimental to morality and societal health. A government entity of any kind CANNOT have a stance on religious issues. Period. That means they can't endorse any religion over another (such as Muslim students being allowed to leave class to pray but Christians and Jews being prohibited from saying grace out loud) OR forbid a religion to be practiced on school grounds. The ruling in the 60's that banned school prayer was also unconstitutional.
Within the framework of the Constitution, a government can't even make laws about whether or not churches have to pay taxes because that's making a law respecting an establishment of religion.
I very much applaud this student for standing up for his faith and he is well within his legal rights to sue. From a Constitutional standpoint the school is a sitting duck. Unfortunately the courts probably won't see it that way, they tend to ignore the First Amendment when Christianity is involved.
If the school is going to allow the display of Hindu gods and goddesses, a Buddha, a sorcerer and a clearly demonic figure, then they HAVE to allow the public display of a cross. This is a classic case of religious discrimination.
That's horrible. I'm glad the kid stood up for himself and God. And I hope he wins the lawsuit.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your shoutmail and kind words about my garden writing.
Wow, I agree with you about the weird ban in that high school. Only Christians seem to be singled out and restricted.
Good for Glen Beck for publicizing this.
Thanks for bringing this to our attention! Argh--this kind of thing makes me crazy!
ReplyDelete