by Scott Kaufman
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The parents of a Buddhist student in Louisiana ridiculed by a creationist hack won their lawsuit against the school district, the American Civil Liberties Union revealed Friday.
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The student, known as C.C., was asked by sixth-grade teacher Rita Roark to answer the following question on a test: "ISN'T IT AMAZING WHAT THE _____________ HAS MADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" When C.C. failed to respond "lord," Roark responded "you're stupid if you don't believe in god." She also frequently denigrated his Buddhist faith, as well as the Hindu faith, referring to both as "stupid."
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When his parents complained to Sabine Parish Superintendent Sara Ebarb, they were told that "this is the bible belt," so they should expect to find the christian god in the classroom. Ebarb advised them that if they wanted an ungodly classroom, they should transfer C.C. to a school where "there are more Asians."
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Judge Elizabeth Foote of the U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana sided with C.C. and his parents, citing that Roark's behavior - and the school's decision to defend it - clearly violated "the Free Exercise and Establishment Clause of the First Amendment."
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With regard to the specific behavior of Roark, Judge Foot wrote that "[t]he District and School Board are permanently enjoined from permitting School Officials at any school within the School District to promote their personal religious beliefs to students in class or during or in conjunction with a School Event." Furthermore, "School Officials shall not denigrate any particular faith, or lack thereof, or single out any student for disfavor or criticism because of his or her particular faith or religious belief, or lack thereof."
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She also ordered that all members of the school board, as well as all faculty - both current and incoming - be trained by an attorney approved by the ACLU and the ACLU of Louisiana as to their responsibilities with respect to the First Amendment. The training will emphasize the "the psychological and developmental impact of religious discrimination on students."
The parents of a Buddhist student in Louisiana ridiculed by a creationist hack won their lawsuit against the school district, the American Civil Liberties Union revealed Friday.
.
The student, known as C.C., was asked by sixth-grade teacher Rita Roark to answer the following question on a test: "ISN'T IT AMAZING WHAT THE _____________ HAS MADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" When C.C. failed to respond "lord," Roark responded "you're stupid if you don't believe in god." She also frequently denigrated his Buddhist faith, as well as the Hindu faith, referring to both as "stupid."
.
When his parents complained to Sabine Parish Superintendent Sara Ebarb, they were told that "this is the bible belt," so they should expect to find the christian god in the classroom. Ebarb advised them that if they wanted an ungodly classroom, they should transfer C.C. to a school where "there are more Asians."
.
Judge Elizabeth Foote of the U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana sided with C.C. and his parents, citing that Roark's behavior - and the school's decision to defend it - clearly violated "the Free Exercise and Establishment Clause of the First Amendment."
.
With regard to the specific behavior of Roark, Judge Foot wrote that "[t]he District and School Board are permanently enjoined from permitting School Officials at any school within the School District to promote their personal religious beliefs to students in class or during or in conjunction with a School Event." Furthermore, "School Officials shall not denigrate any particular faith, or lack thereof, or single out any student for disfavor or criticism because of his or her particular faith or religious belief, or lack thereof."
.
She also ordered that all members of the school board, as well as all faculty - both current and incoming - be trained by an attorney approved by the ACLU and the ACLU of Louisiana as to their responsibilities with respect to the First Amendment. The training will emphasize the "the psychological and developmental impact of religious discrimination on students."
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