Is what my school is doing illegal?

Question

I go to a rural public school in central Texas and about 95% is Christian. We often have conversations about religion where the teacher gets involved and says things like! "One day you will understand the leasons of the bible", "Why don't you believe in god?" "What church do you go to?", "I think if you give Jesus a chance you would love him", and "What's your favourite part of the bible, David?"

We also had a fake funeral to teach us the leasons of drunk driving and after we were done we all stood up and prayed to "Jesus Christ" for our safety on prom night.. mind you this was not apart of the fake funeral..

Also, in theatre they always get together and pray before a play! (of course I get stared at for saying im not comfterble with it)

Is this illegal and can I sew the school?

Answer 1

the word is "sue," and yes you can.

Answer 2

Yes, you can sue.

But the question is, should you. I agree with you in principal, and I, too, would be very uncomfortable in that situation, but I think you should consider whether or not you want to defend your own freedom by making it so others cannot pray as they see fit. Certainly the teacher who told you that you would one day know the truth of the bible or whatever was WAY out of line, and this should at the very least go before the board, but if the students WANT to pray to Jesus - or Mohammad or Zeus or a half-eaten fig newton, I truly believe we need to allow it even on school property. HOWEVER, no student should be forced to take part or even sit though it. If students want to pray before their play, then let them... that's their business. Unfortunately, there are people who do not understand your reticence to participate, but that is THEIR failing. Good luck!!!

Edit: AJM: Let YOUR kid be foreced to pray to Allah and see how long it takes YOU to be pissed off.

Answer 3

Svetlana - surely he could only sue the school if they were forcing him to take part in the prayers when he didnt agree with it? If it's just going on around him but the teachers are happy for him to sit out of prayers/discussions concerning Christianity, then that's acceptable.

The fake funeral just sounds like a hard-hitting lesson to scare people into being safe.

Answer 4

Yes, you can sue... but like many people have pointed out why would you want to see how totally nasty Christians can be, both physically and socially. This is why the non-Christians are so up in arms. Christians have way too much control and they are often allowed to do terrible things to prove their point. If something bad were to happen to you, whoever did it would never be called to justice for it.

Texas is the same great State that brought us President Shrub and it is also a very Christian State!

Good luck.

Answer 5

This all depends on when the conversation took place and who led the conversation. Contrary to popular belief a student does not loose his rights to freedom of religion and freedom of speech the minute he walked into the school building. If the student started the conversation and started the prayer then it is ok.

Answer 6

specific and no. this isn't any longer unlawful for them to have lied and created a facebook account. this isn't any longer unlawful for them to look for photos of scholars to coach in via fact somebody friended them and gave them get admission to to those photos. It does no longer be unlawful for them to coach somebody into the police for underage eating on condition that's prohibited, whether, it does no longer postpone in courtroom. they does no longer have something to benefit via turning somebody in different than to get a student expelled. they does no longer be able to lawfully expel the student except that they had documented evidence proving that the photograph advance into taken after the contract advance into signed. An underage eating charge warrents like one night in detention center and a 2 hundred superb. What their doing isn't unlawful whether that's shady and surprisingly unethical. My suggestion, write and editorial or call the interior reach information station, if discern's make adequate of a fuss approximately it, the college will backpedal and get rid of their account, surprisingly if the college board did no longer comprehend approximately what their doing.

Answer 7

My understanding is that a teacher-led prayer in class is indeed illegal.
But you can't sue them unless you can prove damages. What is it with you Americans and suing people?
Just talk to the teacher, and if they don't cut it out talk to the principal. If there's no action there, just continue to the next highest authority, and so on. Courts are expensive and often unnecessary. Use them as a last resort.

Answer 8

I don't think so. Just ignore that Christain crap. I did and I went to school in Iowa. By the way none of my teachers argued religion with us. I imagine if they did the pricipal would have repremanded them. So the best thing u can do is just ignore it and learn the best u can.
If u have a complant take it the principal and school board first. Just don't skip ahead and try a law suit. I don't think u will win. Thats the harsh reality of life.

Answer 9

You most certainly can sue the school. Unfortunately, in that part of the country, you won't get any support.
Tell PBS about it or something.
Find some sort of newspaper, radio, or TV source that is nationwide and tell them, this way the nation can hold your school responsible, and not your religious town (who clearly support this).

Answer 10

well..i could say i am a very Christian person..and i love God..and i would die for Him..
but you know..when you are inside the church and when you are a biginner you are frighten by God..and you try to do everything to convince people believe in Him..even forcing them..because you are afraid..of God..and afraid of other things...

so you just have to ignore what you don't like and respect them and let them pray ..even in the streets if they want..because one day ..will be apocalips..and maybe such things would hardly be seen ..

i myself went to the shop of a monastery..bought music made by church in byzantine way..listened..got bored..and about to go there with a CD with a song Amazon or so..and about to tell the monks that they should sing like this to God....then..i became silent..listened again..that music..and it looked better to me...it is beautifull..just men singing..well i don't find it boring anylonger...

other time..it looked to me that the whole ceremony at my ortodox church is extremely..too sad..while i have a friend who is priest and teacher at theology and also speaks on tv..and he is joking in private and wears short trosers at home....and jokes very hard..tells me that i should cut my husband's ***not to be cheated again...and while other priests told me not to divorce but endure...he is telling me from 8 years till now...to divorce..because my husband is an idiot..and distroyed me but not loving me....so you see..i think ..these men who has to do with the church are the best ...i would buy a Christian from God if i had the money...but God doesn't ask for money His money are something else..to Him..

Answer 11

I'd say it is definitely a violation of the most recent supreme court ruling. I'd take it before the school board first and if you get no response then look at getting a lawyer involved.