Running head: ARTIFACT 6

Artifact 6

Shari Wilder

College of Southern Nevada

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A kindergarten teacher, Karen White, told the parents of her students that she will no

longer will able to do activities or participate in any projects that were religious nature, since she

now has new affiliation with Jehovah’s Witnesses. There would be no more holiday classroom

decorations, such as gift exchanges during the Christmas season. Singing “Happy Birthday”

would no longer happen, as well as reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. After parents disputed

what was told to them, the principal, Bill Ward, recommended that she be dismissed based on

her unsuccessfully needs of her students. . There are pros and cons to the fact Bill Ward

recommended White to be dismissed.

In the case, Gene T. Tracy, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Cleveland Board Of Education, an

appeal about whether or not the Cleveland Board of Education’s practice the opening of its

meeting with prayer is constitutionally permissible (“Gene T. Tracy, Plaintiff-Appellant, v.

Cleveland Board Of Education,” 1999). It’s a pro that Bill Ward recommended that White be

dismissed from school because she took her students and their parents from what they have come

accustomed to while attending public school. She had also placed her religion beliefs on her

students and their parents.

In the case, Lee v. Weisman, a middle school principal in Rhode Island invited a rabbi to

give prayers at a graduation class, which is permitted to invite members of the clergy to give

invocations and benedictions at their schools’ graduation ceremonies. (“Lee v. Weisman,” 1992).

As a teacher in the public school, you may have your own beliefs, as well as your students do;

however, you should not just ignore your students and do only what you believe is the right way.

Do not just think because you are head of the class that what you say and do is the right way.
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Although there are some pros with the decision to dismiss White, there are some cons on

the other side of the argument. In the case, Engel v. Vitale, state officials can not constitute an

official state prayer and require that it be recited in the public schools of the State at the

beginning of the each school day, and anyone who wishes not to do, is to remain silent or be

excused from the room while the prayer is being recited. (“Engel v. Vitale,” 1962). If White’s

students and parents do not agree with her ways of how she is going to run her classroom, they

may ask to be placed in another classroom and/or with another teacher. There are many other

teachers that will proudly take in new students.

In the case, Stone v. Graham, in Kentucky the statute requiring the posting of a copy of

the Ten Commandments, purchased with private contributions, on the wall of each public school

classroom. Ten Commandments are to purely be posted rather than to read aloud. (“Stone v.

Graham,” 1980). White is not telling her students or their parents to become a Jehovah Witness;

she is just stating what she is no longer going to do that are not a part of her beliefs. She did not

tell them that they could not do it; she just wasn’t going to participate in it.

I agree that White should be dismissed; she is taking from the students’ way of how

things can be in public school. She is working in a public school and knows what is expected

when teaching the students. Everyone has their beliefs; the students are not putting their beliefs

on her, so why would she do it. As in the case, Lee v. Weisman just because you want others to

experience what you do and how you do experience it, does not make it ok to impose it on

others. (“ Lee v. Weisman,” 1992).

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References

Engel v. Vitale. (n.d). Findlaw Retrieved from http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme

court/370/421.html

Gene T. Tracy, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Cleveland Board Of Education. (n.d).Findlaw. Retrieved

from http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-6th-circuit/1022582.html

Lee v. Weisman. (n.d) Findlaw. Retrieved from http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme

court/505/577.html

Stone v. Graham. (n.d) Findlaw Retrieved from http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme

court/449/39.html