Apr 02 2008

Freedom of Expression, what’s that?

Posted by: Neocon in Academia, Nutter Butters, Religion, What?!?, tags: alliance defense fund, art class, art student, artwork, bible verse, christian students, constitutional right, extremist, federal lawsuit, first amendment rights, free speech, illustrations, legal counsel, madison wis, michelle malkin, religious beliefs, religious expression, scriptural reference, sexual connotations, tomah area school district

(via Michelle Malkin) No crosses, you damned religious extremist… er, art student.

MADISON, Wis. — Alliance Defense Fund attorneys filed a federal lawsuit Friday against the Tomah Area School District over an unconstitutional policy that bars religious free speech. Citing a policy prohibiting depictions of “blood, violence, sexual connotations, [or] religious beliefs,” officials penalized a Christian student for his artwork depicting a Bible verse and a cross but did not penalize students who included demonic illustrations in their artwork.

“Christian students shouldn’t be penalized for expressing their beliefs. It is unconstitutional for the school to punish students simply because they choose to exercise their First Amendment rights,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel David Cortman. “Further, teachers are not permitted to censor Christian religious expression in artwork while at the same time allowing other types of religious depictions.”

A student at Tomah High School drew a landscape picture for an art class containing a road, clouds, and mountains with a cross in the background and the words “JOHN 3:16 – A sign of love” written in the sky. The teacher of the class told the student to either remove the scriptural reference or cover it up with a border.

The teacher cited a document that the student and all other students in the class had been required to sign at the beginning of the semester which prevented them from creating artwork with the prohibited depictions. After the teacher said that the student had “signed away his First Amendment rights,” the student respectfully protested by tearing the signed document in half.

“The student was correct. A public school cannot require students to sign away their constitutional right to free speech and religious expression,” Cortman explained. “Furthermore, other students created artwork in violation of this illegitimate policy, but no action was taken against them. Only our client was singled out.”

The teacher gave the student a grade of zero for the assignment. The student also received two detentions.

I can almost understand (almost, mind you) the desire to have the scriptural reference given the highly politically correct environment found in most American schools these days. I don’t accept it as being fair or legal, but I can see how it might raise an eyebrow or two. So suggesting that it be covered with a border if being put on display doesn’t boil my blood. It irks me, but I kind of ‘get’ the thinking behind it.

That being said: a ZERO? TWO detentions?! Let me get this straight. A kid actually tries to do their schoolwork, as opposed to ignoring responsibility or just drifting like so many young people would, and they’re punished for it? What kind of lesson is that supposed to send? So you treat the hypothetical kid who didn’t even try, who would most likely just receive a zero on the assignment, better than a student who put effort into their work? Putting aside the laughable document that the teacher tried to hide behind or the blatant violation of rights, giving the student detention is just vindictive and stupid.

We shouldn’t be surprised by stories like this. It makes sense. About as much sense as everything else that goes on in the schools today, I suppose.