EDU 210 Portfolio Artifact #6 1
EDU 210 Portfolio Artifact #6
Jordan Bachman
College of Southern Nevada
EDU 210 Portfolio Artifact #6 2
A kindergarten teacher named Karen White acquired a new affiliation with Jehovah’s Witness
and informed her parents and students that she could no longer lead certain activities or
participate in certain projects because they were religious in nature. This meant that she could no
longer decorate the classroom for holidays or plan for gift exchanges during the Christmas
season. She also could not sing “Happy Birthday” or recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Parents
protested and Bill Ward, the school principal, recommended her dismissal based on her
ineffectively meeting the needs of her students.
Two cases can be studied in favor of White. One case is Wisconsin v. Yoder. In this case,
the court upheld that the state could not interfere with the free exercise of religion unless it could
show a compelling state interest in doing so. This could be applied to White because the school
does not seem to have a compelling reason to dismiss White. The court could argue that the
activities she is choosing not to participate in are not activities that contribute to the educational
benefits of the students.
Another case that can be studied in favor of White is Wigg v. Sioux Falls Sch. Dist. In
this case, the court upheld that a teacher could participate in a religious club as long as she so as
private individual. White could argue that as a private individual she has chosen to opt out of
religious activities and that these choices did not reflect the attitude of the school. Then she
would be acting as an individual within her rights rather than a teacher endorsing a religion on
behalf of the school. Also, the courts have specified that teachers have a constitutional right to
freedom of religion as long as it does not infringe on the educational benefits and does not
contribute to endorsement of a religion based in the first amendment.
Two cases can be studied in favor of the school. One case is Lemon v. Kurtzman. In this
case, the court created a standard called the Lemon test. According to the Lemon test, the court
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could argue that White’s actions do not have a secular legislative purpose. White’s actions were
purely driven by religion.
Another case that can be studied in favor of the school is Bannon v. Palm Beach County.
In this case, the court justified a principle requiring a student to take down religious messages
she painted on her mural in the school because he believed the mural that was on school property
might lead others to believe the school was endorsing a particular religion which would be
unconstitutional. In defense of the school in this situation, Bill Ward could argue the same. Ward
could argue that by White withholding from participating in certain activities due to her new
religion, students might believe the school is endorsing Jehovah’s Witness.
In my opinion, a court would rule in favor of White. ACcording to the first amendment,
White’s freedom of religious expression is protected. She is choosing not to participate in certain
activities as an individual. White has not encouraged students to do anything to advance nor
decline a religion therefore, White’s actions do not constitute as unconstitutional. If White were
to ask students not to participate in the activities as well then that would be crossing the line into
unconstitutional territory.
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Reference Page
Bannon v. Palm Beach County, 387 F.3d 1208 (11th Cir. 2004)
Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971)
Wigg v. Sioux Falls Sch. Dist., 382 F.3d 807 (8th Cir. 2004)
Wisconsin v. Yoder, 406 U.S. 205 (1972)
