A Tomah High School student has filed a federal lawsuit alleging his art teacher censored his drawing because it featured a cross and a biblical reference.
The lawsuit alleges other students were allowed to draw “demonic” images and asks a judge to declare a class policy prohibiting religion in art unconstitutional.
“We hear so much today about tolerance,” said David Cortman, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal advocacy group representing the student. “But where is the tolerance for religious beliefs? The whole purpose of art is to reflect your own personal experience. To tell a student his religious beliefs can legally be censored sends the wrong message.”
Tomah School District Business Manager Greg Gaarder said the district hadn’t seen the lawsuit and declined to comment.
[blockquote]A Buddha and Hindu figurines are on display in a social studies classroom, the lawsuit claims, adding the teacher passionately teaches Hindu principles to students.
In addition, a replica of Michaelangelo’s “The Creation of Man” is displayed at the school’s entrance, a picture of a six-limbed Hindu deity is in the school’s hallway and a drawing of a robed sorcerer hangs on a hallway bulletin board.
Drawings of Medusa, the Grim Reaper with a scythe and a being with a horned head and protruding tongue hang in the art room and demonic masks are displayed in the metals room, the lawsuit alleges.[/blockquote]
I kinda liked the kid’s drawing as a piece of “Art.” All art is open to interpretation, that is part of the fun of creating and observing art. It seems that if the message is too obviously religious for the viewer, then it will be banned from the classroom. More subtle religious interpretaions can be given to most art works if one tries hard enough.
Well, its not the greatest high school art I’ve ever seen…
A few questions for reasoned conversation. (note: I read Fox news with a skeptical eye..)
First-what is the precise wording of the policy in the syllabus? I find it difficult to believe and art class would ban religious references, given that so much art is religious in nature.
Second-if so, what is the purpose? As a choir teacher, we have a specific, board of ed policy on the use and purpose of religious music. It works well.
Three-what was the assignment? If the student was not meeting the parameters of the assignment, they shouldn’t pass.
Randall
Let’s not miss the point here. Public Schools, being a “governmental” entity can not censor anything unless it leads to a direct hostile action. One’s feelings is irrelevant. Christianity is being pushed out of the public arena by too many “good intentioned” people thinking that they are being “tolerant” to non-christians. Their actions are a lie!!! Period!!!
This is a case of a Christian being treated as second class citizen. As a Christian, it is one’s duty to spread the Gospel. Using Art is one way of doing so. The School System’s policy will no doubt be declared unconstitutional (like so many others who have tried this).
H
According to the article, he was supposed to draw a ‘landscape’. Now, I’m all in favor of pushing the envelope when it comes to challenging anti-Christian rules, but unless the cross was a part of the landscape he was drawing (and it looked as if he just ‘stuck it in’), then BCP28 is correct: he did not complete his project as assigned, and the teacher, while giving an unsat reason, was justified in giving the grade.
#4, You may notice that it is a landscape, it is a landscape of the narrow path. Also, according to the article, the teacher did not have a problem with it not completing the requirements or going outside of the requirements but with the fact that it was causing other students to talk.
Student handbook is here:
http://www.tomah.k12.wi.us/handbooks/highschool/2007-2008%20Student%20Handbook.pdf