How can a teacher say that?
March 14, 2014
By Heather L. Weaver, ACLU Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief
Imagine if your child was ridiculed in front of his classmates for his religious beliefs until he was physically ill. Can’t believe it? Neither could we, and that’s why the ACLU and the ACLU of Louisiana sued the Sabine Parish School District on behalf of C.C., a sixth-grader of Thai descent and a practicing Buddhist. You remember C.C.: He was chastised by teachers and administrators at his Louisiana public school for his religious beliefs. School officials also repeatedly, and illegally, imposed their religious beliefs on students in a number of ways.
Today, C.C. and his family won. A federal district court entered an order requiring the school district to refrain from unconstitutionally promoting or denigrating religion. The court’s order also mandates in-service training for school staff regarding their obligations under the First Amendment.
When we filed the lawsuit, many people were shocked by the allegations. In addition to denigrating C.C.’s Buddhist faith by calling it “stupid,” school officials suggested he should transfer to another school with “more Asians.” They also taught creationism in science class, incorporated prayer into class and nearly every school event, hung a portrait of Jesus over the main entryway, and participated in a number of other activities that blatantly violated the separation of church and state.
The court’s order, which took the form of a “consent decree” agreed to by the school board, ensures that these unlawful practices will be discontinued in Sabine Parish and brings the case to a close. We applaud the board for doing right by C.C., his siblings, and all district students.
Unfortunately, however, not everyone has reacted to the lawsuit with the same measured consideration as the school board. While C.C. and his family have received much support from the community (including from some local congregations) and from across the country, they also have been harassed via crank calls to their house and work. And last month, C.C.’s mother Sharon was accosted while doing yard work: Three people wearing KKK-type white hoods drove by her and shouted, “You fucking nigger Asian-loving bitch.”
These incidents further highlight why it is so important that public schools throughout Louisiana, many of which continue to flout the law in this area, rethink their approach to religious liberty.
Had Sabine Parish proactively sought to comply with the Constitution in the first place, the Lanes would not have been forced to expose their family to such vitriol, harassment, and intimidation simply to assert their fundamental rights. We hope their experience and the consent decree will serve as important tools to educate Louisiana’s educators – public school officials – about real religious liberty.
Real religious liberty includes not only the right to express and practice your faith in school, which the consent decree protects, but also the right to be free from the religious coercion and alienation that occurs when a teacher or other school official tries to impose his or her beliefs during class or school events. Real religious liberty means that every child, regardless of faith, should feel welcome in our public schools.
Source: https://www.aclu.org/blog/religion-belief/buddhist-student-religious-liberty-prevail-louisiana
Judge rules against creationist teacher who called Buddhist student’s faith ‘stupid’
By Scott Kaufman
Monday, March 17, 2014 10:28
The parents of a Buddhist student in Louisiana ridiculed by a creationist teacher won their lawsuit against the school district, the American Civil Liberties Union revealed Friday.
The student, known as C.C., was asked by sixth-grade teacher Rita Roark to answer the following question on a test: “ISN’T IT AMAZING WHAT THE _____________ HAS MADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” When C.C. failed to respond “Lord,” Roark responded “you’re stupid if you don’t believe in God.” She also frequently denigrated his Buddhist faith, as well as the Hindu faith, referring to both as “stupid.”
When his parents complained to Sabine Parish Superintendent Sara Ebarb, they were told that “this is the Bible belt,” so they should expect to find the Christian God in the classroom. Ebarb advised them that if they wanted an ungodly classroom, they should transfer C.C. to a school where “there are more Asians.”
Judge Elizabeth Foote of the U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana sided with C.C. and his parents, citing that Roark’s behavior — and the school’s decision to defend it — clearly violated “the Free Exercise and Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.”
With regard to the specific behavior of Roark, Judge Foot wrote that “[t]he District and School Board are permanently enjoined from permitting School Officials at any school within the School District to promote their personal religious beliefs to students in class or during or in conjunction with a School Event.” Furthermore, “School Officials shall not denigrate any particular faith, or lack thereof, or single out any student for disfavor or criticism because of his or her particular faith or religious belief, or lack thereof.”
She also ordered that all members of the school board, as well as all faculty — both current and incoming — be trained by an attorney approved by the ACLU and the ACLU of Louisiana as to their responsibilities with respect to the First Amendment. The training will emphasize “the psychological and developmental impact of religious discrimination on students.”
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/03/17/judge-rules-against-creationist-teacher-who-called-buddhist-students-faith-stupid/
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Everyone of us have the freedom of thought, conscience and religion. In this modern time I would not imagine such incident of religious liberty exist. In a school of Louisiana, USA, a teacher spoke against a Asian student CC of his religious beliefs in a number of ways. CC was berated, harassed by teachers, administrators and even to that extend of receiving calls to his house. CC ‘s parents could not tolerate anymore and decided to file a lawsuit and won the case. Religious freedom, should be allow to all. Freedom of religion requires not only freeing religion from undue government regulation and interference from any one.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
A school is an institution designed to provide learning spaces and learning environments for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Poor CC whom was berated, harassed by teachers and administrators at his Louisiana public school for his religious beliefs. CC was ridiculed in front of his classmates for his religious beliefs until he was physically sick. Can’t believe it, that this can happen in a private school. The teachers and school officials should never discriminate students based on religion, race or colour. The school should not illegally, imposed their religious beliefs on students in a number of ways. CC was also harassed via crank calls to his house so much so CC ‘s parents filed the lawsuit and won the case. Religious freedom should be allowed and freedom to choose their religion. Respect each other’s religion to live harmoniously.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
A school is a place to cultivate good values to students. The teacher unfortunately has wrong understanding and implemented discrimination against students due to religion. Not acceptable at all. Not only the teacher but some of the people leaving in that community also have the wrong attitude in bullying C.C’s family.
I hope the judgement will create awareness to all that mutual respect is important and everyone has their freedom to practise what they want.
Wow it is amazing that in a country well known to the world for RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND FREEDOM in general… is still very much backward, prejudice and racist! I am glad the judge and the LAW was on CC’s side and concluded positively in their favour! Imagine if it did not. America is not so “FREE” after all, there are still many small pockets of towns and states that still have people who a racist and they use “religion” as their way of “getting” you, like those in KKK who would throw abusive remarks at you and if possible even kill you if they could get away with it.
Yes it is the way the religion is taught that creates a supremacy in religion but the person who taught this is himself or herself racist and uses religion to put others down. I am sure they would not have been so harsh if the boy was “white”. Sad in deed,it is not the religion that is bad, it is the people who teach it, that is twisted!
It is extremely frustrating to know that in such modern times where all the countries in the world are trying to strive and make peace with each other and that people having a more mutual respect for each other’s religion, I really can’t believe that such a incident like this would happen.
Despite many laws and enforcement’s and education towards the public to tell people all around the world to respect one another’s religion, some people like the creationist teacher of C.C are still to stubborn to cooperate with other to respect each other’s religion.
It is this kind of hating between one another’s religion that is one of the causes that prevents world peace to take shape because of such trivial matters, just like the recent case of a black teenager named Michael Brown who was supposedly shot down by a white police man.
If what is said that Michael Brown was innocent then such a case like that is once again pointed at the fact that despite all the work done by the previous leaders to help give black people the same rights as the whites and most of the world gaining a better understanding of the issue, such a problem has once again arose from the dark and as a result has taken the life of the teenage boy.
Respecting one another’s race and religion is probably one of a key points in one day hoping to achieve world peace, of course many other problem other then respecting each other’s beliefs but I believe that one people learn to recpect each other’s religion, race, skin color, beliefs and tradition, it will be a big step towards World Peace.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this shocking article.
Dear Rinpoche,
A teacher should not never ever say that. A teacher should never discriminate students based on religion, race or color. It’s a disgrace to the teaching profession to have such a teacher and the school board who discriminate their students.
Thanks dear Rinpoche for sharing us this news.
Its true that racism its still on-going around the world and its been happening since centuries ago.Though in past, many articles and law amends to encourages us to respect each other regards our differential in our beliefs.All individuals have their own beliefs to hold on to, to make them strong in life.What’s the fun of it to use their beliefs and use it as a joke? There’s always a question in my mind, when will we be able to live together harmoniously? That is the question that i believe everyone wants to find out too. When will it be?
This is the first time I’ve ever heard of something like that. Teachers are supposed to set good examples, although we know that they still make mistakes, we all do. Ms. Rita should have been more mindful and open, everyone has their own religion freedom, its up to us to choose who we believe in, there’s nothing wrong about being a Buddhist, she should learn to respect other religions. She may not believe in karma, but what goes around, comes around, she could say anything she wanted to, but criticising or putting down other religion’s practitioner makes her appear even stupid, because a person with sense definitely will not go around disturbing people’s mind. The school will definitely have to work on this matter, teachers like this should not even allowed to teach, because this will affect the students, what they see, they do, and do we want more people like this in the future?
Dear Rinpoche, thank you for sharing on this news about the student C.C.and her family to have won the law suit. It makes me realized that we should be fortunate to have born in our country where we can freely practise according to our own religion without much restrictions. We should take our current religion freedom as a golden opportunity and most precious among all our worldly wealth.
It’s a great news that C.C won the case. No religion is stupid, I believe no religion would tell us to do bad stuffs. Just because someone has darker colour skin than we do, we have to treat them differently.
I don’t understand why some Christians always say that if you don’t believe in God you will go to hell. For example, no Buddhist believe that God is the creator of everything but do they all go to hell, no. I say we should show respect to every religion and try not to force our own opinion on others.
Lastly, the purpose of practicing religion is to love each other regardless what religion they are instead of hating each other. For example, if the Muslims are fine with the Christians to copy some of their texts. Then there will be no wars between them and they might be able to practice each others culture together. We should all stop being racist and religist. Thank you for reading.
Dear Rinpoche, I think this is the worst school ever. Not only the students who are religism, even the teachers. Just because a student practices a different doesn’t mean that you have to treat them differently. It is normal for students to think that way because they are still kids. But the teachers, they should know how or suppose to respect people’s religion. Also, how can a teacher say such thing to a student?
Dear Rinpoche thank you for sharing this news, I m glad Malaysian do not have any restriction on religion practice but unfortunately a lot of people are really really put in an effort to learn from their religion even they are freely to do so, the more people pratice religion the more peace and harmonious the country is because people are ethical and more reasonable.
I have been shunned and told im going to hell by members of my immediate family for being a Buddhist. Tsem Rinpoche sent me a care package with lots of buddhist items, a few dvds, books, pendants(one that I purchased and one that was sent as a gift) a mala, and a Tsongkhapa statue. These items were valuable monetarily but mostly spiritually as much of the items were directly blessed and irreplaceable. A whole box of stuff. I was living in a homeless shelter at the time but had left my possessions with this immediate family member who promised to look after my possessions until I got back on my feet.
Can you guess what happened? It was nearly all thrown away in the dumpster. A guru yoga book and a poster are the only 2 things that survived, because they werent in the box. Holy blessed items from Tsem Tulku Rinpoche. Lovinglyly sent ro me at his expense. They lied to me and said they moved the items to the trunk of a car outside, where they were ‘stolen, perhaps by the mischievous neighborhood boy. I finally found out that the items were thrown away because this family member thought the items were bringing DEMONS into their household! It says in the Bible apparently not to’worship a graven image’ and because they knew I did prostrations in front of my Tsongkhapa statue, I was praying to a graven image made of metal. (In reality I prostrate toward the Buddha image to show respect for the real historical person that the statue represents, and I still dont consider it worshipping, its more like acknowledging the path to enlightenment and thanking the Buddhas for showing me this path, so I show them my respect with my prostrations.)
I have never quite recovered from the trauma of this event. Rinpoche just wrote back and said not to worry, because this blog contains everyrhing that was in that box… I still have a serious agression in me toward what I call Crazy Christians, or The Bad Kind of Christians. That was, materially, the worst thing that has ever happened to me in my life. If I would have known those items weren’t safe there I would have carried that box on my own back for all of eternity just to avoid that from happening.
My relationship with the people that did this has been destroyed. I forgive them, but its just not the same. To this day no apology has been given, even after they have seen my deep sadness. Sometimes religion turns people into evil monsters…
That said, losing all those items was, and still is, a very good lesson in non-attachment and forgiveness, just to name two of them.
-Joshua M Akers
First of all, every one has their own beliefs and that doesn’t mean that they have to be better than everyone else. They can just keep their beliefs to themselves and not be completely biased to their own beliefs. And for people to be like this, to treat someone like an outcast is just absolutely horrible.
These people were also very horrible and totally racist as they said that they needed to go to a school with more asians and also that they called the religions stupid. This is a really high level of ignorance as they choose to ignore everything else and crown themselves better. It is very wrong. Especially for a teacher to do this, it is horrible as they are supposed to be role models to others.
Lastly, This family did deserve to win the case and they definitely didn’t deserve the abuse that they got later on. People that do this are very horrible people. It is hard to believe that people could treat people like the runt of the litter or the outcast because of their religions and beliefs. Everyone is human and they deserve to have the freedom to believe but to start mocking them because of that is just horrible.
It is appalling enough for a teacher, whose responsibility is to mould young minds, to practice such outrageous religious bigotry. But to have the Sabine Parish’s representative- its superintendent
– support the teacher by saying that the school is “in a Bible belt” and to ask the parents to transfer their child to a school with “more Asians” is just impossibly preposterous and most unacceptable to all who fight to promote racial and religious peace and harmony.
I am glad that justice prevailed in the end.
It’s amazing this is still happening in a first world country, USA. And the KKK is very much alive.
No one, no school teacher or religious teacher, no head or leader of state, no one, has the right to ridicule, put down another person’s religious belief, or impose a ban on their religious practice.
If only everyone would really practice love and compassion, never mind the religious and spiritual label, this world would be a much better and peaceful place to live in.
Dear Rinpoche,
I find it appalling that such a free country as US will have such discrimination against certain race and religion.
However, I am glad the Judge made a good call to protect CC and his religion.
Many places forces children / student to accept the faith the school carries, yet CC stood firm in his practice and faith. That is wonderful to note.
I hope with the passing of days, the family will be harassed lesser.
It is very unacceptable for a teacher to do so. Discrimination is bad, worst when it is used on other’s spiritual choice. If we go back to the human history, religion discrimination has a big role to play in all the wars that killed many innocent people. Being discriminatory is very harmful and it can bring a whole nation down! A teacher is supposed to be someone who is well learned and open for different knowledge so that he/she can help and guide the students more effectively. A truly religious teacher will practise kindness, care and love regardless of the religious choice, it is universal and is shared among all religion in the world!
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing.
Due to his karma, C.C. born was in the area with obstacles to learn Dharma. He and his family are so brave. They filed the lawsuit and won the case. Because of their lawsuit, other students have freedom to choose their own religious beliefs. Rejoice for them.
I am fortunate and feel grateful to have born in Malaysia, staying nearby Kechara House and have chances to learn the Dharma from Rinpoche and working as the volunteer at Kechara.
I wish to continue doing the dharma work so that in future life, I will be born in the country that allows me to learn and practice
Dharma and near to my Guru.
Dear Rinpoche,
I feel that we are so fortunate that able to meet an authentic Guru and learning Dharma quite peacefully in beautiful Malaysia.
May more and more peoples around the world able to get Lord Manjushri hence may our ignorance become lesser and lesser hence toward the real Peace…
We need to learn how to respect each other regardless your religion. All beings are equal, no one will supersede the other because of their religious . Through our own religion, we learn how to care, love other, how to become a better person…but it did not teach us to look down or hurting other…is the problem of the mind not the religious.
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing.Even though Malaysia is a very strong muslim country,our society here do practice multi racial and religion tolerance. We are glad that we are given the freedom to practice the religion we choose .
In the past when I was in school.Our history topics do include the origin of different religion and what are their practice and believes.This lessons will teach us how to respect the other races and their believes in order for our society to live harmoniously .
Our society might not be perfect ,but we would consider our self much more matured in the sense of religious tolerance.
The education curriculum do play an important part in shaping their society and developing the proper mind set of their future leaders.
Dear Rinpoche
Thank you for sharing the story. I attended a catholic school for 14 years (From kindergarden to High School). Although I had to go through various exams with religious topics and could not run for student body president position, the school never impose their belief upon me. I was not required to attend their catholic mass.
They said Indonesia is backward, but after reading this story, I was surprised to see such discrimination could exist in a free democratic country like the US. I guess some people just can’t tolerate differences gracefully.
Valentina
Glad to hear there is religious acceptance and tolerance in Indonesia. That is nice to know.
It didn’t shock me when I first found out about it. I live in the next state over, and its typical of that kind of thinking here too. The article made me sad, and angry too, because even after all the years of living in this type of environment, nothing has changed when it comes to racism and hatred of others. They are just as closed minded and as hateful as ever. I wish we could move away from here. It’s a daily struggle to live here. Even when they don’t tell you you’re going to hell, you can see the look of disdain on their faces. To them, if you aren’t Christian, you aren’t human. And yes, I have been told this, to my face. Anyway, I’m thrilled the family won their lawsuit.
Thank you for your honesty. I am sorry you live in a place that does not suit you. I know how that feels. I understand exactly what you are talking about being in an environment with so much hatred and anger. It’s a special type of karma to be born in a place with hatred and intolerance as a norm.
Thanks for sharing. TR
Thank you Rinpoche. You have given me a great deal to think about, karma wise. I wasn’t originally born here. I was born in Dallas, and had we stayed I would have been exposed to Buddha’s teachings a lot sooner. Dallas is also much more progressive and liberal in its mindset and diverse as well. There are many Buddhist temples there. Unfortunately, my parents thought we would do better in the country and brought us here to East Texas. Although I love country living, I detest the small mindedness and bigotry of this place. I pray daily to Lama Tsongkhapa that our karma will allow for us to move elsewhere. I am a lotus in the desert.
You are very welcome. You have your physical karma to be in such a place. But your mind karma is not there and not in agreement. Your mind karma is different. That is a good sign.
In general, anywhere in samsara has it’s horrors so our goal is to get out asap. At least where you are, you are exposed to intense samsara and it helps you develop the longing to leave both short and long term. I am happy that your mind is strong and understanding at the same time.
Thank you Rinpoche. It is true. I want out of Samsara. Now. Today. I can’t even describe to you how tired I am of it. Transformation cannot come soon enough.
This is extremely alarming and disturbing. However, this is unfortunately unsurprising. The unfortunate circumstances that C.C. had to be put through are really a symbol of how insensitive many Americans can be. Nowadays, it has already become a stereotype that white Americans are all insensitive, racist and are against any faith except for Christianity. It is because of situations like this which create the stereotype.
I believe that there is no religion that can be deemed stupid. Even though there are people who put down others because they wish to instill their religious views into them, I do not find fault with the religion. I feel that the fault is largely with the people within it. All religions are supposed to be a means to propitiate peace.
I am rather pleased to hear that there are things being done to ensure that this case would be dealt with. I rejoice that a law has been placed to ensure that no one can be further ridiculed by their teachers who have differing religious views. I am surprised that such a law had not been put down earlier.
Although I am not a student of a public school in America, I really hope that this law would be enforced as religion should be in no way a means of oppression. Such methods are medieval. If you want others to have faith in your belief system, you have to convince them through kindness and peace, practice what you preach.
I hope that C.C. and his family is able to find peace and be free to practice whatever they wish. I hope that those who continue to hurt them would grow up and not tarnish the name of America anymore. America is supposed to be the land of the free, not the religiously oppressed.
I would disagree that this is a ‘white’ issue, or related to racism. Some of the most fanatical and cruel Christians I’ve met are non-white. It is specifically an ideological issue. When a religion teaches it is the only way to ‘salvation’, and puts sole emphasis on conversion and control of others, it is a supremest religion.