Running head: Artifact #6 Religion and Public Schools 1

Artifact #6

Religion and Public Schools

Wyatt A. Reid

College of Southern Nevada

Artifact #6 Religion and Public Schools 2

Karen White, a kindergarten teacher, had recently converted the religion of Jehovah’s

Witness. Her newfound religion forbids her from doing things like celebrate birthdays and

celebrate Christmas. She told her students and parents that she would no longer be participating

in activities like gift exchanges or reciting the pledge of allegiance in the classroom. She was

dismissed by her school for not meeting the needs of her students. The question at hand is

whether her dismissal was just or not.

The first case in support of Karren is Minersville School District v. Board of Education

(1940). In this case two students denied reciting the pledge of allegiance based on religion. The

Court found that the students should not have to be compelled to recite the pledge of allegiance.

They and their parents were good citizens and had not displayed any lack of allegiance to the

United States of America. Similarly, Karren White is a good citizen. She should not have to be

compelled to do things that her religion does not allow.

The next case in defense of Karren is Edwards v. Aguillard (1987). This is a case where a

law in Louisiana was in place that said that if evolution was taught in schools, then “Creation

Science” should be in schools too. The court found that schools cannot be required to teach

“Creation Science” because it was religious in nature. In the view of Karren White and the

Jehovah’s Witnesses the thing that she is refusing to do are religious in nature and she should not

have to legally provide these things.

The first case in support of her dismissal is Epperson v. Arkansas (1968). In this case the

state of Arkansas passed a law that prohibited the teaching of evolution in its schools. The court

found that the state has no legitimate interest in protecting any religion from views that they see

as distasteful. Just because Karren White and her religion found these things distasteful, that does

not mean they should not happen in schools.

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The next case in favor of the school is Florey v. Sioux Falls School Dist. (1980). In this

case the schools were participating in Christmas singing. Florey filed suit and said that these

songs were religious and violated the first amendment. The courts found that although religious

the purpose of this singing was more cultural than religious and therefore can be continued in

schools. This helps the school because even actions that that a person can take religious

connotation out of, if they are for cultural learning they can be allowed.

In conclusion, I see that the dismissal of Karren White should be upheld. She will lose

her case based on the decisions of Florey v. Sioux Falls School Dist. (1980) and Epperson v.

Arkansas (1987). She cannot refuse to do reasonable activities just because she sees them as

religious in nature. The board was justified for the dismissal of Karren White.
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References

EDWARDS v. AGUILLARD 482 U.S. 578 (1987). Retrieved October 21, 2017.

https://www.leagle.com/decision/19871060482us57811037

EPPERSON v. ARKANSAS 393 U.S. 97 (1968). Retrieved October 21, 2017.

https://www.oyez.org/cases/1968/7

FLOREY v. SIOUX FALLS SCHOOL DIST. 619 F.2d 1311 (1980). Retrieved October 21,

2017. https://www.leagle.com/decision/19801930619f2d131111731

MINERSVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT v. BOARD OF EDUCATION (No. 690) 310 U.S. 586.

June 3, 1940. Retrieved October 21, 2017.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/310/586
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