Jewish families and schoolboard reach settlement in Delaware school prayer lawsuit, but families suffer crippling backlash of anti-semitism
(posted by Paige)
Here’s a sad story from the frontlines of the struggle to keep public schools religiously neutral, and an anecdotal reminder that when you complain to your kids’ schoolboard about Jesus prayers, do so anonymously:
At Samantha’s high school graduation in 2004, a minister’s prayer proclaiming Jesus as the only way to the truth nudged Mrs. Dobrich to ask the school board to consider more generic and less exclusionary prayers, she said.
As news of the request spread, many local Christians saw it as an effort to limit the free exercise of religion, residents said. Anger spilled onto talk radio, in letters to the editor and at school board meetings attended by hundreds of people carrying signs praising Jesus.
The question of prayer in public schools is not going away anytime soon. Despite the Supreme Court’s initial stand on the subject in Engel v. Vitale almost half a century ago, many teachers and schoolboards still find it hard to adhere to the First Amendment, which, according to the Court (and common sense) prohibits public (government funded) schools from endorsing religion. As the ACLU points out, schools are free to teach about religion in a neutral way, and students are free to pray if they feel so inclined, but the line drawn by the establishment clause is crossed when, as in cases like the Delaware one, a minister proclaims “Jesus as the only way to truth” at a high school graduation:
First, children are free to pray in public schools either as individuals or in groups. In addition, whenever a teacher opens up an assignment topic for the children’s choice (such as which book to read, what to discuss in a talk to the class, or which song to sing), students may choose religious themes - and the ACLU has protected their right to do so. (Learn More) In addition, schools may offer courses about religion or about the Bible or other religious works.
There are, however, two difficulties to which all should be aware. First, public schools themselves should not be in the business of promoting particular religious beliefs or religious activities. While it is permissible for public schools to teach about religion, it is not permissible to promote particular religious beliefs. Although public schools should not be leading children in prayers or religious ceremonies, they should also be respectful of the religious beliefs of students. Second, public schools should protect children from being coerced by others to accept religious (or anti-religious!) beliefs. Public schools should seek to create an environment conducive to learning by all students and not act as vehicles proselytizing for religious or anti-religious beliefs.
In the Delaware case, the family which filed the complaint without keeping it’s identity anonymous has had to deal not only with the initial insult which prompted the suit, but also the ridiculous backlash against them from the Jesus people:
After the family received threats, Mrs. Dobrich said, she and Alex moved to Wilmington. Her husband, Marco, stayed in his local job to make sure that the family had health insurance.
They sold their house. But rent and expenses in Wilmington consumed their money.
Samantha dropped out of Columbia University because of the financial problems. Alex, who had attended public school, did not fit into to the Orthodox day schools he was attending and left, his mother said.