Religious Discrimination in School?
What Religions Should Schools Be Allowed to Forbid, If Any?
In a recent situation that took place in Cedar Lake, Indiana, this question abounds. A high school freshman from Hanover Central High School was sent home May 2nd for displaying a pentagram on her cheek. According to the family, their daughter has been a practicing Pagan for three to four year and was wearing the symbol in celebration of a religious holiday, Beltane.
Andy Pecenke, the teen's father, said that he and his wife, as well as his daughter are all Pagan. "I've been a member of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids for 13 years," Pecenke stated.
In the Pagan tradition May 1st, known as May Day to the world and Beltane to most Pagans and Wiccans, is a celebration of the move into summer and is normally seen as second in importance, with Samhain (Halloween) being first.
The pentagram in question was only approximately the size of a quarter and was worn on the teen's upper cheek below her eye. So what was the reason for sending the teen home for wearing such a faithful display for her religion? "They told her it was too distracting," Pencenke said. But "they don't send kids home on Ash Wednesday," Pencenke pointed out.
When Marilyn Kaper, the Vice President for the Hanover School Board was asked about the situation she stated that she could not comment because "I have no facts about this issue." Apparently there will be no comments made because the school Superintendent, Michael Livovich Jr., was out of town on Tuesday. As of May 3rd, the Superintendent has denied that the school district was discriminating against Miss Pecenke for displaying her religious symbol. Livovich went on to state that really any student that would come to school with a religious symbol on their face and refuse to remove it would be sent home as well.
"We would never deny a child their religious expression," Livovich said. "What she has become, however, is a distraction."
As to why the school allows students to attend school with ash on their foreheads for Ash Wednesday, Livovich claimed that situation was entirely different. According to Livovich, he had done some research on Paganism and found no information stating that wearing a pentagram on the face is part of the tradition for May Day or Beltane.
"If it was a part of her faith that everyone of her faith does this on May Day, then I would say our apologies to the child and the parent," he said. "But that isn't the case here."
In response to the entire ordeal, Pencenke stated that, "If I get an apology from the school, I'll be happy. It is discrimination and a violation of civil rights. If harassment continues, then I might have to take legal action. I would prefer to not go that route."
Unfortunately, Miss Pecenke was sent home yet again today for displaying numerous pentagrams on her face. Something tells me this is far from over, so we'll have to wait and see how this plays out in the future.
*Sources*
-NWI.com. URL: http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2007/05/02/news/top_news/docbc7884ea8431c2b8862572cf000590fa.txt . Csepiga, Melanie. 2007May2.
-Chicago Tribune Online. URL: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/indiana/chi-ap-in-paganstudent,1,7803795.story?ctrack=1&cset=true . AP. 2007May2.
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14 Comments
Post a CommentI am a student in a healthcare field and I attend a private Christian university in the great Bible Belt (the Southeastern United States). I picked the university because of the study program, not because of its religious affiliations. I am currently doing my internship year and the person directly responsible for my evaluation this month told me today (in all seriousness) that I am going to hell because of my religion. He said this to me in front of another student. He then went on a rant about the indisputable correctness of Christianity for the next half hour or more. I didn't know what to do. I kept my mouth shut because he will ultimately decide if I graduate. I know this is not a public school, but nonetheless, I find this completely inappropriate. Would appreciate hearing your thoughts.
I am a pagan and I do not paint my face unless I am at a ritual. I agree that nowhere does it state painting your face with the pentacle is part of ancient or modern traditions. Ielieve that painting your face with any signs is a distaction at school. The school is for education. The home is for religion. I have three school age children.
Things are just getting ridiculous in this country. Christians are complaining about "winter break" and "holiday parties," yet a little girl is sent home from school for expressing her faith by simply wearing a pentacle. Where is the outrage?
I think it's getting to the point in public schools and even other public places that nobody should express their religious beliefs openly. I know that sounds atheistic (somewhat) but apparently Christians, Muslims, Jews, Pagans, etc are always going to clash about whose religion is correct...just more Christians and Muslims will complain than others. So what should we do as a society? Hide our religious beliefs from view, just like the Pagans (especially the Wiccans) have had to do for so long? I don't think it should happen but with certain other religious groups constantly complaining about things that are honored besides their "God", well maybe it would be a good thing. At least that would mean no more evangelicals knocking at my door.
Pagans don't restrict each other's religious expression to traditions. This child has the right to express her religion in any way she wants, so long as it does no harm to others, whether it is traditional or not. She wore it to honor her faith on a day she felt was sacred. It's no more distracting than any other form of expressing, and if it is so distracting, maybe they should educate the children a little more about Paganism so it won't seem so out of place.
Most of you I take it do not live in Indiana.
I however do. You people need to realize the ammount of not only religious but sexual (orientation) discrimination you get here. The people may seem friendly at first but their dick heads in there oppinions and in what they do. I wore a traditional buddhist robe to school on a holiday after i converted to buddhism (4 months before the holiday) and got sent home. I threatend to sue the school and I got a world different of treatment and still do. But that doesn't stop them from being dick heads to me. Which they act every day I go to school now.
Lea: Go kiss a cross or something.
I wear a headcovering according to the teachings of 1 Corinthian 11 and if someone told me I couldn't I would be livid. This girl should be allowed to wear whatever she wants whenever she wants to demonstrate her faith to others. If public schools can't promote religion then they cant promote the lack of it either.
I bet they didn't complain about religious-themed locker decorations for Easter and Christmas.
Not all Catholics wear an ash cross on Ash Wednesday. Some people are more adherent to dogma and tradition than others. Its a matter of individual personal expression of faith, which is just what this young woman was doing. Expressing her faith in a way that was meaningful to her. And as far as showing up several days later with many pentacles on her face, has no one heard of peaceful protest and civil disobedience against injustice? I wish the young lady the best and hope the school board recognizes the principle's actions for what they are - discrimination.
Donald-Yes, I agree that there can be abundant amounts of Christian lefties, and I am hoping that is not the case here...but it seems that it may be. I am curious to know how this school district handles females that wear the hejab becuase they are Muslim. Yes, it could be seen as a different case, but if they allow one thing they need to be equal across the board no matter if they think it is a tradition or not.