Posted on 04/30/2005 3:45:04 AM PDT by pookie18
A federal judge allowed a history teacher's lawsuit to proceed against school-district officials who barred him from providing supplemental handouts to students – including the Declaration of Independence – because the historical documents contain some references to God and religion.
Stephen Williams' claim against officials with the Cupertino Union School District in California was approved by Judge James Ware in San Jose, who wrote in his order "Williams has sufficiently alleged the deprivation of a constitutional right to Equal Protection of the law."
"The judge's ruling means the case will move ahead as we believed it would," said Kevin Theriot senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund. "We look forward to defending this case in court."
The order [pdf file] granted the school district's motion to dismiss in part and denied it in part, ADF said.
As WorldNetDaily first reported, defendant Patricia Vidmar, principal of the Stevens Creek School, reportedly ordered Williams to submit his lesson plans and supplemental handouts to her for advance approval. Aside from Williams, a Christian, no other teachers were subject to the advance-screening requirement, according to ADF.
Deemed as unfit for the students by Vidmar were excerpts from the Declaration of Independence, the diaries of George Washington and John Adams, the writings of William Penn, and various state constitutions.
"Throwing aside all common sense, the district has chosen to censor men such as George Washington and documents like the Declaration of Independence," said ADF Senior Counsel Gary McCaleb in November. "The district's actions conflict with American beliefs and are completely unconstitutional."
McCaleb said less than 5 percent of all of Williams' supplemental handouts distributed throughout the school year contain references to God and Christianity.
California's Education Code does allow "references to religion or references to or the use of religious literature … when such references or uses do not constitute instruction in religious principles … and when such references or uses are incidental to or illustrative of matters properly included in the course of study."
"Throwing aside all common sense..."
This is the main point, IMO, in the article. "Common sense" has gone out the window in America, and especially California.
Throwing aside all common sense,....
The looney left said bye bye to common sense years ago.
This is why American kids know nothing of American history. Now they are getting it all from Hollywood.
We are spending too much money on education. With the amount of tax payers money we spend in our schools we should have a better product coming out.
You're right. Anyone wanting an example of why we on the right are concerned about our country need look no further than this lawsuit. This is a perfect demonstration of the insanity the left has brought us to.
The logic of the left. The Constitution is not constitutional because of references to God.
This article tells you everything you need to know about why we have to win the battle over judges. Imagine if the judge were a liberal, "sensitive to the needs of everyone, unwilling to subject believers in other religions to the biases of the Christian right wing", or some other such drivel?
Your correct and thus the federal goverment and state goverments are likewise improperly founded. They are illegal, thus nullifying the federal/state tax system. No more taxes. Gun law - not lawful.
Al
Vote No: Schools must live within means (Livingston County May 3 Millage)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1393638/posts
Unfortunately, extravagant and expensive employee and health care packages have been negotiated over the years which, along with pension costs, now consume from 80 percent to 86 percent of the local school districts' budgets.
I always find anything that the elites of education do in the name of "progressive" educating of our children extremely interesting. The head Gestapo at this particular school, Patricia Vidmar, is a perfect example of liberal indoctrination of our children in government schools. She is a poster child for the teaching profession that has removed God from our schools. Remember the adage, "Those who can't do, teach and those who can't teach become administrators." Amen.
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