Teachers’ rights within the classroom are not something I usually think about. But, when you are afraid to give a distraught student a hug, or even a shoulder pat, what is a teacher allowed or not allowed to say within the walls of a classroom? Normally I would strongly advocate freedom of speech – when combined with a heaping dose of common sense. That is the key to freedome of speech in school – common sense and a sensitivity to others.
I was shocked at an article from The New York Times, “Student, 16, Finds Allies in His Fight Over Religion”. The American Civil Liberties Union, the People for the American Way Foundation, and a partner from a large Manhattan law firm have lent their support to Matthew LaClair. What does he need support for? Well, for starters his history teacher has said – in class-
“that if they [students] do not believe that Jesus died for their sins, they ‘belong in hell.’”
“that there were dinosaurs aboard Noah’s ark and that there is no scientific basis for evolution or the Big Bang theory of the origin of the universe.”
Is this a Christian school? Is this a private school? No. So, when he secretly taped his teacher saying such outrageous things, LaClair was supported by his school, right? No. It would seem that LaClair was the one in the wrong. He has been verbally attacked by schoolmates and the teacher is still teaching, though in a different classroom.
“Bernadette McDonald, president of the school board, said in a statement: ‘We took his concerns very seriously. The result was that we have recieved no further complaints about such religious proselytization in our schools.’”
Now, I am personally appalled by this apparent lack of concern. Even further, LaClair has been reprimanded for taping his teacher without permission. I know that this is standard policy, but doesn’t this situation prove that sometimes there is need for a secret taping? Otherwise LaClair would have no proof, as presumably, his teacher would have refused permission to tape him. Have you ever read the young adult novel, Speak? A similar situation arises.
This teacher made a very poor choice. In a public school, a teacher should be able to express opinions, but these opinions need to be firmly prefaced with the statement that they are not fact. A student needs to be able to disagree without consequences. Religion should not enter history discussions, unless the discussions are about the religion of the past.
Besides freedom of speech, we are also guaranteed freedom from persecution and freedom of relgion. So, even if this teacher was technically allowed to say such things in class, it was a very poor decision on his part. The school should advise its teachers to use tact. It should protect students from repercussions whenever possible, when the students express dissatisfaction or outrage in a responsible way, as LaClair has evidently done.
In this case, I would definitely side with the student. Separation of Church and State is made for a specific reason. If only one student is made to feel uncomfortable, and it can be proved that the teacher is preaching instead of teaching – stating instead of hypothesizing, and not allowing opposing viewpoints or discussion, then the school has a problem. School should be a place of exploration and friendly discussion. There should be acceptance, not damnation.
“Student, 16, Finds Allies in His Fight Over Religion” by Patrick McGeehan. The New York Times. read full article
