Articles labeled: freedom of religion

Yesterday we had a teacher failing a kid for using religious imagery in his artwork, and now we have a teacher making openly “anti-Christian” remarks in the middle of a European history class. These people just don’t get it, do they? Maybe Mr. Corbett needs to brush up on his American history as well, and figure out the real purpose of the Establishment Clause.

Chad Farnan, a 16-year-old sophomore, says the teacher, James Corbett, told his students that “Jesus glasses” obscure the truth and suggested that Christians are more likely than other people to commit rape and murder.

Farnan recorded his teacher telling students in class: “What country has the highest murder rate? The South! What part of the country has the highest rape rate? The South! What part of the country has the highest rate of church attendance? The South!” Farnan said he took the tape recorder to class to supplement his class notes.

“It was very hard for me because it’s like basically telling me all this stuff that I’ve believed my whole entire life — it’s just basically trying to throw it out the window,” Farnan told FOX News.

Farnan’s family has filed a federal lawsuit against the Capistrano Unified School District, claiming Corbett’s remarks violated the First Amendment, which prohibits laws “respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” They are demanding that Corbett be fired.

Dawn Sherman, daughter of the Chicago area’s most famous atheist Rob Sherman, is challenging in court Illinois’ new mandatory moment of silence law, claiming that the schools forcing kids in a period of “silent prayer or reflection” is unconstitutional:

The Shermans are seeking an injunction that would prevent the observance of a moment of silence in Township High School District 214, which is scheduled to begin the practice Tuesday. They also hope to reverse the statute statewide, said Gregory Kulis, an attorney representing the father and daughter.

“I just don’t want my education to be interrupted,” Dawn Sherman said.

Her father has challenged the use of a cross image on the seals of such municipalities as Rolling Meadows, Palatine and Zion.

“The whole purpose for changing the law is to get more prayer in the public schools and everybody knows it,” Rob Sherman said. “Private business should be done on personal time, not time paid for by the taxpayers.”

In a move critics call the first step down a slippery slope to prayer in schools, the Illinois House overrode a gubernatorial veto and put into law a state mandated “moment of silence” effective immediately:

The requirement, effective immediately, doesn’t contain any penalty for teachers who don’t adhere to the mandate. Nonetheless, the issue drew sharp ideological debate on the House floor, where critics said it was an incremental attempt to force prayer in schools.

“Let’s face it: That’s what this is about… to many who are pushing this,’” said Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie.

Proponents of the measure say it has nothing to do with religion, but is just meant to allow teachers and students to reflect on the coming school day.

“Our children today are bombarded by noise,” said Rep. Monique Davis, D-Chicago, a supporter of the measure. The idea of the legislation, she said, is “to just have a moment in a child’s life where he or she can be guaranteed a moment of silence. We don’t want to give them that?”

Ms. Davis, you’re not “giving” our children anything, you’re forcing it on them. I’m going to encourage my kids to spend that moment reading the First Amendment…