Religion and Public Schools 1

Religion and Public Schools Case Scenario

Sha Heilman

College of Southern Nevada

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Karen White was a Kindergarten School Teacher that recently began practicing being a

Jehovah Witness. While this wouldn’t have been a problem, she contacted parents explaining

this aspect of her personal life. The statement given to parents explained that those students in

her classroom would not have birthday celebrations, Christmas decorations, and she would

personally not participate in the pledge every morning. The parents of her students were

infuriated because she was transferring the influence of her religion onto her students by not

allowing any holiday practices into her classroom. The Principal, Bill Ward, was forced to make

the choice to have Karen White dismissed on the grounds that she could not meet the basic

requirements to her students.

When looking at this case there are few ways that Karen White would be able to make

sure she kept her job. In the case Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) Amish children who were not

required to have any education past the eighth grade to be an active citizen in their community.

The Amish community won to allow this to be the minimum education requirement of the

children in their religious community. This could be used to support White remaining in her

classroom by proving Principal Ward was wrong in stating that she did not provide the minimum

requirements to her students. The minimum requirements for her students do not in any way

include religion, which is what most holidays are based upon. White would be providing the

minimum requirements as far as teaching core requirements she simply would not include

religious celebrations in her classroom.

Another way that White may be able to continue teaching would be from the case Engel

v. Vitale (1962). In this case it was proven to be unlawful to recite any sort of prayer, even

nondenominational, while at school. While expressing that White would not partake in the
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normal holiday activities and pledge every morning she would be supported by this case because

technically the pledge relates to religion “One nation, Under God” it’s not against the law to not

participate. Her only fault would be that she emphasized explaining to parents she would not be

doing these activities in her classroom. Otherwise her not participating in these activities would

actually fall more in line with the law of not incorporating religion into school.

Getting rid of Karen as a teacher would prove to be difficult but one way that Principal

Ward could have some ground based on the case Stone v. Graham (1980). By Karen White

stating that should would on purpose not participate in holiday’s or birthday celebration that

would be her influencing students to participate in her religion. Now if she replaced the normal

decorations for holiday with anything influencing her religion onto student that would be

pushing for religion which would not be lawful. Even by explaining to her students why she

doesn’t participate in holidays or the pledge would lead to conversations with them promoting

her religion.

With the case Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971) a three-step analysis of whether or not a

practice was too religious to be taught or expressed by the government was determined. The first

being does the action or policy have a secular legislative purpose, the second does its primary

effect neither advance nor inhibit religion, and third does the policy or action foster an excessive

government entanglement with religion? When looking at the Lemon Test and Karen White if

she was to further promote her beliefs in the classroom this would not be lawful. By White

expressing that she will not be engaging in certain holidays due to her religion she is spreading

her beliefs onto others. If she simply did not partake in the activities it would have had no impact

on her teaching but because she is going out of her way to express that she is Jehovah’s Witness,

she in turn is furthering her religion to her students.

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In the end Karen White made the decision to voice her religious views and as to why she

would not participate in holidays and the pledge. This I believe is where she went wrong, she

could have simply not engaged in holiday activities while still teaching the required curriculum.

It is not a requirement to hang up Christmas decorations, it is a requirement to not spread your

religion or advance it on to others. By her voicing her views to parents it led to a larger

discussion of her religion being shown in the classroom. I believe that Principal Ward would win

if it was proven that White sent separate messages to parents explaining her religion and why she

would not participate in birthdays or holidays in her classroom. If she simply did the curriculum,

she was required to without bringing up her religion then Ward would have no ground to fire her,

but because she discussed her religion with the parents, she would be eligible for termination I

believe.
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References

Engel v. Vitale 370 US 421 (1962)

Lemon v. Kurtzman 403 US 602 (1971)

Stone v. Graham 449 US 39 (1980)

Wisconsin v. Yoder 406 US 205 (1972)