Oregon teachers can wear religious garb in public school

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Oregon Governor Signs Religious Garb Bill

Today Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski signed a bill that allows public school teachers within the state to wear religious clothing required by their religious faith in their classrooms.

As Oregon HB 3686, the bill passed both legislative branches within the state overwhelmingly. It comes on the heels of Oregon's Workplace Religious Freedom Act signed into law last year. Oregon has made significant strides to positively address holy day accommodations and the "undue hardship" business standard under federal Title VII law. And today the matter of religious "identity" expression in public schools is at last resolved, particularly the wearing of religious apparel that does not represent an effort to proselytize students or coworkers. The governor, labor commissioner and education secretary are working on standardized guidelines to help school districts throughout the state correctly apply the new law.

The bill signed today addresses discrimination as a result of reactionary forces to immigration in the early part of the 20th Century. Most prominent amongst the groups at that time was the infamous Ku Klux Klan. The original discriminatory law was intended to prevent Roman Catholics from teaching in Oregon's public schools - hence the requirement that no teacher could wear religious dress in the classroom.

Surprisingly not all civil rights groups were in favor of the new bill.

The American Civil Liberties Union made their opposition to the legislation very clear to the governor as they insisted students should have a religion-free environment in public school.

However, given the multicultural society that Oregon has become, most felt such a law was outdated and its discrimination unjustifiable.

Greg Hamilton, president of the Northwest Religious Liberty Association, Rhonda Bolton, administration assistant for NRLA, and Pastor Doug Clayville, NRLA vice president for Oregon, were on hand for the signing ceremony.

Photo Credit: Todd Gessele See picture at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?pid=4305407&id=325542131668

[Dr. Shane]

Quote:

The American Civil Liberties Union made their opposition to the legislation very clear to the governor as they insisted students should have a religion-free environment in public school.

The ACLU showing its true colors. There are not about personal liberties at all. They are simply for human secularism.

This seems to be a good law and good step in the right direction.

[Stan]

No Religion is a Religion.

[Woody]

No Religion is a Religion.

This is very true and needs to be understood by government.

[phkrause]

Oregon Governor Signs Religious Garb Bill

Today Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski signed a bill that allows public school teachers within the state to wear religious clothing required by their religious faith in their classrooms.

As Oregon HB 3686, the bill passed both legislative branches within the state overwhelmingly. It comes on the heels of Oregon's Workplace Religious Freedom Act signed into law last year. Oregon has made significant strides to positively address holy day accommodations and the "undue hardship" business standard under federal Title VII law. And today the matter of religious "identity" expression in public schools is at last resolved, particularly the wearing of religious apparel that does not represent an effort to proselytize students or coworkers. The governor, labor commissioner and education secretary are working on standardized guidelines to help school districts throughout the state correctly apply the new law.

The bill signed today addresses discrimination as a result of reactionary forces to immigration in the early part of the 20th Century. Most prominent amongst the groups at that time was the infamous Ku Klux Klan. The original discriminatory law was intended to prevent Roman Catholics from teaching in Oregon's public schools - hence the requirement that no teacher could wear religious dress in the classroom.

Surprisingly not all civil rights groups were in favor of the new bill.

The American Civil Liberties Union made their opposition to the legislation very clear to the governor as they insisted students should have a religion-free environment in public school.

However, given the multicultural society that Oregon has become, most felt such a law was outdated and its discrimination unjustifiable.

Greg Hamilton, president of the Northwest Religious Liberty Association, Rhonda Bolton, administration assistant for NRLA, and Pastor Doug Clayville, NRLA vice president for Oregon, were on hand for the signing ceremony.

Photo Credit: Todd Gessele See picture at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?pid=4305407&id=325542131668

Thanks for the post rudywoofs. I saw that earlier in the day. I get email from NARLA, I thought its was very interesting.

pk