Posted on 05/03/2007 1:56:36 AM PDT by Man50D
At least another 75 students have been suspended from school in California for wearing shirts that expressed their biblically-based opposition to homosexuality, and the district that, as WND reported, has been imposing the punishments, says those quotations aren't necessarily acceptable because they are from God's Word.
That's the verdict from San Juan Unified School District Superintendent Steven Enoch, according to lawyers for the Pacific Justice Institute, which is working on behalf of the students.
The suspensions were begun on April 18 when the homosexual lobby-supported "Day of Silence" was observed in public schools in California – and across the nation.
An unknown number of students but at least dozens and perhaps hundreds of students were suspended for that day when they arrived wearing T-shirts proclaiming the Bible's condemnation of homosexuality, and PJI lawyer Kevin Snider was launched into action.
Those disagreements have been resolved in one or two cases, but continue escalating in others, including at San Juan, where another 50 students were suspended on Monday for wearing the shirts, and there were reports that several dozen more were punished yesterday.
Peter Ganchenko, a deacon in a local church, reported yesterday that "approximately 25 more students have been suspended for expressing their religious beliefs on campus … at San Juan High School."
"The [San Juan] school is taking the position that if it's offensive [to anyone] you can't wear it," Snider told WND. "The school superintendent [said] just because something comes from the Bible doesn't give it carte blanche to be acceptable in schools."
The students have been wearing T-shirts proclaiming their Biblical views, he said. "They had a quote from Jesus, 'If you love me you will keep my commandments."
The students also wore shirts with other Bible verses, including 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God."
Other slogans included the quotation from the Old Testament Law that speaks of homosexuality as an "abomination," he said. But the school also allows T-shirts promoting homosexuality, too, with messages such as "I'm gay," he noted.
"The heart of the issue is will the people of faith be allowed to speak to moral issues. That is [as opposed to] the school's [stated] desire that students don't target other classes of people," Snider said.
In a prepared statement that was delivered later to WND, Enoch said his first concern is to see students return to class.
"Our challenge is to balance two fundamental rights that, in this case, are conflicting with each other," he said. "Schools have a legal responsibility to protect all of our students from being placed in an atmosphere of fear or intimidation. We also recognize our students’ right to free expression.
"I support our students’ desire to debate complex and even controversial issues, but that conversation must take place without disrupting the educational environment, singling out a specific group of students, or creating an atmosphere of fear for anyone. This applies to students on both sides of a debate," he wrote.
PJI reported that Monday's confrontation involved school officials and almost 50 students who were suspended, then held for more than four hours in the school library.
That sparked a protest in front of the school involving another 100 people, PJI reported.
Snider said the conversations for a resolution included students, parents and local ministers as well as school officials.
"A partial resolution of the matter was negotiated in which [Monday's] suspensions, as well as those from last week, will be expunged," PJI said.
"We applaud the school administrators for negotiating in good faith to clear this first hurdle," Snider said. "However, the question as to whether Christian students can speak with a clear voice on moral issues without sanctions in the public schools is still a matter of concern."
Snider said area pastors who are spiritual shepherds to students in the school will continue meeting to discuss their legal options as well as their obligations to minister to the community.
"Christian students are entitled to the same free speech protections as any other students," said Brad Dacus, president of PJI. "Consequently, the flagrant intolerance by school districts must not go unchallenged."
Snider said he doesn't see a quick resolution, even though other school districts have worked that direction already.
The issues initially arose at Inderkum, Rio Linda and San Juan high schools during the event promoted by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network organization, which advocates for the homosexual lifestyle and promotes educating children in that choice.
During that event, students go around school during the day without speaking, and they hand out cards stating they are protesting the "discrimination" against the homosexual lifestyle.
Many schools allow such activities without penalty, and as WND has reported, California lawmakers again are reviewing legislation that would make such advocacy mandatory for public schools in that state.
Snider said an estimated 3,000-4,000 Sacramento area students remained out of class to protest the GLSEN event on April 18. Others attended and many "did some sort of speech activities on the Day of Silence or the days following."
He said at the time some students were suspended and some were simply sent home without formal punishment. At least one district abruptly halted its punishments when PJI contacted officials while another district "rounded up" students and held them for several hours, then released them without recording any punishment.
A fourth area school later became involved in suspending students for wearing Christian T-shirts, Snider said.
Snider said there easily could be a multitude of individual lawsuits that eventually could result.
On the following day, students in schools around the nation participated in the "Day of Truth," organized by the Alliance Defense Fund to counter the GLSEN event.
"In the past, students who have attempted to speak against the promotion of the homosexual agenda have been censored or, in some cases, punished for their beliefs," the ADF, which reported an increase in program registrations by nearly one-third, said on its website.
"It is important that students stand up for their First Amendment right to hear and speak the truth about human sexuality in order to protect that freedom for future generations," the ADF said.
Those students wear T-shirts and pass out cards during non-instructional time with messages such as: "Silence isn't freedom; it's a constraint."
Ahhh, but attendance is how the schools get paid. Follow the money.
LOL.
I think it is terrible that the First Amendment is being tossed in the trash unless one supports liberal causes. Schools can do one of two things, they can eliminate talk of such issues in school, or they can realize when they discuss such issues, Christians, Jews, and even Muslims may have a differing opinion. If clothing with free speech becomes an issue between the two clashing groups, they could always switch to uniforms like the Catholic schools.
ping
you’re preaching to the choir, my friend..I’ve wasted many breaths trying to convince people of the hypocrisy.. but they are blind..
The ADF site is HERE
That school district used to be a good one. Sounds like it has become a PC cesspool instead of a school district.
Massive civil lawsuits are in order. Also, parents at the end of this school term should start home schooling their kids.
I think that school districts get about $30 per day per student. 100 new home schooled students would cost this district $3,000 per day or $15,000 per week. In this era of tight budgets, that shortfall will get their attention.
You’re right! It was a pretty decent school district back in the 1970’s when the new growth in housing occurred. Now the “urban decay” is starting to set in and this is evidence of educational/indoctrinational decay!!!
Our sons went there from 74-77, and they were in the elementary grades. Our older son thrived with all of the school programs from education to music to jock stuff and camping in the Tahoe area.
Both sons had a problem when we moved here with a small and low funded school. The problem was a worthless prinicipal. We got him booted a couple of years later. An example was when we moved here, my oldest son’s science book only talked about the Russian Sputnik. The books were so old, NASA had not been created nor had our space programs. The principal refused to buy new books or to allow me to donate books for the class. So the class library got a gift of 31 new science text books that were used at San Juan. One for each student and one for the teacher.
It’s interesting how the public school administration at San Juan High School supports the sodomites/gays who wear T-shirts like “Everytime you see a rainbow, God has gay sex” or “Taste the rainbow”—in school (!!!)—but is ruthlessly persecuting any students involved in wearing Bible verse T-shirts that are in no way vulgar. The gays there have the ‘First Amendment protections’ but not these Christian kids. The gays have the ‘no bullying/safety’ issue defined as their privilege in school, but these Christian kids are being mercilessly harassed openly in class by teachers, by gays in school, and by the school admin for their non-violent stance. It’s sick. They continue the threats toward and suspensions of any ‘protesters’ through Thursday, May 3, 2007, with 2-5 days imposed per student; who knows how many will get the boot today? We all need to strongly oppose this kind of strong-arm censorship!
They have been fortunate children and I hope they know and understand that.
They do now.
No one knew about those books besides the teacher and I. She was blocked from buying them by the principal, and he wouldn’t let me buy them as text books. So they became a gift to their class room library. He knew that if he opposed the gift, it would go public. So he just left them alone.
At our grandkids school which is very good. They don’t want parents buying class books. However, most of the classes have parents and grandparents read a short book or chapter as a Mystery Reader once or twice a week. 99.9% of the books read are donated to the library of that class after they Mystery Reader read them. Then other gifts to class libraries can happen at anytime. It is Kosher to give the real library another copy at the same time.
Well, God bless you for all you do! You been FReepin alla yer life! No joke!!!
Yep, all my life, and I found cousins, brothers and sisters I didn’t know here on Free Republic.
Except that is EXACTLY what they did by making one group "special" and another group punishable for their beliefs. And haven't they created an atmosphere that is uncomfortable and fearful for the Christian students? What a bunch of PC claptrap!
“The heart of the issue is will the people of faith be allowed to speak to moral issues. That is [as opposed to] the school’s [stated] desire that students don’t target other classes of people,” Snider said.
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Ok. So the students (straight) should wear a t-shirt saying, “I’m Homophobic”
Or...”I’m anti-gay”
For the school district to take a stand in favor of homosexuality and prohibit expressions against homosexuality violates both the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.
The legally correct course for a public school is to take a neutral stand in regards to homosexuality and prohibit advocacy by either side within school grounds.
The violation of the First Amendment rights of the Christian students should be pursued all the way to the Supreme Court.
Old fags.
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