Boy Suspended For Rosary -- Reinstated

Creative Minority Report ^ | 6/2/2010 | Patrick Archibold

[markomalley]

Do your remember that story from a few weeks ago in which a boy was suspended for wearing a rosary around his neck? The school viewed as a gang symbol but the boy wore it becuase his brother died clutching it after a bicycle accident.

A judge has ordered Raymond Hosier reinstated pending a hearing into whether the suspension violated his civil rights.

The The American Center for Law and Justice came to Raymond's defense and said:

The center took on the case for free, saying it was "deeply offensive" for the school district to call all rosary beads gang symbols. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Hosier and his mother, Chantell Hosier, against the Schenectady City School District and school officials, including the middle school's principal.

A district spokeswoman did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment Tuesday.

The lawsuit asks the court to declare the school's dress code and Hosier's suspension unconstitutional. It requests a jury trial.

Hosier received a one-week suspension for refusing to take off his prayer beads or hide them under his shirt two weeks ago. Hosier, saying he won't go to school without the rosary, was suspended again last week when he returned to school with it.

Judge Lawrence Kahn ordered Hosier reinstated pending the June 11 hearing.

[markomalley]

While I agree with the point that the Rosary shouldn't be considered a piece of jewelry, I am glad that Rosaries are not going to be considered gang symbols.

[Sacajaweau]

Too many of these incidents are happening and not one of them has anything to do with “establishing” a religion.

[svcw]

Good. The schools are outa control (ok that was a duh!).

[trisham]

Agreed.

[timeflies]

This child is still grieving his brother. Where’s was the “sensitivity” for this boy?

[Tennessee Nana]

Burkas are OK though...

[frogjerk]

With the incredible amount of tax payer money that goes to pay school administrators we would expect these administrators would take the time to understand the facts and make a common sense decision in these types of cases.

But no, instead they mandate blanket policies with no room for exceptions which fly in the face of logic and common sense because it is easier to do.

[YoungHickey]

Too many of these incidents are happening and not one of them has anything to do with “establishing” a religion.

That's what has always bothered me about it. I'm not a particularly religious person but I've always felt like they've misconstrued the meaning of that portion of the 1st amendment. You do your thing, I'll do mine. If you do it in a public place so be it... doesn't bother me. I don't understand why people get so offended by it. What does someone's personal beliefs have to do with the establishment clause?

[brwnsuga]

The ACLJ does good work.

[BfloGuy]

we would expect these administrators would take the time to understand the facts and make a common sense decision

How could they? Probably never saw a rosary in their lives.

[DemforBush]

I did some checking, and apparently this not that unique a case. There was a very similar case in Dallas in 2008, as well as another NY case:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,423143,00.html (2008, Texas)

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-03-16-rosaries-gangs_N.htm

As for the school’s decision, and the subsequent judge order... I’m glad the kid is back in school and being left alone.

At the same time, it could well be that certain Latino gangs *do* wear rosary beads as part of their ‘colors’. I still don’t agree with the school’s method of dealing with it it, but I also don’t think their actions were driven by a bias towards Christianity in this particular case.