Educators Should Understand what Religious Freedom, Freedom of Conscience and Separation of Church and State Mean

Baptist News Global: Louisiana Principal Removes SGA President for "Not Living Up to God's Ideals"

The principal of a public high school in Louisiana removed a student from her position as student government president because of a video showing her dancing at an off campus homecoming party.  His rational for the removal was that she was not living up to "God's ideals," and that there was a policy in place, giving the principal power to remove student government officers for any behavior that the principal deemed to be inappropriate.  

Two Clear Issues With this Incident

There are two issues that come to the surface regarding this incident.  The first is the use of a school policy placing discretion to determine "inappropriate behavior" in the hands of a principal who used it to impose his own religious convictions on someone else's conscience.  The second is the fact that someone in position as a school administrator could not distinguish the boundaries between his role as a school administrator in public school and his own personal religious convictions.  

Christianity is not a faith that works when its values and principles must be enforced by law.  There are some common moral values that Christianity shares with the rest of society, some of which were the result of their influence.  But in the context of the Christian gospel, found in the Bible and rooted in the recorded words of Jesus, Christian values are produced by a spiritual conversion experience, a transformation and renewing of the mind, as one of the Apostles describes it.  Trying to enforce specific, personal convictions by either passing them into law or making them institutional rules does not lead to conversion or transformation.  

According to the article in Baptist News Global, the principal told the student that he was worried about her afterlife and that she was not living up to God's ideals and morals.  But beyond that, he withdrew his endorsements on college scholarship applications she had submitted.   

In his public apology, the principal stated, "While that conversation was meant with the best intentions, I do understand it is not my responsibility to determine what students' or others' religious beliefs may be--that should be the responsibility of the individual."  And with that, he has taken a leave of absence for the remainder of the school year.  

Missing the Point

The aggressive, "in your face," confrontational attempts at conversion, where Christians think they are entitled to preach their version of the gospel and attempt to win converts anywhere and any time they choose is not protected free speech, nor is it freedom of conscience.  My rights end where your rights begin, and your right includes not being made a captive audience in a situation in which your presence is mandated, such as in a school.  Students cannot just walk away from a classroom, and they can't ignore the enforcement of rules designed to promote order and a solid learning atmosphere.  

But how does this principal think that what he did would be a positive witness or testimony to his faith?  

Where to Draw the Line

I think there are a couple of lines that should be drawn as far as schools are concerned.  Students attending a public school, and their parents, have every right to expect that there will be no religious coercion in their classroom or on their campus.  Public schools are publicly funded institutions and are subject to the Constitution's freedom of religion amendment, and establishment clause which separates church and state.  Conversely, students and parents have the right to expect that there will be no attempts to dissuade, or disparage their religious beliefs.  That should be easy in a school, where the purpose of the institution is education, not social reform.  

It's possible to make schools safe environments for students from all kinds of religious groups, the whole spectrum of Christian denominations, world religions, even cults, and at the same time, be open to those who practice no religion, do not believe in God, and whose lifestyle reflects their perceived identity.  That requires sticking to the curriculum objectives and the learning goals, and not promoting anything not related to that, including in-your-face insistence on acceptance of everything and anything.  

There's an educational requirement for those who work in schools, teaching students and managing the whole operation.  That requirement should include their ability to understand where to draw the line when it comes to their personal religious beliefs and what the Constitution means by freedom of religion and "respecting the establishment of religion."  

Schools work better when nothing is being jammed down anyone's throat, regardless of the perspective. 

"Blessed are the peacemakers," said Jesus, "for they shall be called the children of God."