How can public schools discriminate for religion?

Oh I see what you mean but lets face it, these kids chose to listen to what she was saying, she didn’t force them too. Picking and choosing what you want to believe is the kind of thing the first amendment advocates. I see it as correcting some misconceptions on her religion. I don’t see the harm in that. After all these kids have the choice of whether to listen to her or not. Maybe I’m not seeing this the right way, is this a form of persuasion? I do agree that school isn’t the place to be speaking about religion but when people mock her about it then something should be done. In some shape or form, this can be seen as bullying and that also isn’t tolerated in school.

As for this being different from preaching, I see it as explaining something to someone. Not holding what your trying to tell people as fact, which is what I feel preaching does. I suppose she might need some form of consent to be explaining her religion but when people are picking on her about then thats a problem for me.

It has nothing to do with whether they were willing listeners or not. What is preaching, if not explaining your religion to a group of people? If it wasn’t preaching, she was certainly trying to teach people about her religion. By allowing anyone to preach, or teach, about their religion is, in a sense, the same as the school promoting that religion. That is clearly a 1st amendment violation. It would be no different if a christian or a mormon gathered people together to explain their religion. The school is not limiting her free speech. She has every right to say what ever she wants when she out of school. While in school, she has to follow the rules. Just as one would if they were trying to preach at a work place. An employer has every right to not allow that.

Ah looking more into this, I happened to remember something called ‘’separation of church and state’’. Although I do feel this is a legitimate instance in which the girl had full right to speak about her religion. I don’t agree with you on the preaching. Preaching to me is more of persuasion and using mind games (I do realize my definition of preaching changed lol). I personally feel that speaking about her religion can be justified and is appropriate in that occasion. Other then that it shouldn’t be allowed.

hysterical, I was not there, so I am only going by what was said here. But it did not sound like a private discussion. She was speaking to a group of kids in public setting. Why is that different than a christian standing up an preaching about what they believe.

I don’t seem to be getting something here jimahl. From what I know, there is a fine line between preaching a religion and explaining something to someone. In which case, her friend was explaining to the people that frowned on her religion what it actually was. I don’t see the harm in that, I do see harm in hanging Christian youth posters and mocking peoples religion.

As for the youth group posters, I agree with calling the ACLU.

You friend needs to sue the school district. It’s the only way the problem will be resolved, as is proven over and over again at schools throughout the country. Your friend will get a little money out of it, the principle will be fired, and the school district will become hyper aware of the issues.

What jimahl said, call the ACLU. In general all it takes is for the ACLU to make a few phone calls to get schools to back down from unconstitutional rules.

The principal should not be allowing anyone to preach about any religion. Wicca, Christianity, Judeasm, or Flying Spaghetti Monsterism.

He was right to prevent her, but he is absolutely wrong if he is allowing christian youth groups to hang posters. If he is, I would contact your local ACLU. He is violating the first amendment.

Its obviously not fair

For starters its not like Christianity is any better then Wiccan (from what it looks like Wiccan is by far a lot better). The thing is, school and religion aren’t supposed to intermingle at all. School serves only one purpose and that is to educate students on its subjects.

Expressing freedom of religion is from what I know, okay. The only real problem I have is actually teaching religious doctrines and holding them as fact. And deliberately forcing people to believe in it. What your principal did went directly against the first amendment of the United States Bill of Rights on pretty much both parts.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Now your principal likely dismissed any opening statements about wiccan. Which in turn probably leads to the conclusion that your principal doesn’t want that religion exercised in his school. Which is why I said that religion and school should never intermingle… The two are entirely separate. Obviously it is discrimination towards her specifically and on top of that he is also denying her right to freedom of speech. Banning (aka censorship) of her talking about her religion is not allowed. Honestly, who cares if he finds it inappropriate or not. The constitution protects both the things you like to hear and the things you don’t want to hear. Making attempt to deny this right is a very serious issue.

The thing is, your principal is in all of his right to think another religion apart from his is wrong. Taking action to do something that denies another persons rights is the big concern here. And surprisingly enough he did that. I remember answering a question similar to this one and an answer said that your best bet is to file a lawsuit. What he did is against the constitution. Your friend is in full right to speak about her religion and other people are in full right to disagree with her. Thats pretty much it…

I hope this helps.

No, discriminating against another persons religion is just wrong, your principal had no right to do this. You guys could ignore, I probably would, and have had to, or you could do something about it, bring it to higher authority.

well im canadian haha but yeaa canada is a free country too lol

they can’t its is strictly forbidden by the first amendment of the constitution.