Louisiana School: Apologize for Buddhist Student Asked to Change his Religion!
- al: Kristi Arnold
- destinatario: Sabine Parish School Board, Superintendent Sara Ebarb, Rita Roark, science teacher, and Negreet High Principal Gene Wright.
A school told a student that he should stop being Buddhist to avoid being bullied by a Christian fundamentalist teacher.
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Louisiana filed a federal lawsuit against Negreet High School in Sabine Parish on behalf of two parents, Scott and Sharon Lane, and their son, “C.C.” The lawsuit claims the school has “a longstanding custom, policy, and practice of promoting and inculcating Christian beliefs,” including the teaching of creationism.
C.C's science teacher, Rita Roark, bullied him because of his Buddhist beliefs as she taught creationism in class. Roark called C.C. and his religion both stupid. She also issued a test which asked who created the universe. When C.C. failed to put in the "correct" answer, The Lord, the teacher was told he was Buddhist and didn't believe in God. That was the point at which Roark began scolding C.C. in front of the class.
When C.C.'s parents contacted the school board, they were told they shouldn't be offended to see God in the Bible belt and that, if C.C. didn't want to be bullied about Buddhism, he should change his religion.
This is an epic failure of this student's basic human rights in the Louisiana school system. Telling a student that changing their own basic beliefs to avoid bullying is ignorant, disgraceful and unconstitutional.
Ask the Lousiana school and those involved in this shameful event to apologize to C.C. and further change the school board's policies on supporting their students when bullied for any reason!
Dir Sir and Madams,
We the undersigned ask that you apologize to the student told that he should stop being Buddhist to avoid being bullied by a Christian fundamentalist teacher. We also ask that you protect your students' rights by changing your school board's policies to protect victims of bullying---especially those victimized by teachers who are supposed to be their advocates!
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Louisiana filed a federal lawsuit against Negreet High School in Sabine Parish on behalf of two parents, Scott and Sharon Lane, and their son, “C.C.” The lawsuit claims the school has “a longstanding custom, policy, and practice of promoting and inculcating Christian beliefs,” including the teaching of creationism.
C.C's science teacher, Rita Roark, bullied him because of his Buddhist beliefs as she taught creationism in class. Roark called C.C. and his religion both stupid. She also issued a test which asked who created the universe. When C.C. failed to put in the "correct" answer, The Lord, the teacher was told he was Buddhist and didn't believe in God. That was the point at which Roark began scolding C.C. in front of the class.
When C.C.'s parents contacted the school board, they were told they shouldn't be offended to see God in the Bible belt and that, if C.C. didn't want to be bullied about Buddhism, he should change his religion.
This is an epic failure of this student's basic human rights in the Louisiana school system. Telling a student that changing their own basic beliefs to avoid bullying is ignorant, disgraceful and unconstitutional.
Apologize to C.C. and further change the school board's policies on supporting their students when bullied for any reason!
