Contents tagged with student
Filed in: Equal Access | by CeCe Heil | 2:28 PM Apr. 16, 2013
Bible Club Allowed in New York Public High School
Recently the ACLJ assisted a high school student in starting a bible club at his public school in New York. The student had been told by the principal that he could not start a religious club because it was against New York law. The principal held this position although he did not provide the law or the school policy on the issue. The school freely allowed other clubs such as Chess Club, Jazz Band, and Gay Straight Alliance. After about three months of being repeatedly denied the ability to for... Continue Reading
Filed in: Equal Access | by ACLJ.org | 10:25 AM Mar. 27, 2013
Another ACLJ Victory for Equal Access
Recently, the ACLJ received a request for legal help regarding a high school’s refusal to recognize a Christian club as an official student organization. Our client, a student in the 11th grade at Monticello High School in Monticello, New York, was interested in starting a Christian club for students who would like to meet on campus during non-instructional time to pray and discuss Christian teachings. To date, the school had recognized a variety of student clubs that were permitted to m... Continue Reading
Filed in: Free Speech | by CeCe Heil | 2:05 PM Mar. 22, 2013
Defending Middle School Student’s Right to Openly Wear a Rosary
We recently assisted a middle school student in Texas, and his mother, who requested our help to ensure that the student is able to keep openly wearing his rosary while he is at school. The student has worn a rosary to school to symbolize and express his Christian faith, which has grown especially important to him during his continuing fight against cancer that has appeared in his throat and lungs. On multiple occasions, however, teachers and administrators told him to remove or hide his rosary... Continue Reading
Filed in: Free Speech | by CeCe Heil | 4:30 PM Mar. 1, 2013
Protecting Third-Grader’s Right to Wear a Cross Necklace
We recently assisted a third-grade student at a public school in California, and his mother, who requested the ACLJ’s assistance to ensure that the student may continue to express his religious faith by openly wearing a cross necklace while he is on school grounds. The student often wears a cross necklace to school to symbolize his Christian faith, which has grown especially important to him after he and his siblings survived a dangerous car accident with virtually no physical injuries. O... Continue Reading
Filed in: Free Speech | by CeCe Heil | 2:33 PM Nov. 1, 2012
Religious Liberty Defended on College Campus
We recently helped a student at a public university in Ohio, to obtain a religious exemption from her university’s requirement to live on campus. As a result, she will be able to live off campus in a faith-based household with other students who share her religious values. Although the university requires two years of residency in University Housing, it offers exemptions or releases from this requirement for numerous secular reasons. The student requested a personal hardship release based... Continue Reading
Filed in: Free Speech | by David French | 4:35 PM Aug. 10, 2012
An Outbreak of “Common Sense” on Campus
For more than a year, Christian student groups have been battling for their most basic religious liberty rights at Vanderbilt University – in the absolute heart of the Bible Belt in Nashville, Tennessee. In the face of overwhelming opposition from students, from alumni, and even from the state legislatures, Vanderbilt insists on requiring student groups to be open to leaders who don’t share the group’s faith or ideology. This nonsensical policy requires Jewish groups to be op... Continue Reading
Student, Teachers, Free Speech
Student, Teachers, Free Speech
Filed in: Free Speech | by CeCe Heil | 12:29 PM Jun. 21, 2012
High School Student Allowed to Pray in the Name of God at Graduation
The ACLJ recently assisted a high school student in quietly resolving another situation where a school official misunderstood the law. This South Carolina student was asked to deliver a prayer at her public high school graduation. However, she was told by a school official that she could not pray in the name of God or Jesus and that the school would be fined for such speech. Although situations like this are becoming more common in our public schools, in many instances, the ACLJ has been able to... Continue Reading
Filed in: School Prayer | by CeCe Heil | 11:43 AM Jun. 12, 2012
Student Allowed to Use Bible in School
The ACLJ recently assisted yet another student in amicably resolving an unfortunate situation where a government official misunderstood the law. A 7th grade student from Missouri recently contacted the ACLJ regarding her teacher’s refusal to allow the student to reference the Bible in a writing project on Roman history. Unfortunately, situations like this are all too common, and the ACLJ has assisted students and parents in many such situations where schools have attempted to treat speech... Continue Reading
Filed in: Free Speech | by CeCe Heil | 10:51 AM Jun. 8, 2012
Reference to God Removed From Student Assignment
We were recently contacted by the father of a second grade student who attends a public elementary school. In response to an assignment, the second grader wrote a short poem in her journal that included the line, “Love is the earth that God made.” Her teacher crossed out that line and said that discussion of God was not allowed in class. The father asked us if we could provide him with materials or guidance before he discussed the matter with the teacher. We sent him a personalized ... Continue Reading