NYT: God, Am. History and a Fifth-Grade Class (San Fran teacher lawsuit)

[DeepModem Mom]

God, American History and a Fifth-Grade Class
By DEAN E. MURPHY
Published: December 5, 2004


SAN FRANCISCO — Steven J. Williams, an evangelical Christian who teaches fifth grade at a public school in Cupertino, Calif., is fast becoming a folk hero among conservative Christians....

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More than a year ago, the principal, Patricia Vidmar, had advised Mr. Williams - a self-described "orthodox Christian" - that she worried he "would try to proselytize his Christian faith to the students in his classroom," according to a federal lawsuit filed two weeks ago on Mr. Williams's behalf by Alliance Defense Fund, a conservative Christian group based in Arizona....

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What has ensued has opened a window on the increasingly high-pitched struggle taking place in a number of schools across the country over how much God should be taught in American history, a battle that has raged for many years but is intensifying as conservative groups feel invigorated in pushing their viewpoint and as defenders of a more secular approach are put more on the defensive....

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Barred from his classroom, Mr. Williams said, were handouts with excerpts from the Declaration of Independence, the "Right of the Colonists" by Samuel Adams, and the 1682 "Frame of Government of Pennsylvania" by William Penn. Also rejected were excerpts from George Washington's prayer journal and a handout titled, "Fact Sheet: Currency & Coins History of 'In God We Trust.' "...

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School officials say none of the historical documents, or their underlying principles, have been banned from classrooms, only that Mr. Williams's use of them has been restricted. "No teacher has been stopped from passing out the Declaration of Independence," said Andy Mortensen, an assistant superintendent....


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/05/weekinreview/05murp.html

[bluestateguy]

1. He should leave the SF Bay Area

The Bay Area, of which I am a native, is a blue state community. He can take his red state bullshit to Alabama. It is not wanted in the Bay Area.

[wickerwoman]

2. This man is obviously preaching not teaching.

Teachers provide a variety of materials showing different perspectives and allow students to draw their own conclusions. This guy is cherry-picking things out of context to try to bully young people into agreement with his beliefs.

They should can his ass for incompetance.

[acmavm]

3. So, there was to be no theocracy based government in Iraq, but these

secular evangelists (for lack of anything better to call them) are trying to impose one on this country? They need to be stopped.

[realisticphish]

4. for the love of god (pun intended)

WHY IS THIS NOT OBVIOUS TO FREEPS, ETC? TEACHING RELIGION IN SCHOOL IS A VIOLATION OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT. we cant "chill out" or "take it easy," its the fucking law, its not changing, and fungelicals cant do shit about it. so suck it up, and just dont teach your religion to your students. thats what sunday school is for


:hippie: The Incorrigible Democrat

[realisticphish]

5. dupe