Female teachers aide suspended for wearing religious cross in school

[Dis]

OK so we all know the story. I don't want to focus on her. She knew the rules, and she violated them.

The more important issue is whether people can wear religious garb in a school. This includes muslim women. Can a muslim teacher in a public school wear a veil or burkha?

[orange]

Yes, nor should there be a problem with her wearing a cross, or a veil, or an anarchy symbol, or a peace sign, or a hairnet, or a nose ring.

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by orange
Yes, nor should there be a problem with her wearing a cross, or a veil, or an anarchy symbol, or a peace sign, or a hairnet, or a nose ring.

How 'bout a swastika?

[orange]

i don't see a problem with that either, so long as she isn't talking hatred in her classes or passing it off on her students

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

Re: Female teachers aide suspended for wearing religious cross in school

Originally posted by Dissident

The more important issue is whether people can wear religious garb in a school. This includes muslim women. Can a muslim teacher in a public school wear a veil or burkha?

Veils and burkahs are not religious symbols- they are simply clothing worn in adherance to tradition and the Koran's direction to dress modestly (that applies to men too). The Bible has similar directives.

[Edan]

What about a yarmulkah or a tzitzit?

I have no problem with people wearing religious artifcts as long as they're not being (excessively) sensationalistic about it. I don't know the exact details of this case, but wearing a cross is probably fine. A shirt that says something like "love jesus or go to hell" probably isn't....

[orange]

bingo

A cross, in an of itself, worn by a person, cannot be considered a violation of Church and State separation

That's a matter of personal choice and freedom of speech/expression/whatever. It only becomes a problem when the teacher attempts to push his/her views onto his/her students.

[Proteus_MST]

We had this discussion here in Germany some time ago.

For one there was a couple who went to court because the school their child went to had Crucifixes in every classroom (not unusual in Bavaria ).
The Court Decision was AFAIK that the school had the remove the Crucifixes.

One other case we had was a female turkish teacher who wore a headscarf because of her religion. In this case the court also decided, that this is a religious symbol and that teachers aren´t allowed to wear them at school.


My Opinion on the Matter?
Tricky. The most important thing for me is, that all those Religions are treated equally. For example, if Crucifixes are allowed(forbidden) within classrooms, religious symbols of other religions should also be allowed (forbidden).

If, for example a school has crucifixes in every classroom on display and the request of a jewish (or muslim) teacher, to also display a David Star (or wear a Headscarf) in this school and the Administration of the school rejects this request, the school should be forced by government, to either approve the request or to remove those crucifixes.

Normally however I tend to link it with the intentions, the school/teacher has with displaying the symbol. If the teacher/school displays the symbol with the intention to convert the kids to one religion it shouldn´t be allowed.
If it´s however just displayed / worn because religious usus dictates so, I see no problem with it.

[Edan]

Apparently, the regulation against wearing the cross was from the turn of the century... Err, the turn of the last century...

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030509-6652110.htm

From what I understand, based on what I've heard, is that it was designed to keep Catholics from teaching back when there was a high amount of anti-catholic sentiment.

It should be changed, and the teachers aide suspension should be undone.

[Sirotnikov]

I think that a public school should have no religious symbolics.

But if a person wishes to express his religion he obviously should be allowed to.

There's nothing "forecful" when a christian wears a cross, or a jew wears a yarmulka.

Freedom from religion means that the school can't force you to wear a cross, not that it can force to not wear one.

[yago]

Veils and burkahs are not religious symbols- they are simply clothing worn in adherance to tradition and the Koran's direction to dress modestly

There's even more to it. It is comfortable. Yes, comfortable. The clothes are intendend to keep you from the heat of day and cold of the night. And are very comfortable.

Except Burkahs, I've never seen burkahs.

[Sava]

Actually, Dissident is giving you part of the story. I heard about this a few weeks ago. This woman was prostelesizing Christianity in her class. A few non-Christian students complained. The woman was forced to stop, but then started wearing her cross on the outside of her clothes, drawing attention to it regularly.

I am not against wearing religious things in school as long as you don't PUSH YOUR RELIGION ON OTHER PEOPLE'S KIDS. This woman needs to be out of the public system. Here's how I'd break the news to her:

"The good news is, you can wear your cross... the bad news is... YOUR FIRED!"

[Az]

No religion. period.

[Sava]

That's interesting coming from someone living in a religious state.

[Az]

well, not RELIGIOUS, but I resent religion, and esp. it's interference with the public here, as well.