Religious+Wear+In+Public+Schools+Workshop

. = Religious Wear Workshop Agenda = = Trevor Lange, Jane Rubio, Liza Tran =

Presenter intro and background Goals What the workshop is about Review Agenda Handouts
 * __Introduction (15 Minutes)__**

Powerpoint presentation History of Religious Wear in Schools Seminar Questions Case Study
 * __Religious Wear in Schools (70 Minutes)__**

Powerpoint Presentation (Revisit original powerpoint)
 * __Conclusion (5 Minutes)__**

=__Powerpoint Presentation-__=

Download Powerpoint presentation below:



=**__ RELIGIOUS WEAR __**= =**__ FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION OR PROSELYTIZING? __**=

BOTTOM LINE: Do we allow teachers to wear religious clothing or symbols because each human being has a right to express themselves freely or do we see this issue leading to proselytizing?

Legal History:

“…the law did not violate her religious rights and it actually helped to preserve religious neutrality for students.”
 * __1923__** Oregon Legislature enacted a ban on religious garb in the classroom
 * __1965__** Law was revised in 1965 to clarify the meaning.
 * __1983__** First challenge by a Eugene middle school teacher whose religion of Sikhism required her to wear a turban and various adornments.
 * __1986__** Supreme Court rejected the teacher’s appeal stating that:
 * __2009__** Oregon legislature passed the ‘Oregon Workplace Religious Freedom Act’, which included all public workers except for classroom teachers in public schools.


 * __Proponents__** of the ban feel the religious attire can influence students and convey a possible endorsement by that district.


 * __Opponents__** feel the law is discriminatory and antiquated and that religious wear is simly an expression of identity.

Mark Toledo, the general counsel for the OEA states: “So, there is tension between the freedom of expression and the abuse of that right” “This is just not a problem, if a teacher does become overt or proselytizing there are ways that we can address that without infringing on people.” ~Article 1 Section 8 of the Oregon Constitution.

Referenced from: ‘Ban on Religious Garb for Oregon Teachers Gets Pulled out of the Closet for a Fresh Debate’, Today’s OEA, February 2010, article by Jon Bell, Website: []

= [|____Current Articles and Links on Religious Wear in Public Schools____] = =__ [|Trevor Lange, Jane Rubio, Liza Tran] __=

[|.Sikh schoolgirl wins bangle court case] __[]__

2. Heated debate over religious dress law __[]__

3. Religious Dress and Public School Teachers in Oregon []

4. Should schools ban teachers in religious garb? []

5. Teachers still can’t wear religious clothing in three states []

6. Religious Clothing in the Classroom []

7. Coverage of the burka debate “hijacking” the real issue []