Posted on 11/27/2004 7:58:06 AM PST by freespirited
Click on the link for the first eight pages of the lawsuit filed by Stephen Williams, the teacher who has been banned from handing out the Declaration of Independence and other historical documents that contain "religious content" in his fifth grade class.
According to the suit, Williams is the only teacher who must restrict his handouts to a list authorized by the principal. He alleges that she requires him to do this because she knows that he is an orthodox Christian.
Oops, link takes you to last page. For first page use this link:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/1124041declar1.html
Our kids don't get indoctrinated on peace loving Islam until they are in the 7th grade. I guess that the issue is not religon but evil Christians -- got to wipe out that evil Christian cult.
Would someone please smack some common sense back into these school administrators
"Would someone please smack some common sense back into these school administrators"
Here is some sense: The administrators oppose the Declaration of Independence in school because of its reference to a Creator, i.e., God. Our currency has on it our national motto, "In God We Trust." Thus, no more money should be sent to the school. Problem solved.
Ping.
Perhaps we should start a nationwide campaign to bar the use of money that says "In God We Trust".
See also:
California teacher censored [for giving students Declaration of Independence to read]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1288339/posts?page=13#13
Declaration of Independence Banned at Calif School
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1288139/posts
Declaration of Independence Banned at Calif School
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1288073/posts
Declaration of Independence Banned
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1288010/posts
Declaration of Independence Banned at Calif School!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1287850/posts
Is Declaration of Independence unconstitutional?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1287677/posts
Is Declaration of Independence Unconstitutional?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1287422/posts
Is Declaration of Independence unconstitutional?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1287343/posts
I wonder if the lefties are framing this action from Mr. Williams the way we viewed the Neaudow (sic) pledge fiasco?
(My bet is that they see Williams as an obstructionist and destroyer the same way we saw Neaudow)
Well, I would like to hear both sides of the issue fully explain themselves before forming an opinion, but it seems that most people around here are more comfortable with jumping to conclusions based upon a one-sided account.
...
Universityof California, Berkeley, constitutional law professor Daniel Farber said Williams probably does have a constitutional right to teach history with religious content to fifth-graders. But ultimately, courts have deferred to school officials in controlling course content.
"I think his claim that he has a constitutional right to use these materials in a classroom is an uphill battle," Farber said.
UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh, a First Amendment expert who teaches a class in law and religion, said, "It's probably good for a school district to teach religion in history because so much of history has been molded by religion."
But only a detailed examination of Williams' teaching materials can show whether he crossed a line of endorsing a religion, and that's a judgment for the school board, not the courts, said Volokh, now visiting at Stanford.
...
Patricia Vidmar - Principal
Kathleen Garfield - School Secretary
Leann Block - School Secretary
Telephone Numbers:
Office - (408) 245-3312
YMCA Sunshine Co - (408) 736-5041
YMCA Sceep Co - (408) 737-9844
Email:
block_leann@Cupertino.k12.ca.us
Fax:
(408) 245-7484
Address:
Stevens Creek Elementary School
10300 Ainsworth Drive, Cupertino, CA 95014
They tried yanking this information off of the home page, but the google cache is still there.
Folks the real story here is “Religious Right lies through their teeth”. And most of you suckers fell for it. Let me explain.
The Declaration was not banned in Cupertino. What was banned was a heavily edited handout with only the religious references in the Declaration – “nature’s God”, “Creator”, and “Divine Providence”. Also other handouts, that put together, show that this teacher was coming to class with an agenda to push – the “Christian Nation” line.
One handout had quotes from famous leaders regarding religion. One of the quotes, from George Washington, is now listed as “unauthenticated” by David Barton, a “Christian Heritage” proponent masquerading as a historian. Barton was the very guy who publicized these quotes in the 1990’s. Also in that handout, Jesus is quoted about the bible. Help me out here, what does that have to do with teaching the ‘religious, economic….etc.’ reasons that our nation was founded for that the teacher claims he was only following the California curriculum guidelines? Further, there is no countervailing opinions – for example, some of the things that Jefferson, Adams, or Paine said that would drive Jerry Falwell over the wall.
Another handout was the supposed “Washington Prayer Journal”. This document was rejected almost 100 years ago by the Smithsonian as not being an authentic Washington artifact – the handwriting did not match, and the spelling was too good. (Washington was a notoriously poor speller).
But what story was promoted by the Alliance Defense Fund and all the right wing radio talk show hosts? “Declaration was banned”. But when you look at it, it is clear the Declaration was NOT banned, and the principal was probably right to review – and reject – these supplemental materials being brought into the classroom.
So, the very people who want to post the Ten Commandments in every classroom violated one of them themselves – from ADF to Rush to Sean and the whole gamut of minor-city pundits : Thou shall not bear false witness, folks. I hope the CUSD board sues the pants off of ADF, Fox News, Rush, and Hannity for slander.
Folks the real story here is “Religious Right lies through their teeth”. And most of you suckers fell for it. Let me explain.
The Declaration was not banned in Cupertino. What was banned was a heavily edited handout with only the religious references in the Declaration – “nature’s God”, “Creator”, and “Divine Providence”. Also other handouts, that put together, show that this teacher was coming to class with an agenda to push – the “Christian Nation” line.
One handout had quotes from famous leaders regarding religion. One of the quotes, from George Washington, is now listed as “unauthenticated” by David Barton, a “Christian Heritage” proponent masquerading as a historian. Barton was the very guy who publicized these quotes in the 1990’s. Also in that handout, Jesus is quoted about the bible. Help me out here, what does that have to do with teaching the ‘religious, economic….etc.’ reasons that our nation was founded for that the teacher claims he was only following the California curriculum guidelines? Further, there is no countervailing opinions – for example, some of the things that Jefferson, Adams, or Paine said that would drive Jerry Falwell over the wall.
Another handout was the supposed “Washington Prayer Journal”. This document was rejected almost 100 years ago by the Smithsonian as not being an authentic Washington artifact – the handwriting did not match, and the spelling was too good. (Washington was a notoriously poor speller).
But what story was promoted by the Alliance Defense Fund and all the right wing radio talk show hosts? “Declaration was banned”. But when you look at it, it is clear the Declaration was NOT banned, and the principal was probably right to review – and reject – these supplemental materials being brought into the classroom.
So, the very people who want to post the Ten Commandments in every classroom violated one of them themselves – from ADF to Rush to Sean and the whole gamut of minor-city pundits : Thou shall not bear false witness, folks. I hope the CUSD board sues the pants off of ADF, Fox News, Rush, and Hannity for slander.
There's a live one over here taunting me. Summon the kitties.
He's been repeating himself on a number of threads (cut and paste) it would seem.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/user-posts?id=186797
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