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Celebrating the life of freethinker Kenneth Taubert Sr., 1921–2013
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is very sorry to report the death last fall of longtime member and former treasurer Kenneth F. Taubert Sr., at Hart Park Square in Wauwatosa, Wis.
Ken was born in Madison, Wis., in 1921, and was raised, along with his sister, in a strict Catholic foster family. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps at age 20 and spent six years in that service. He married his wife, Virginia, in 1942.
Ken worked for many years as a supervisory custodian at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He was an avid golfer.
He joined FFRF in 1980. In an October 1990 article, he poignantly detailed his secular awakening:
"I left the Catholic Church when I was about 30 years old. I became disenchanted with religion in general, when we were told by a priest that our third child, whom doctors told us would not live more than one month, would not go to heaven unless he was baptized. I argued that this little fellow had done nothing wrong, and was sure to go straight to heaven. The priest insisted, so we had him baptized, but I never set foot in the Catholic Church again."
He went on to form the first Wisconsin group to support the rights of the mentally impaired, back in the days when it was not unusual for them to be hidden away.
Ken attended church with his wife for a number of years. "During this period, I read the bible for the first time and became a born-again atheist. From then on, I read every religious book I could get my hands on. I also read every freethought book I could find."
He served as volunteer treasurer for more than a decade and was known to many convention-goers and readers of Freethought Today. Ken "faithfully" helped prepare Freethought Today mailings for more than a decade back when that work was done in-house. He and professor Michael Hakeem, then-chair of FFRF's Executive Board, and Helen Hakeem, who was secretary, often engaged in freethought activism together.
Co-President Dan Barker recalls a memorable road trip with Ken and Mike to monitor a "faith-healing" event in Milwaukee featuring Peter Popoff, after Popoff's exploits had been debunked by James Randi on "The Tonight Show."
Ken and Mike took in another Milwaukee faith-healing event ("An Evening with W.V. Grant," June/July 1991), with Ken noting, "I cannot think of a group more loathsome than the faith healers."
He once turned out at 6:30 a.m. with a few hardy FFRF "non-souls" to picket the appearance of U.S. Senate Chaplain Richard C. Halverson at a prayer breakfast attended by 600 religionists on a snowy morning in Madison.
"Ken was such a good activist and joined us in several other pickets, including in front of University Hospitals to protest Gideon bible distributions," said Anne Nicol Gaylor, FFRF president emerita.
In the May 1992 issue of Freethought Today, Ken recounted "a sweet victory" — getting his polling place in Monona, Wis., changed from a Catholic church to a public school. He also persuaded the city of Madison to enforce its own ordinance prohibiting anyone from advertising on city property, including a church that was a repeat offender.
When Ken presented his annual treasurer's report to the convention, including recapping the annual Form 990, he invariably pointed out that churches are uniquely exempted from filling it out by the IRS. "We know Ken was 100% behind our current litigation contesting that inequity," said Annie Laurie Gaylor, FFRF co-president.
She added, "Ken was genuinely the most congenial man I've ever met. He had a twinkle in his eye and something cheerful to say to everyone. We're told he loved debating religion with his mostly Catholic peers at his nursing home, and vice versa. Due to Ken's genial nature, these debates never became personal."
Ken was an avid runner who, in retirement, turned to brisk walking. He liked to boast, after having a pacemaker placed, about keeping pace with Annie Laurie and another young woman on a 13-mile walk around a Madison lake in the early 1990s.
More than 500 books in FFRF's library bear Ken Taubert's initials from previous donations. FFRF was honored to be given Ken's remaining personal library upon his death.
He was featured in a major story in The Capital Times (April 3, 1950) for his innovative volunteerism with a neighborhood "tiny tots" group. He continued throughout his life to volunteer and participate in athletic fundraisers. In retirement, he volunteered for Mobile Meals and once wrote, "I get lots of hugs, and I don't mind that a bit."
Ken is survived by his son, Bruce, and daughter, Marcia Hochstetter, and their families, plus several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ken and Virginia's sons Kenneth Taubert Jr. and Carl Taubert are deceased.
FFRF's staff seconds this summation in Ken's obituary: "A man who gave everyone the benefit of the doubt and taught compassion and understanding, he will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him."
Atheists charitable with donations
Hemant Mehta, "Friendly Atheist" blogger, Illinois high school math teacher and FFRF member, found that the third time was the charm for his efforts to donate $3,000 he raised from the freethought community for a worthy cause. The Niles Township Food Pantry accepted the $3,000 which had been turned down by the Morton Grove Park District and the Morton Grove Public Library board, the Chicago Tribune reported Jan. 10.
Mehta originally raised the money in October following news that an American Legion post pulled its support from the park district after a board member refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Park officials returned the check, citing a desire to avoid a "First Amendment dispute."
Then, a library board trustee called Mehta's blog a "hate group," and questioned the legality of accepting a donation originally intended for the park district.
"I can't believe how hard it is to get rid of $3,000," Mehta said in a YouTube video, announcing plans to give the money to the food pantry.
Niles Township Supervisor Lee Tamraz said it was immaterial to him where the donation came from. "We should be appreciative of the donation and make sure it is used to the benefit of the people of Niles Township. I'm grateful for the $3,000."
In another recent charitable act, Mehta raised $27,254 from 1,224 contributors to donate to Ryan Bell, a Seventh-day Adventist pastor who was asked to resign from his church and from two Christian schools at which he was an adjunct professor. Bell's "sin" was announcing he was going to spend a year living without God, in effect, giving atheism a try to see where atheists were coming from.
"As an atheist, I want Bell to know that we appreciate what he's trying to do and that we'll support him even if his Christian community will not and (more importantly) even if he decides atheism isn't for him when the year is over," Mehta said.
Ellery Schempp, Champion of the First Amendment
Ellery Schempp, an FFRF Lifetime Member and recipient of its Champion of the First Amendment award, is an accomplished Ph.D. physicist. He was a plaintiff in Abington School District v. Schempp, the landmark 1963 U.S. Supreme Court case in which mandatory bible readings in public school were declared unconstitutional. The case is chronicled in Stephen Solomon's book Ellery's Protest: How One Young Man Defied Tradition and Sparked the Battle over School Prayer.
Ellery discussed the case in its 50th anniversary year at FFRF's 36th annual convention Sept. 20, 2013, in Madison, Wis. His remarks were edited for print.
His introduction included a clip of him being interviewed by Eric Sevareid of CBS News in 1963.
By Ellery Schempp
Convention photography by Brent Nicastro.
It's wonderful to be back in Madison with my FFRF friends. I'm a second generation supporter of FFRF as a Life Member. Annie Laurie and Dan Barker do so much good work; they leave me breathless.
So, let us pray. Isn't it amazing how that phrase grasps us and makes us compliant? Something profound is supposed to follow to make us obedient or something, but where do we want to put our obedience, our loyalties and our commitments?
I was born in Philadelphia in the Jewish Hospital. Mom resisted having me baptized. There was a lot of pressure from the Schempp side of the family. Grandmom was a devout Methodist and a fan of Billy Graham. Dad had slowly distanced himself from the bible and what he considered to be cruel and violent. But he did want to believe in some higher power, and only late in his life concluded that gods were man-made and religion is more a business than an uplifting force in society. He was disappointed in this conclusion, but he died in 2004 as a nonbeliever.
So here I am, unwashed and unbaptized. We attended pretty faithfully the Unitarian Church in Germantown. In addition to the usual bible stories and Sunday school, we learned about all the religions, and I quickly assimilated the idea that there was no single truth, and any claim that God spoke to some and not to others was ridiculous.
The church had an especially interesting pulpit, where we heard Rein-hold Niebuhr, Paul Tillich and Norman Thomas, who spoke several times a year. I was greatly enamored with Thomas. When he spoke in a ringing voice about the great problems of our time, you wanted to rush to the barricades.
It soon became clear to me that there were many claims to religious truth, and they couldn't all be right. The notion that there is only one true faith and that fits in all schools or in society is simply too absurd.
I started thinking about the Constitution and the bible way back in 1956. I was a 16-year-old junior at Abington Senior High School in a suburb of Philadelphia. Pennsylvania had a law that required 10 verses of the bible be read in every classroom at the start of each school day. Many schools included a recitation of the Lord's Prayer.
Twenty or 30 states had similar laws that had gone unchallenged for more than 60 years. It seemed to me that this was a violation of the First Amendment because it clearly established a Christian religious practice in the schools under the authority of the government.
The First Amendment is only 45 words long, so it's not taxing even for teenagers. It's interesting that this daily ceremony was known as morning devotions, so the religious nature was obvious. I did, in fact, bring a copy of the Quran to school because I wanted to show that the bible was not the only source of truth, not the only holy book. The Quran was merely by accident; I didn't know a thing about Islam at the time, neither did anybody I knew, but one of my friend's fathers had a copy of it in his library. [Ellery read the Quran while the teacher was reading bible verses to the class and refused to stand while a student recited the prayer.]
That got me sent to the principal, who lectured me on respect and school rules. I replied that I was concerned about respect for the Constitution and freedom of conscience. He sent me to the guidance counselor. Was I having problems at home? Did I have any difficulties with my father?
No, I said, I just disagreed about bible reading and prayer. So that evening, Nov. 26, 1956, I wrote a letter to the American Civil Liberties Union, asking for help:
As a student in my junior year at Abington Senior High School, I would very greatly appreciate any information you might send regarding possible union action and/or aid in testing the constitutionality of Pennsylvania law, which arbitrarily and seemingly unrighteously and unconstitutionally compels the bible to be read in our public school system. I thank you for any help you might offer in freeing American youth in Pennsylvania from this gross violation of the religious rights as guaranteed in the First and foremost Amendment in our United States Constitution.
Well, speaking for American youth was indeed a bit pretentious. I also enclosed a $10 bill, which is worth $85.80 today. This got their attention. If a kid can save this sum from his allowance and cutting grass, he must be serious.
Not fit for kids
In 1956, 1960, even 1963 and later, the Secular Student Alliance didn't exist. The Freedom From Religion Foundation did not exist. American Atheists did not exist. There was no Internet. And so it was really only the ACLU that could come by to be supportive.
I had several reasons for my protest. One was fairness. I thought the schools needed to be fair to everyone. The bible is not the holy book of Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, so that is an unfairness. Nonbelievers going to school to learn history and math should not have the bible or prayer forced on them.
I got to thinking, and that's always a bit dangerous. I knew that kids in Oregon and other states did not have bible reading. Could it be true that they were less moral than those of us in Abington?
The bible is full of unimaginable cruelties to women, to children, full of violence, rapes and genocides. Maybe a million deaths have been recorded in the bible, championed as righteous and the will of God. It was obviously not a book fit for children and had passages directly contradicting science.
In the Abington decision, the court recognized that children are particularly vulnerable and deserve particular protection for their developing thoughts as to their freedoms of belief, without coercion from a majority or a dominant religious faith's belief. Being excused from class was not an effective answer. Self-identifying as a dissenter or nonbeliever opens the door to discrimination and taunting.
As Dan mentioned, a similar case was brought by Madalyn Murray O'Hair in Maryland in the 1960s. Murray v. Curlett was consolidated with our case before the Supreme Court. The decision in our favor was 8-1 with Justice Potter Stewart dissenting.
The decision made national news and caused outrage on a grand scale. I have a lot of cousins, and suddenly every one had an identity crisis. "Can we change our names?" they asked. President Kennedy made a nice statement to calm the country: "I'm sure we can all pray a little more in our homes, our churches and our synagogues."
We received about 5,000 letters, roughly one-third supporting us, one-third opposing in reasonable terms where people could differ, and one-third, of course, were hateful, vituperative and ugly. My parents answered every letter with a return address. This was in the days before Xerox machines and stamps cost 3½ cents. It still came to hundreds of dollars.
Atheists are the most hated and feared group in America. We were accused of being everything the writers hated, so we expected the letters that said, "What are you, commies? What are you, Nazis? What are you, Catholics? What are you, Jews?" We didn't expect ones that said, "What are you, Presbyterians?" "In the name of Christ, go to hell" was a frequent theme.
Some were newspaper clippings smeared with excrement. One of the things we learned was that in the United States. it was considered bad not to be Christian. It was very bad to be a communist, of course, but it was really quite awful to be an atheist. When people called us "you communist atheist," they had reached their ultimate in outrage.
Our family suffered relatively little, especially compared to the Murray family or the McCollum family 65 years ago. Dog feces were thrown on our steps, the kids in the school bus rolled down the windows and shouted, "Now passing the commie camp." My brother Roger was knocked around several times, which hurt. Some parents told their daughters not to play with my sister Donna.
The ACLU had a nice remembrance in June, and I met a man named Shannon Turk. His family had moved to Butler, Pa., from someplace in the West. He had never been part of morning devotions or reciting the Lord's Prayer, so he was initially baffled and wouldn't recite it. The teacher called him forward, forced him to bend over and paddled him.
Turk was a determined young man and refused, so for the next two years, every day, he was paddled in front of the class. When he told his story, he embraced me with tears in his eyes, because one day the paddling stopped. Countless people over the years have told me how unpleasant it was for them at morning devotions.
Bible's no blueprint
I went to Tufts University in the fall of 1958. I didn't know then that when I applied to Tufts and several other colleges, my principal at Abington Senior High School, Eugene Stull, had written a letter of "disrecommendation" to every college I had applied to.
I learned about this because when 1962-63 came about, CBS News called me up and asked if I would be willing to do an interview. I went to Charles Stearns, the dean of admissions, to ask if there was anything I should know. He told me that after my application was accepted, Stull called long distance (long distance was expensive and rare in 1958) to tell him to rescind my admission, that I was a rotten apple and would bring disrepute onto Tufts.
Stearns told me that Stull's call was the most amazing he's ever received as dean, but he was very kind to say that Tufts did not regret their decision.
There's nothing in the Constitution about the bible, and there's nothing in the bible about democracy or the Constitution. Religious people assume that there is some connection. The Constitution is a purely humanistic document and mentions religion just twice. Both times, the word "no" is attached [in Article VI and the First Amendment].
The Constitution's oath for taking office does not contain the phrase "so help me God." That has been appended by various oath takers, probably for political spin. The writers of the Constitution were also very careful in distinguishing between an oath and an affirmation. We have the phrase "I do swear or affirm" because swearing an oath had religious connotations, and the founders were keen to put in the word "affirm" to assure freedom from religion.
The bible never mentions democracy or freedom of speech or freedom from religion. It does not mention checks and balances or limitations on the power of the executive. It does not even mention tolerance for other believers. So it's no model for good government. I think it's purely a religious or theological document for some believers.
You know the commandments — the 10, actually. If you type into Google "613 commandments," you'll find that there are 613 [mitzvahs in the Jewish tradition]. We're not a Christian nation or a Judeo-Christian nation. We are a constitutional nation.
I'll end by mentioning just one thing about the Declaration of Independence, which the right wing is so fond of quoting. It is a poetic document, intended to stir emotions and to override the prevalent notion of the divine right of kings. This is a topic in itself, but the Declaration is equally for religious independence as for political independence.
An important point to note is that the Declaration is not any part of the Constitution. And it is no part of the law of the United States. Not a single legal decision binds the Supreme Court or any other court based on the Declaration of Independence.
[The Declaration's] rights "endowed by a creator" is humanistic in its intent. Even if religious, it is deistic. It emphasized the rights of the common man, the common woman, over the kingship class.
Working together
Finally, I want to say that I think it's so important to have the Secular Coalition for America, which represents about 100 endorsing organizations at this point. The coalition has a full-time lobbyist. It's the first time in our history that we've had somebody who is able to go and talk to Congress about the issues important to humanists and atheists.
I also want to say to my atheist friends, I know it's very important to have a world outlook that rejects divine intervention and provides us a way of looking at the world around us and getting satisfaction and seeing the beauty in it. It is not enough to have a personal belief; it is important to support separation of church and state because that is social and political and extends well beyond us.
So I urge you to continue support for organizations like FFRF, Secular Student Alliance, American Humanists, the Secular Coalition, because these organizations amplify our views. When Zack Kopplin mentioned this morning that he wants to start a new organization, I worry a little bit. We don't need a proliferation of new ones; we need to support the organizations that are doing so well now.
I thank you very much.
Meet an Intern - Yuna Choi
Name: Yuna Choi.
Where and when I was born: Bielefeld, Germany, Feb. 23, 1992.
Family: Mom, Dad and a 13-year-old brother.
Education: Senior psychology major at Carleton College, Northfield, Minn. I expect to graduate in 2014.
My religious upbringing was: Primarily Buddhist, although we did casually attend a Baptist church during part of my childhood. I am, however, pretty secular and have been since I was fairly young.
How I came to work as an FFRF intern: An externship opportunity at FFRF was advertised through the career center at my school. I have always been interested in religion in a philosophical way and thought that this was a good chance to become more acquainted with the political aspects of religion as well as to develop skills in public relations and journalism. Although I am a prospective medical school candidate, I wanted to extend my involvement to other areas.
What I do here: As an editorial intern, I write legal victory reports and profiles of famous "freethinkers" (Freethought of the Day), upload relevant YouTube videos, edit copy for Freethought Today and assist the publicist with various tasks.
What I like best about it: Acquiring a better understanding of the legal system through cases of First Amendment violations.
Something funny that's happened at work: I enjoy learning of the various "hate" mail and "crank" calls that FFRF receives.
My legal interests are: Separation of church and state (obviously), restorative justice, criminal prosecution/defense.
My legal heroes are: Clarence Darrow, Nelson Mandela.
These three words sum me up: Curious, empathetic, paradoxical.
Things I like: Any book by George Orwell or Kurt Vonnegut, fruit and chocolate/cheese pairings, the smell of incense, "Arrested Development" (TV show), science fiction, blunt honesty.
Things I smite: Fox News, licorice, passive aggression, chauvinism.
My loftiest goal: To find a cure for a chronic disease. Also to become proficient in Arabic (equally important and lofty).
FFRF is most appreciative of Yuna for giving us three weeks of her life, gratis, in December and making all her own living arrangements. She was immensely helpful.
Meet a Legal Staffer - Patrick Elliott
Name: Patrick Elliott.
Where and when I was born: St. Paul, Minn., Oct. 7, 1983.
Education: B.S. in legal studies and political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2005) and a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School (2009).
Family: I live in Madison with my girlfriend, Sarah, and our Labrador retriever, Macy. My parents, sister, two brothers and extended family live in the Twin Cities.
How I came to work at FFRF: As a recent law school graduate and First Amendment enthusiast, I saw that FFRF had an opening in the legal department in 2010 and I jumped at the opportunity.
What I do here: Separate church and state. Our attorneys work to resolve state/church violations through communications with government officials. We also educate the public about the Establishment Clause and advise FFRF on litigation and act as in-house counsel. I have helped oversee litigation involving Ten Commandments displays in schools, school board prayers, state days of prayer, and FFRF's IRS cases. In addition, I help with advocacy on legislation, including opposing proposals to expand private school vouchers.
What I like best about it: I get to work on a lot of really fun and interesting cases that most attorneys would never have the chance to work on. They are fun because almost every one involves the government, religion and the Constitution.
One of my favorite moments at FFRF was when I received a thank-you call from a school administrator. I thought to myself, "This never happens." We are used to angry calls but not thank-you calls. School board members had changed their mind on approving a fundamentalist charter school, and the administrator said we were instrumental in changing the vote.
What sucks about it: I feel like Newman from "Seinfield" sometimes and how he talked about the mail: "There's never a letup, It's relentless." The number of new violations does not seem to be letting up, even though we are surely making progress.
I spend a lot of time thinking about: Accepted everyday practices that are probably wrong or could be done better. This is mostly "Freakonomics" type stuff like how buses stopping at train tracks in the city probably cause more accidents than they prevent.
I spend little if any time thinking about: How to make sense of the bible or any religious text.
My religious upbringing was: Roman Catholic, and not just nominally Catholic. My brothers now make fun of me for hurrying them up so we would not be late to Mass and for "shushing" them in church.
My doubts about religion started: After taking a course on early Christian literature in college. I took that class after watching Dan Barker debate a Christian apologist on whether Jesus rose from the dead. At the time, I thought Dan lost the debate but I was interested in learning more about the history of the bible. It turns out that he won the debate, but it just took me a while to realize it.
Things I like: Marine aquariums, poker, stand-up comedy, NCAA "March Madness."
Things I smite: Closed government meetings and records, revisionist history, coaches not going for it on fourth down when it's the correct thing to do.
In my golden years: I'll be living near a lake or ocean.
Upcoming projects? I'm working on creating a T-shirt celebrating the Third Amendment.
FFRF scores more than 200 solid state/church victories in 2013
The Freedom From Religion Found-ation sent out a total of 938 formal letters of complaint in 2013 to errant public officials, winning more than 235 solid victories keeping religion out of government. The total will grow, as many complaints lodged in 2013 will bear fruit this year, especially as FFRF follows up.
The letters total doesn't include the many follow-up letters that go out or represent the time that staff attorneys spend responding to questions and queries from FFRF members and many members of the public. More than 2,430 requests for help to end state/church entanglements were received by FFRF last year. Most requests were lodged via FFRF's Web form: Report a State/Church Violation.
FFRF provides this service free of charge and is one of the few state/church watchdogs in the country, writing more individual letters of complaint over state/church violations than any other group.
"The need is great," noted FFRF Co-President Dan Barker. "We're deluged with requests for help from around the country by citizens who care about defending the Jeffersonian wall of separation between church and state."
Because of growing demand for help, FFRF is pleased to report the hiring of a fifth attorney at year's end: Sam Grover, who had served as a summer legal intern.
The "top ten" states (where FFRF sent the most complaints to):
. Texas
. California
. Tennessee
. Georgia
. Florida
. Wisconsin
. Ohio
. North Carolina
. Michigan
10. Alabama
The top 10 legal areas were religion in schools, legislative prayer, miscellaneous, nativity/holiday displays, church bulletin discounts, crosses, National Day of Prayer violations, religion in the workplace, election law complaints and government prayer breakfasts.
FFRF attorneys filed a whopping 522 complaints over religious violations in public schools, followed by government prayer (112), nativity/menorah displays on public land (41), formal complaints over crosses on public property (23), National Day of Prayer events (18), religion in the military (17), religion in the workplace (17), and election violations (13, typically endorsement from the pulpit).
Last year FFRF downed four crosses on public land, and impressively ended at least 166 promotions of religion in public schools, some as egregious as daily prayers in elementary schools. (Keep up with FFRF's significant victories by reading the monthly synopsis in Freethought Today.)
FFRF also lodged 28 complaints about church bulletin discounts, the only other type of violation FFRF concerns itself with, whereby the Civil Rights Act is abridged when, typically, restaurants offer discounts for churchgoers.
In 2013, FFRF's legal department also wrote and filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court case Town of Greece v. Galloway. Staff attorneys also aided litigation attorneys in writing and filing lawsuits. FFRF entered into an informal partnership with the Secular Student Alliance to help defend the rights of freethinking students and educate students about their rights.
FFRF and SSA drafted a Secular Public High School Students Bill of Rights. The new partnership will help form more student groups around the country. FFRF also sent out many regional action alerts and watched developments concerning troublesome bills in several state legislatures. Staff attorneys wrote letters to the editor, blogs and other educational outreach on state/church matters.
"A decade or two ago, FFRF was winning a victory or two a month, and now it's nearly one a workday," said FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor.
"It's important to realize that nearly once a day last year, our staff attorneys' efforts educated, and ensured that reason and the Constitution prevailed."
State/Church Bulletin
Chambers sponsors bill to tax Neb. churches
Nebraska state Sen. Ernie Chambers, an atheist, introduced a bill Jan. 8 to eliminate property tax exemptions for religious organizations. Bill LB675 attempts to "gain more revenue, rather than less, by taking away churches' property tax exemptions," according to Chambers' Statement of Intent.
"If taxes were paid on the many churches and cathedrals and temples in every city in this State, perhaps the State's assistance to local governments and schools would be diminished considerably, leaving more in State coffers for other purposes," said Chambers, 76, of Omaha.
Chambers' name is on the 1983 landmark Supreme Court case Marsh v. Chambers. He sued in 1980 to end the Legislature's practice of opening with a prayer offered by a state-supported chaplain. The district court held that the prayer did not violate the Constitution but that state support for the chaplain did. The 8th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals held that both practices violated the Constitution, but the Supreme Court upheld the practice on a 6-3 vote.
In 2007, Chambers famously filed a lawsuit against God for causing "widespread death, destruction and terrorization of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants."
A state district court judge dismissed Chambers v. God in 2008, saying the defendant wasn't properly served due to his unlisted home address. "Given that this court finds that there can never be service effectuated on the named defendant, this action will be dismissed with prejudice," wrote Judge Marlon Polk.
Chambers' reaction: "Since God knows everything, God has notice of this lawsuit." He received a Hero of the First Amendment Award from FFRF in 2005.
Secularism makes
gains in Tunisia
Tunisia's National Constituent Assembly approved a new constitution Jan. 26 by a vote of 200 to 4, with 12 abstentions. The governing Islamist Ennahdha Party made some concessions, most importantly the removal of references to Islamic law, the BBC reported.
However, it also designates Islam as the state religion, while guaranteeing freedom of worship. It also forbids "attacks on the sacred," the meaning of which is unclear.
The constitution also recognizes equality between men and women for the first time. In 2011, a revolution overthrew autocratic President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and the first free elections were held. The population is 10.7 million, of which 98% are Muslim.
Chicago archdiocese releases documents
The Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago released 6,000 pages of documents to attorneys that sex abuse victims hope will reveal what the church knew and did or didn't do about decades of allegations against clergy, The Associated Press reported Jan. 16.
The documents include complaints, personnel records and other files for 30 priests with substantiated abuse allegations against them. Archdiocese attorney John O'Malley warned that the documents will be upsetting. "The information is painful; it's difficult to read, even without the benefit of hindsight."
The archdiocese has already paid about $100 million to settle claims, including numerous ones against Fr. Daniel McCormack, who was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty in 2007 to abusing five children while he was a parish priest and teacher at a Catholic school.
Many of the accused priests are dead. The documents will include only 30 of 65 priests against whom credible allegations were made. That's because settlements that required the disclosures involved only 30.
Year of the Bible
in Texas city
Mayor Tom Hayden of Flower Mound, Texas, a Dallas suburb of about 65,000 people, has proclaimed 2014 the Year of the Bible.
"I was nervous about doing this," Hayden told KDFW on Jan. 1. "And I've been thinking about it for two years, and procrastinated about if for as long as I possibly could."
The proclamation draws heavily on President Rondald Reagan's almost identical proclamation in 1983. It also sets up a website: thebible2014.com.
"The way it's set up is that people would have the same scripture each day," said Jon Bell of Calvary Chapel. "That they would go over and so that at the end of the year, they'd have gone through the whole Bible in a year."
Hayden said the proclamation was not an official town action, which didn't assuage resident Curt Orton. "He was elected mayor, not the spiritual leader of Flower Mound."
Botched circumcision brings lawsuit
Pittsburgh Rabbi Mordechai Rosenberg is being sued for allegedly severing a newborn's penis during a ritual circumcision about eight months ago at Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill.
According to the suit, the baby was rushed to Children's Hospital, where doctors performed microsurgery. Sources told KDKA the surgery took nearly eight hours and that the boy was hospitalized for about two months.
On his website, Rosenberg says that "a doctor's medical circumcision, usually performed in the hospital, is not considered valid according to Jewish law."
Harvard humanist chaplain dies at 84
Tom Ferrick, 84, Harvard University's first humanist chaplain, died Dec. 30 of complications from Alzheimer's disease in Cambridge, Mass. He is survived by a sister.
Ferrick attended the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester and then the seminary befored being ordained a Catholic priest. After leaving the priesthood, he became Harvard's humanist chaplain in 1974. "The notion that we all stand in need of redemption is anti-humanist," he told the Boston Globe in 1990. "The fact that ordinary human beings are capable of love, compassion and sacrifice, independent of theology, is proof that we can indeed be good without God."
Two years later, he told the Harvard Crimson that "humanism is not science, nor mysticism, but is a faith in human experience."
Pew study: How
public views evolution
The Pew Research Center released a new poll Dec. 30 titled "Public's View on Human Evolution." The U.S. adults surveyed were asked whether, in their view, humans and other living things have evolved over time, or instead have existed in their present form since the beginning of time, reported Religion Clause.
Overall, 60% said that living things have evolved, while 33% said they have always existed in their present form. About 64% of White Evangelical Protestants and 15% of White Mainline Protestants believe that evolution did not occur. Also, 48% of Republicans, 27% of Democrats and 28% of Independents believe that living things have always existed in their present form.
In the News
Apologist D'Souza pleads not guilty
Dinesh D'Souza, 52, Christian apologist and conservative author, was released Jan. 24 on $500,000 bond after pleading not guilty at his arraignment in Manhattan to federal counts of making more than $10,000 of contributions in the names of others and causing false statements. According to an indictment filed by Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, D'Souza allegedly made contributions in other people's names to a U.S. Senate candidate in 2012. The indictment didn't name the candidate, but sources said it was Republican U.S. Senate candidate Wendy Long, who lost to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.
D'Souza takes the Christian position in frequent debates with freethinkers and has debated FFRF Co-President Dan Barker eight times. D'Souza was forced to resign in 2012 as president of King's College, an evangelical Christian school in Manhattan, over reports he was having an affair with Denise Odie Joseph, 29, while still married to his wife of 20 years. He was raised Catholic but now calls himself a nondenominational Christian.
States' abortion barriers mushroom
The Guttmacher Institute, a nonprofit organization which works to advance reproductive health and abortion rights, reported Jan. 2 that more abortion restrictions were enacted in 2011–13 than in the entire previous decade.
In 2013, 39 states enacted 141 provisions related to reproductive health and rights. Half of them, 70 in 22 states, sought to restrict access to abortion services.
A few states adopted measures to expand access. Most notably, California enacted the first new state law in seven years to expand access to abortion. Five states expanded access to comprehensive sex education and to emergency contraception for sexual assault victims.
Pakistan blasphemy nets death sentence
A court in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, sentenced a British man, Muhammad Asghar, 70, to death Jan. 23 for blasphemy. Asghar was arrested in 2010 after he wrote letters to various people, including the police, claiming he is a prophet. According to BBC News, Asghar is a British Pakistani from Edinburgh who came back to Pakistan to look after his family's property. The complaint against him was filed by a tenant who had been served with an eviction notice by Asghar.
Before returning to Pakistan, Asghar had been diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic, but a medical panel appointed by the court in Pakistan rejected the claim of mental illness.
According to Religion Clause, the death sentence is unlikely to be carried out since Pakistan has had a de facto moratorium on the death penalty since 2008. Asghar's lawyer said the conviction will be appealed, and the British Foreign Office plans to raise its concerns with the Pakistani government.
Marriage equality makes more gains
In the seven months since the 2013 Supreme Court landmark decision striking down part of the Defense of Marriage Act that defined marriage as between a man and a woman, the number of states allowing gay marriage has jumped from 12 to 17 (plus the District of Columbia). In Utah and Oklahoma, the issue is in limbo pending appeals, The Associated Press reported Jan. 16.
John Williamson, a former state Senate president who wrote the ballot measure that an Oklahoma judge overturned, said that as a Christian he will never accept gay marriage. "But in states that by a vote of the people have approved that, I say 'OK, they got what they want. You have a majority of the people there, and if the minority doesn't like it, they can move to Oklahoma.' But now what can we do?"
An AP poll in October showed about a third of Americans opposing gay marriage, down from 45% in 2011. Twenty-seven states still have constitutional prohibitions and four have state laws against same-sex marriage.
Judge censured for courthouse religion
Bronx County Judge Mary Brigantti-Hughes was censured by the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct, ABA Journal reported. According to a Dec. 17 statement of facts cited by the commission, Brigantti-Hughes:
• Directed staffers to type or copy religious material for her personal use.
• Asked a court attorney to accompany her to Home Depot to buy and pot plants for a church function.
• Asked court staff to join her in prayer in court chambers, and asked staffers to attend religious events after regular business hours.
Brigantti-Hughes, 54, had obtained permission to hold lunch-hour bible study and prayer group at the courthouse, but the requests for staff prayers were made at other times during regular business hours, the determination said.
She also had staff do personal favors for her that were not related to religion. The alleged conduct took place between 2006 and 2011.
Nativity scenes take military hits
Officials at Shaw Air Force Base near Sumter, S.C., ordered removal of a nativity scene that was set up by a small lake on the base, the Air Force Times reported in December.
Spokeswoman Lt. Keavy Rake said the Military Religious Freedom Foundation lodged a complaint about the display. Reke said base officials want a holiday display that reflects more than a single group's beliefs. Volunteers from the base chapel set up the nativity scene.
The commander of the Guantanamo Bay Navy Base in Cuba ordered two nativity scenes out of cafeterias to the base chapel, reported the Miami Herald.
"The spirit of the Navy's policy on this is, if it's religious, it goes to the chapel," said base commander Capt. J.R. Nettleton. "It's more appropriate there."
Eighteen service members had complained to MRFF. Guantanamo has about 6,000 residents, a third of them civilian contract workers from Jamaica and the Philippines.
Vouchers subject of North Carolina suits
Public school advocates sued the state of North Carolina on Dec. 11 to block a new law that would let taxpayer money be used by low-income students wishing to attend private or religious schools, reported The Associated Press.
The North Carolina Association of Educators and the North Carolina Justice Center filed the lawsuit in Wake County Superior Court on behalf of 25 parents, teachers and others. They contend the new law violates the state constitution, which requires that the school funding be "used exclusively for establishing and maintaining a uniform system of free public schools."
The law would allow annual grants of $4,200 per students. About 2,400 students could qualify for grants in the first year, with $10 million budgeted. Legislators said they hope to expand the program.
Thirteen states had tuition tax credit programs as of this year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Okla. commandments hit with suits
American Atheists filed a federal lawsuit Jan. 13 against members of the Oklahoma State Capitol Preservation Commission for allowing placement of a 2,000-pound Ten Commandments monument at the north entrance to the Capitol. The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a similar lawsuit in state court.
The commission put a moratorium on proposed displays on Dec. 19 after getting ones from the New York-based Satanic Temple, a Hindu leader in Nevada, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. The satanists' monument features a 7-foot-tall Baphomet, a goat-headed creature sometimes used as a stand-in for Satan. The demon's lap, flanked by a smiling child on each side, would double as a seat for visitors.
Tulsa atheist William Poire told KRMG-TV: "I don't want to see a Hindu monument or a satanist monument any more than I want to see any other endorsement or any other religion."
Church properties escape Fla. taxes
A 12,000-square-foot home in Coral Springs, Fla., that has a pool, guest house and several garages was recently assessed at at $1.9 million. The owner, the Church of the Bible Understanding, pays no property taxes, WPLG reported Dec. 13.
It's also the primary residence of Stewart Trail, a former vacuum salesman and carpet cleaner who founded the church. The previous owner, a former Miami Dolphins football player, paid $50,000 a year.
A $2 million, 5,000-square-foot house owned by the Seafarer's Church of the Creator is also tax-exempt. "It's a house hosting religious services," said Broward County property appraiser Lori Parrish.
"Federal law governs religious facilities," said Parrish. "The law is the law, and we follow the law."
It Pays to Complain
A California FFRF member was successful in getting a state Department of Public Health official in Sacramento to remove a religious statement from her email signature. After the employee's information such as title, address and phone number, her official emails ended with: "What you have made a matter of Prayer, should cease to be a matter of care!!!"
Pamela Koslyn, a Life Member, wrote the employee: "As I'm sure you know, not everyone believes in prayer, and as I'd expect you to know, the CDPH cannot endorse prayer. I think this is an inappropriate use of state resources, since your email speaks for the state, and by my reading of the California Constitution's 'No Preference,' 'No Establishment' and 'No Aid' clauses, you're forbidden from doing any act that proselytizes for and prefers any particular sect without a secular purpose. Since there's no secular purpose to prayer, I believe it also forbids proselytizing for prayer. You're of course free to include whatever you'd like on your private emails and in your private conversations."
Koslyn followed up the next day with another email that asked the employee to "Please respond promptly in writing about what steps you are taking to respect the Establishment Clause and remedy this constitutional violation."
That same day, Dec. 24, Koslyn received an email from the employee's direct manager: "I would like to let you know that your e-mail was brought to my attention by [the employee]. The language on her e-mail account has been removed."
Recent FFRF legal victories
Bibles removed from UW guest rooms
After attempting to end the practice for several decades, the Freedom From Religion Foundation has persuaded University of Wisconsin-Extension in Madison to remove Gideon bibles from its 137 guest rooms.
In November, a complainant who encountered the bible at the Lowell Center on the UW-Madison campus contacted FFRF. The seven-story conference center hosts events of up to 400 people and was used by the UW secular student group — Atheists, Humanists, and Agnostics — to host a freethought festival last March.
Patrick Elliott, one of FFRF's five staff attorneys, took action, contacting UW-Extension: "When a government entity like the Lowell Center allows distribution of religious material to visitors, it has unconstitutionally entangled itself with a religious message, in this case a Christian message."
UW-Extension Chancellor Ray Cross (now UW System president) responded Nov. 25 that all bibles would be removed from guest rooms by Dec. 1. The decision received wide area media coverage.
Elliott called it a solid victory for state/church separation. "While private hotels may choose to put any type of literature they want in their guest rooms, state-run colleges have a constitutional obligation to remain neutral toward religion."
FFRF President Emerita Anne Nicol Gaylor first contacted UW-Extension in the 1980s and 1990s about the unconstitutional practice. Now 87, Gaylor responded, "It's satisfying to finally see this violation remedied."
Letter stops N.C. employee prayers
A complainant reported to FFRF that annual Thanksgiving celebrations at a department within the North Carolina Education Lottery have included prayers initiated by the department director.
In a Nov. 29 letter, Staff Attorney Patrick Elliott urged NCEL Executive Director Alice Garland to remind employees that such practices are unconstitutional.
Founded in 2005, the lottery is mandated to turn over 100% of its proceeds to public education.
In a Dec. 6 response, lottery counsel assured FFRF that the practice will stop. "We have addressed this matter with the affected department director, and informed all upper management that religion should never be part of any activities, NCEL-sanctioned or not, while on company property and/or time."
Okla. staff warned on teacher prayer
A concerned student reported to FFRF that pep rallies at Alva High School in Oklahoma regularly featured student-led prayer circles supported by the faculty. In a letter sent Oct. 23, Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel reminded Superintendent Steve Parkhurst and the school principal that the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment deems any school-sponsored sectarian practice unconstitutional.
FFRF received a statement from Parkhurst on Nov. 4, claiming that the group prayer was merely optional after a pep rally. Seidel addressed this contention in his letter, "Even if prayer at Alva High's pep rallies were voluntary, and even if participation at pep rallies were made non-mandatory for students in the band, cheerleaders, and football players, the mere voluntariness of the prayers would still not remedy this constitutional violation. Courts have summarily rejected arguments that voluntariness excuses a constitutional violation."
Parkhurst concluded his letter on a positive note, "Faculty members have been reminded that this must be student-initiated and as a faculty member they cannot participate."
Hymns removed from school music
Emmons Lake Elementary School in Caledonia, Mich., was contacted Oct. 3 by Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel on behalf of a concerned parent. Seidel informed Superintendent Randy Rodriguez that teaching Christian-themed music to students is unconstitutional.
"The problems with the music are compounded by the fact that [the teacher] used the song as an opportunity to teach Christian doctrine to students, as well as by the fact that the concert is specifically labeled a 'Christmas' concert," noted Seidel.
On Oct. 16, the superintendent assured FFRF that the school "has initiated steps to resolve this concern at a local level."
The complainant confirmed that religious teachings have been withdrawn from music classes.
Jersey restaurant stops church discount
FFRF successfully ended a discount extended exclusively to churchgoers by Aleathea's Restaurant in Cape May, N.J. Staff Attorney Elizabeth Cavell, informed by a concerned customer, advised the restaurant to drop the discriminatory practice in an Oct. 10 letter:
"Your restaurant's restrictive promotional practice favors religious customers, and denies both customers who do not attend church as well as nonbelievers the right to 'full and equal' enjoyment of Aleathea's. Any promotions should be available to all customers regardless of religious preference or practice on a nondiscriminatory basis."
Cavell said such a discount violates New Jersey law and the federal Civil Rights Act, which ensures equal opportunity to "goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages and accommodations."
The owner confirmed Dec. 2 that the restaurant had dropped the discount.
Carolina meals won't open with prayer
Prayers will no longer precede meals at the Simpsonville Activity and Senior Center in Simpsonville, S.C. Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel warned the Parks and Recreation Department, which runs the center, that such religious practices are prohibited by the Establishment Clause and Title XX of the Social Security Act.
"Not only does organizing public prayer at meals jeopardize your federal funding, it also violates our citizens' rights to be free from religious proselytizing by the government or government funded organizations," wrote Seidel.
On Dec. 5, FFRF received a reply from Director of Recreation Robbie Davis, stating that "staff at the Simpsonville Senior Center has ceased leading or encouraging prayer before meal functions."
FFRF letter curbs Cornerstone prayer
FFRF reminded the Hyde Park Central School District in New York that active involvement of faculty during after-school clubs is inappropriate.
In a Nov. 7 letter to Superintendent Greer Rychcik, Staff Attorney Elizabeth Cavell requested that staff at F.D. Roosevelt High School in Staatsburg, N.Y., stop participation in the school's prayer group, Cornerstone, on constitutional grounds.
Cavell also referenced the Equal Access Act, which prohibits teachers from participating in noncurricular student activities.
"We ask that teachers throughout the district be reminded of their constitutional duty to remain neutral toward religion, a duty that does not simply begin and end with the school day," wrote Cavell.
The school's legal counsel responded Dec. 3: "The district understands and appreciates its constitutional and statutory obligations to students in this regard and, to that end, has reminded those teachers who were approached by Cornerstone to remain neutral toward religion and to refrain from participating in the substantive affairs of religious clubs. The district has also instructed those teachers to refrain from any participation or activity that may be perceived as an endorsement of the club's religious message."
Proselytizing cop warned to stop
A concerned citizen in Toledo, Ohio, informed FFRF that during a traffic collision investigation, after asking whether the citizen attended church, the police officer started recommending various churches in the area.
Staff Attorney Elizabeth Cavell requested in a Nov. 26 letter that the city remind the officer that such actions are unconstitutional.
"[The officer's] overt promotion of religion while acting in his official capacity as a government agent gives the unfortunate impression that the Toledo PD endorses Christianity over other religions and generally endorses religion over nonreligion," wrote Cavell.
In his response Dec. 4, the police chief said the situation would be investigated further and that "[the officer's] supervisor was made aware of the incident and was instructed to counsel [the officer] about his actions."
FFRF extinguishes Points of Light
A proselytizing group will no longer have access to families at Frick Middle School in Oakland, Calif. A religious organization called Points of Light hosted a barbecue at a "Back to School Night" alongside school activities. FFRF's complainant reported that both events were treated and advertised through official school channels as a single event with no mention of the ministry's involvement. At one point, a PoL representative addressed the crowd and made religious statements, such as "praise God" and "lift up Jesus."
Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel sent a letter to Oakland Unified School District Superintendent Gary Yee on Nov. 7: "It is regrettable that religious groups seek to use the school as a recruiting ground for their particular religion. Their presence at this school event creates the appearance of district endorsement of their programs. Given the purpose of the school welcome event, the prominence of the PoL ministry, and PoL's use of the school to spread its message, a reasonable parent would conclude that PoL has the backing of the school."
In a Dec. 19 response, the district's attorney strongly criticized the arrangement. Attorney Laura O'Neill told Points of Light, "The statements made by your staff member violated board policy because they promoted Christian viewpoints. It is the district's expectation that your staff will comply with Board Policy and refrain from making any statements that proselytize or favor one religious viewpoint over another. Specifically, your staff may not in any way promote Christian viewpoints or proselytize on any district campus."
School tells coach to stop prayer
A coach at West Linn High School in Tualatin, Ore., will no longer participate in team prayer. FFRF received a complaint last fall that Assistant Coach Art Williams would regularly join a circle of football players to bow his head in prayer.
Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel sent a letter Sept. 24 to William Rhodes, superintendent, requesting that all coach-led prayer cease immediately: "West Linn High School and its coaches should be aware of the tremendous influence coaches have on their athletes. Parents trust their children to the coaches' charge and coaches — through their own example — must be sure that athletes are not only treated fairly but also imbued with a sense of community and camaraderie."
On Oct. 15, an attorney representing the district responded that Williams was directed not to join students in prayer.
Superintendent removes nativity scene
The superintendent of Green Local Schools in Smithville, Ohio, took down a nativity scene after receiving a letter from FFRF.
Superintendent Judith Robinson had displayed a nativity scene in her office window. Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel wrote to her Dec. 18: "It is unlawful for a public school to maintain, erect, or host a nativity scene, thus endorsing Christianity."
Robinson emailed promptly that same day stating that she had taken down the scene.
Pledge refusal OK at Utah school
Students at Oquirrh Hills Middle School (West Jordan, Utah) will no longer be reprimanded for refusing to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. A student contacted FFRF to say that, on multiple occasions, a teacher had singled out a student for refusing to recite the pledge.
Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel wrote to the superintendent Nov. 13: "Students should not be singled out, rebuked, told they must stand, or otherwise penalized for following their freedom of conscience. It is illegal to reprimand a student in any way for non-disruptively exercising his or her constitutional right to object to reciting the pledge of allegiance."
The district responded Nov. 20 that it has and "will continue to teach and remind our students, faculty, and staff to foster and maintain an atmosphere of respect and tolerance in our classrooms and communities."
Religious fliers out in Ohio school
South Bloomfield Elementary School (Ashville, Ohio) will no longer be permitted to pass out religious fliers to students.
A concerned parent contacted FFRF when her child brought home an advertisement for "A Night in Bethlehem," an event organized by a church and featuring a live nativity scene, Christmas music and religiously themed activities.
Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel contacted the school Dec. 12 about its constitutional obligation to remain neutral to religion and pointing out that religious fliers "waste the time and resources of paid school personnel" and force "teachers of diverse views and beliefs to distribute religious promotional materials."
Superintendent Jeff Sheets responded Dec. 23 that the district has a policy not to send any third-party communications home with students. He said he informed the South Bloomfield principal, who was new, of this policy. Sheets also stated he would remind district residents of the policy.
K-9 unit's bible posts taken down
The Douglas County [Ga.] Sheriff K-9 Unit's Facebook page no longer posts religious messages. The page administrator regularly posted bible quotes on Sundays, as well as several other Christian-themed posts. Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel wrote to the sheriff Nov. 27: "It is a fundamental principle of Establishment Clause jurisprudence that the government cannot in any way promote, advance, or otherwise endorse religion."
Since receiving FFRF's letter, there have been no further religious posts on the unit's Facebook page.
Religious marquees banned at school
The superintendent of the Wayne County [W.Va.] School District will ensure that religious messages are not put on school marquees after FFRF notified her of one such marquee and the constitutional problems it posed.
Buffalo Elementary School had displayed the message "WISE MEN STILL SEEK HIM" around Christmas. Staff Attorney Patrick Elliott wrote to the superintendent Dec. 31.
Superintendent Lynn Hurt responded Jan. 3 that she had notified the principal to remove the sign. The school district's attorney "will prepare a notice for all of our principals and share it with them at their monthly meeting about this situation," Hurt said.
Public school prayer monitored in Minn.
FFRF has received multiple complaints about prayer at Pillager [Minn.] Public School events. In 2010, FFRF objected to a prayer led by a pastor at a Veterans Day assembly for all K-12 students. Superintendent Chuck Arns gave assurances that prayers would not recur at future events but prayers at some events continued.
Most recently, an invocation by a pastor was included as part of a National Honor Society ceremony in November.
Staff Attorney Patrick Elliott wrote to the attorney for the school district about the continuation of prayers, asking for the superintendent to "issue a memorandum which makes absolutely clear that prayers are not permitted as part of school-sponsored events, which includes all events organized by school staff. We also request that all staff who plan school events are trained on the legal necessity to immediately cease scheduling prayers."
The attorney replied Jan. 8: "In the next week, Superintendent Arns will address all school administration and others who could be responsible for planning school events. He will remind them that during school-sponsored events, there shall be no religious expression or instruction, whether in the form of prayer or references to the bible."
FFRF members with students in the district will monitor future activities to ensure compliance.
Band director's prayer strikes sour note
The marching band director at a high school in Rock Hill School District Three, Rock Hill, S.C., apparently initiated a student prayer circle before performances. Staff Attorney Patrick Elliott contacted the school's legal counsel Dec. 6 on behalf of a complainant:
"It is a violation of the Constitution for a [school] employee to organize, schedule, or participate in prayers or other religious proselytizing before marching band performances."
In a Dec. 12 letter, legal counsel admitted that "the band director has on occasion signaled to the students just before they recited the prayer."
The director "understands that he is to refrain in the future from signaling that any such prayer take place at a school-sponsored activity or event."
School strips staff of 'Jesus' shirts
FFRF action led to return of shirts like this to the donor.
Buchtel Community Learning Center teachers in Akron, Ohio, will no longer be allowed to wear religious T-shirts in school. The shirts promote the school's athletic program with messages such as "Jesus Is My Hero," "Pick Up the Cross and Follow Me: Jesus" and "God's Got Our Back."
FFRF contacted Akron Public School Superintendent David James on June 5. Senior Staff Attorney Rebecca Markert detailed constitutional concerns and conflict with the board's policy, which bars staff from using their positions or property " 'for participant political or religious purposes.' Wearing T-shirts calling upon others to follow Christ is not an example public school teachers are constitutionally allowed to set. Furthermore, the policy states staff would 'dress in a manner consistent with their professional responsibilities.' "
The district responded that it takes such allegations seriously and requested names of teachers involved. Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel sent a follow-up letter with names of staff who had worn the shirts, including the principal and assistant principal. Seidel also noted that the shirts were being sold in the official school store.
"The [shirt] designs themselves align official athletics teams (not private student clubs) with Christianity in violation of the law."
Seidel urged the district to confiscate the remaining stock of shirts and remind staff not to wear them to school.
The district responded Oct. 23: "The entire school staff was notified that the donated shirts are not to be worn during school because they are a violation of the board's policy regarding the wearing of religious symbols. The rest of the donated T-shirts have been confiscated and will be given back to the donor."
Religion off athletic shirts at school
After a complaint by FFRF, coaches at South Central High School in Winterville, N.C., received a lesson from the school principal on the Constitution.
Staff Attorney Patrick Elliott wrote Nov. 27 to the Pitt County School District about reports of coach-led prayers at football, soccer, baseball and basketball games.
On Dec. 20, FFRF received assurances from the school district's attorney that the principal had informed all coaches of restrictions on prayer at school events. The district also agreed that bible verses would not be placed on athletic shirts, which at least one team had done in the past.
School removes 'Lord God' from mural
FFRF was successful in remedying this constitutional violation in a Georgia elementary school.
Robinson Elementary School in Dawsonville, Ga., painted over part of a verse from an Anglican hymn after FFRF Staff Attorney Patrick Elliot contacted the attorney for the Dawson County School District on behalf of a concerned parent.
The verse, which read, "All Creatures Great and Small. The Lord God Made Them All," was painted above a cafeteria mural depicting a variety of animals and insects.
In December, the parent notified FFRF that the religious portion of the hymn had been painted over with a new message. The mural now reads, "All Creatures Great and Small. Robinson Elem. Loves Them All."
The mural was the latest violation in Dawson County Schools that FFRF has rectified. In January 2013, FFRF received confirmation from the school system that it would not grant academic credit to students for attending an unaccredited Christian Learning Center, as had been reported in the news.
In February 2013, a parent alerted FFRF about a Latin cross painted on a large boulder beside the high school football field. After receiving a letter from Elliott, the school painted over the cross.


text: So, i have a weight distribution hookup leftover from my half ton truck. I now have the 2500hd. I have asked several people if I should use the WDU or not. I get mixed answers. Today a camper dealer told me I should as it can't hurt. Any thoughts on this? What is everyone doing as far as WD and 3/4 trucks? I have a 29ft TT that weighs 6300 dry and I am guessing about 8000 give or take a couple hundred loaded. I believe the tongue weight is about 900 dry that is.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
I hate that the Nets traded for a salary dump. Wtf does anyone want with Pierce and Garnett's geriatric end of careers? ehhh whatever, I'll go to a game next year, lol
Oderint Dum Metuant
It's too bad, I'm too good....
Last of Us is so ****ing awesome. I wish I had more time to play. I want to play multiplayer so badly.


text:
A Plush Playground in the Arizona Desert
The Lodge at Ventana Canyon • Tucson, AZ
Escape Kit
- A One-Night Stay for Two in a Mountain-View Room
- Breakfast for Two
- Additional Spa and Golf Discounts Available Upon Booking
- Combine Unlimited Vouchers for an Extended Stay
When it comes to leisure and relaxation, The Lodge at Ventana Canyon sets the gold standard. This AAA Four Diamond country club and hotel in Tuscon sits on 600 protected acres of breathtaking desertscape and boasts 36 holes of golf, an Olympic-size pool, 11 tennis courts, a spa, a fitness center, and more.
With this week's Escape, you'll enjoy a one-night stay for two in a mountain-view room, with breakfast for two in the morning and additional spa and golf discounts available upon booking ($129).
With just 50 suites, this intimate retreat in the Santa Catalina Mountains has been the recipient of numerous awards and was ranked on the Condé Nast Traveler Gold List as one of The World's Best Places to Stay.
Suites are spacious, comfortable, and decorated in rich wood tones with warm accents. All come with a king or two queen-size beds, an oversize bathroom with clawfoot tub and plush robes, a seating area with a reading chair and comfy leather couch, a flat-screen TV, a desk with Wi-Fi, a full kitchen, and a private deck or balcony with spectacular mountain views.
After a day on the links, kick back with an ice-cold beverage at the casual Ventana Bar & Grill. Foodies should head to the resort's other on-site restaurant, The Catalina Room, which serves up authentic Southwestern-style fare. Try the lobster burrito or a chicken sandwich with pepper jack and a prickly pear glaze.
Don't let summer's end bring you down. At The Lodge at Ventana Canyon, where grownups of all stripes get their kicks, it's summer break all year 'round.
"The Lodge at Ventana Canyon is part of a gated country club community at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains, so when you stay here you feel more like a resident than just another hotel guest."-- Frommer's
escapes 30-day promise
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text:
Tell ya what, if you don't draft Weeden because someone else does, I'll lock their team every Sunday morning until they cut him.
My body was sculpted to the proportions of Michelangelo's David.
Draft date and time works for me. No real feelings about draft order. Makes for good banter when you know when people are picking ahead of time.The schedules still need to be fixed. Every team needs to play each division rival twice.


text:
Fiver could sense danger. Something terrible was going to happen to the warren - he felt sure of it. So did his brother Hazel, for Fiver's sixth sense was never wrong. They had to leave immediately, and they had to persuade the other rabbits to join them. And so begins a long and perilous journey of a small band of rabbits in search of a safe home. Fiver's vision finally leads them to Watership Down, but here they face their most difficult challenge of all... Watership Down is an epic journey, a stirring tale of adventure, courage and survival against the odds.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
"Watership Down" is stunning - a compulsive read. The story is a picaresque saga about a motley band of rabbits who desert their ancient warren when the gentle 'fiver' predicts imminent destruction of all who remain. Led by Fiver's intelligent brother Hazel, the refugees set out on an epic search fro a new home.Review:
Watership Down has been a staple of high-school English classes for years. Despite the fact that it's often a hard sell at first (what teenager wouldn't cringe at the thought of 400-plus pages of talking rabbits?), Richard Adams's bunny-centric epic rarely fails to win the love and respect of anyone who reads it, regardless of age. Like most great novels, Watership Down is a rich story that can be read (and reread) on many different levels. The book is often praised as an allegory, with its analogs between human and rabbit culture (a fact sometimes used to goad skeptical teens, who resent the challenge that they won't "get" it, into reading it), but it's equally praiseworthy as just a corking good adventure.
The story follows a warren of Berkshire rabbits fleeing the destruction of their home by a land developer. As they search for a safe haven, skirting danger at every turn, we become acquainted with the band and its compelling culture and mythos. Adams has crafted a touching, involving world in the dirt and scrub of the English countryside, complete with its own folk history and language (the book comes with a "lapine" glossary, a guide to rabbitese). As much about freedom, ethics, and human nature as it is about a bunch of bunnies looking for a warm hidey-hole and some mates, Watership Down will continue to make the transition from classroom desk to bedside table for many generations to come. --Paul Hughes
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Book Description Penguin UK, 1973. Paperback. Book Condition: New. Bookseller Inventory # P110140039589
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Spellings, Education Community Discuss President's Agenda
Drawing on the Arts
Spellings Speaks on High School Dropout Crisis
Around the Country
News Show Highlights Summer Programs
Arts Resources at the FREE Web Site
Spellings, Education Community Discuss President's Agenda
Charter Schools, School Safety and NCLB Drive Dialogue
Last month, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings traveled to Los Angeles for a series of events at which she discussed the importance of charter schools, school safety and reauthorizing the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).
On May 3, following President George W. Bush's proclamation of National Charter Schools Week (April 29-May 5), Secretary Spellings began the day with a visit to Animo Inglewood Public Charter High School, whose student population is largely Hispanic. Since 2003, the percentage of students at this school who are proficient in math has risen by 40 points, and in reading by almost 18 points. In addition, 79 percent of the class of 2006 went on to attend a four-year university.
"Charter schools like Animo Inglewood High School are helping students learn through innovative, effective tools, and are proving that breaking tradition and taking risks can yield tremendous results for students," said Spellings.
Later, the secretary conducted a roundtable discussion on campus and school safety with federal officials, local law enforcement, mental health experts, and university administrators and students at California State University, Northridge. In light of the tragic events at Virginia Tech in April, President Bush asked the federal departments of Education, Justice, and Health and Human Services to review the broader questions raised by the shootings and find ways to help college, state and local officials confront these issues.
"As a mother of a college sophomore and a high school freshman, I know that there is nothing more important than keeping our children safe," Spellings said.
The secretary is seeking public comment about campus and school safety online at firstname.lastname@example.com. Using input from this as well as from regional meetings held across the country, she hopes to identify best practices, existing obstacles and possible solutions to report back to the president. In addition, the Education Department recently released a new Web page on school safety with related resources at http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/safety/edpicks.jhtml.
Also, while in Los Angeles, Spellings delivered opening remarks at the 60th annual National Education Writers Association meeting, where she spoke about the importance of reauthorizing NCLB.
"NCLB is workingstudent scores are on the rise and the achievement gap is closing. We must build on this progress by providing communities with new tools to turn around chronically underperforming schools and new resources to strengthen our nation's high schools."
Drawing on the Arts
Arts Integration at Oklahoma School Provides Multiple Paths for Learning
Today's classrooms require more than the conventional paper-and-pencil approach to instruction, believes Principal Susan Combs. "We're teaching an era of children who are growing up at a fast-pace on flashy TV, video games, and things of that nature. Then we want them to come to school and sit at their desks for eight hours and focus."
Combs heads an elementary school in Oklahoma City that has adopted an arts integration program that she says has charged the senses of both students and staff. "We're more conscious when we're planning, [asking], 'Am I teaching to the different children? Am I addressing all of the skills each day? Am I making sure that it's interesting and fun?' ... If we really want children to retain what they're learning, we have to think about how we're teaching them."
Since the program's 2002 start at Linwood Elementary Schoolwhere the majority of students qualify for federally subsidized meals and half of the children are English language learnersthe school repeatedly has made adequate yearly progress (AYP). In fact, in almost every year it has exceeded the state's targets by at least a 40-percentage-point margin.
This achievement has earned Linwood the Oklahoma Title I Academic Achievement Award this year for the second time, and, in 2006, an honor from the National Center for Urban School Transformation as one of just five schools presented with the Excellence in Education Award.
On average, 80 percent of fifth-graders at Linwood have proven consistently proficient or above in reading and math. Furthermore, when third- and fourth-graders were tested in 2006, proficiency rates for grades 3-5 also outpaced those of Oklahoma City Public Schools, with the most impressive results in grade 4: in reading, 92 percent, compared to the city's 74 percent; in math, 85 percent, compared to the city's 66 percent.
"Through those things that people may think are 'extra,'" said Combs, "we are teaching our state's Priority Academic Student Skills, which are the minimum criteria that children should learn. So the arts are giving us the opportunity to expand that basic knowledge even further."
That is because the arts program is moving students beyond the rudimentary practices of memorization and recitation by providing a myriad of creative channels for learning the same subject matter, explains teacher Susan Brewer. "We have found ways to go deeperwith application, evaluation and synthesis [of the material]. Those are the real thinking skills."
For instance, to learn about various literary genres, fourth-graders wrote a rap song about different books they have read, from fairy tales to biographies. They then designed costumes and props representing the books' characters to accompany their presentation at the monthly "Informance," a school assembly blending academic information and artistic performance that allows students to showcase their knowledge and talents.
As another example, the younger children studying fractions created a collage of birds and flowers from simple shapes measuring one-half, one-fourth and one-eighth inch to see how math has implications in everyday life.
This fusion of the visual and performing arts with other subjects had been a common instructional strategy among teachers prior to the program's arrival, said Brewer, "but we wanted to improve what we were doing, the things that we've already implemented in our own disorganized way."
The arts curriculum is really part of a larger framework called Oklahoma A+ Schools. The concept was conceived as a research model in North Carolina to promote comprehensive, whole-school reform based on a commitment to eight key components: 1) arts; 2) curriculum; 3) multiple intelligences; 4) experiential learning; 5) enriched assessment; 6) collaboration; 7) infrastructure; and 8) climate. Results from the initial four-year evaluation of the program in 23 schools were so compelling that A+ schools began expanding beyond North Carolina, attracting the attention of education reform-minded officials in search of a model with sound arts integration and a promise for improving student learning across the board.
Jean Hendrickson was a member of the research team that brought the model to Oklahoma. "As a principal in Oklahoma City schools for 17 years, I had pretty much spent my life looking for a framework that would sustain best practices in many areas. ... We know that schools have to support all of the children all of the time in all of the areas, or they run the risk of not sustaining an excellent educational environment. ... So we were looking for a system of sustainability that had within it all of the things that we should commit to in schools. And, certainly, arts instruction and the significant use of the arts should be one of those things."
Six years later, following the program's groundbreaking success in Oklahoma, the initial consortium of 15 schools, which included Linwood Elementary, has evolved into a network of 39 schools in 20 districts, with an additional seven schools slated to join this fall. Initially a project of the DaVinci Institute, a nonprofit think tank, it is currently administered by the University of Central Oklahoma.
Now the executive director of Oklahoma A+ Schools, Hendrickson was impressed immediately by the professional development provided through the model. Rather than having newly trained teachers shoulder the task of implementing a complex program with no future supporta scenario she says she has seen too many timesthe A+ model provides ongoing training by a cadre of seasoned educators, professional artists and other experts. Teachers learn to work collaboratively, using research-based practices to map the curriculum so that interdisciplinary themes emerge that foster integration across classes and the use of various learning styles. Student learning, consequently, becomes process-oriented as it draws on more advanced thinking skills.
For the instructional staff, discovering how to appeal to the different ways children learn has been the program's greatest gift. While the three learning stylesvisual, auditory and kinesthetichave long been familiar pedagogical terms, teachers were introduced to a wider spectrum of "multiple intelligences" that identify eight potential pathways to learning: from logical-mathematical to naturalistic.
"We've all been pushed out of our comfort zones so that we can find ways to reach children who don't learn the same way we do," said Brewer, a self-described "linguistic" learner.
Providing multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate their strengths, she adds, has been especially successful with their Hispanic students learning English. "When you work with different ways to experience those concepts, [the students] understand them much better."
By Nicole Ashby
Spellings Speaks on High School Dropout Crisis
On May 9, Secretary Spellings spoke at the National Summit on America's Silent Epidemic in Washington, D.C., about the federal role in ending the high school dropout crisis. An excerpt from her speech follows.
... Every year, nearly a million kids fail to graduate high school with their peers. It's hard to believe such a pervasive problem remained in the shadows for so long. That's in large part due to state reporting systems and data collection that masked the severity of the situation.
For example, in some districts, a student who leaves school is counted as a dropout only if he or she registers as one. In others, a dropout's promise to get a GED [General Education Diploma] at an unspecified future date is good enough to merit "graduate" status. With such loose definitions of what it means to be a high school graduate, it's no wonder this epidemic has been so "silent."
Fortunately, today it's a different story.
All 50 governors have agreed to adopt a common, more rigorous graduation rate measure. ... Data is helping us shine a light on the magnitude of the crisis. And as I like to say, what gets measured gets done. ...
... This administration is already moving forward with policies to help ensure every child is given a chance to graduate, and that their diploma is a ticket to success, not just a certificate of attendance. ... Our policy blueprint for No Child Left Behind [NCLB] reauthorization includes several key proposals to help meet these needs and address the dropout issue head-on.
First, we would increase Title I spending by more than $1 billion to improve and strengthen our public high schools serving low-income students. These targeted resources will bring more equity to the systemsomething that's desperately needed if we're going to have any hope of transforming "dropout factories" into flourishing high schools.
We also propose increasing funds for reading intervention so that teachers can help struggling students get back on track before they fall too far behind. ...
A significant portion of our NCLB reauthorization calls for increased rigor in our high schools, including:
Strengthening math and science instruction;
Calling on business and higher education officials to work with states to better align curricula to meet workforce and college expectations; and
Creating an Adjunct Teacher Corps that will bring math and science professionals into the classroom to share their expertise. ...
We're also calling for the expansion of AP and IB [Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate] classes. We know that rigorous course work is one of the best ways to improve student achievement. Studies show that by taking just one or two Advanced Placement courses increases a student's chance of going to college and the odds of graduating in four years. ...
We're also working with state and local education entities to increase the rigor of career and technical education programs to ensure that all students receive challenging academic course work and are better prepared for high-skill, high-wage occupations in current or emerging professions.
Finally, we propose to build on the governors' call for a more accurate graduation rate. By 2012 we would require all states to disaggregate this data by race and ethnicity so we can see clearly who's dropping out and report it as part of their accountability plans. ... Without accountability, we're just posting numbers and hoping for the best. Our children deserve better than that. ...
For the full May 9, 2007, remarks, visit http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2007/05/05092007.html.
Around the Country
California For the first time, California public schools have received state funding specifically for programs in the visual and performing arts and physical education. The first installment of a $500 million block grant was distributed in May to provide professional development, equipment and supplies to enhance standards-based instruction in visual arts, dance, music, theatre and physical education in grades K-12. Each school district, charter school and county office of education is entitled to $83.04 per student, and each district must use at least $2,500 per school site. In January 2007, districts received part of an ongoing $105 million grant to support arts and music instruction. The remaining amounts of each grant will be provided later this month.
District of Columbia The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation brought together 51 high school students from every state and the nation's capital for a match of skills in poetry memorization and recitationcalled "Poetry Out Loud"in Washington, D.C., in late April. The top prizea $20,000 scholarshipwent to a District of Columbia student, while the second- and third-place prizes of $10,000 and $5,000 were awarded to students from Indiana and Virginia, respectively. In addition, the 12 finalists received a $1,000 award and their schools $500 each toward the purchase of books of poetry. Over the last year, state-level competitions nationwide have inspired more than 100,000 students at 1,000 high schools to discover classic and contemporary poetry.
- June 5-Aug. 10
Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative Summer Workshops, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. Held at more than a dozen sites nationwide, this free workshop series is designed for teachers to learn best practices from fellow educators who have had success in raising student achievement. For specific dates and locations, visit https://www.t2tweb.us, or call 1-888-831-1338.
- June 25
Presidential Scholars Program Medallion Ceremony, Washington, D.C., sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. This year's ceremony will honor 141 outstanding graduating American high school seniors for their academic achievement, artistic excellence, leadership and community service. For complimentary tickets to the Kennedy Center performance by Presidential Scholars in the Arts, e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com, or call 202-401-0961.
- September
Library Card Sign-Up Month, sponsored by the American Library Association. Launched in 1987, this observance brings national attention to using local libraries as sources of lifetime learning. Visit http://www.ala.org or call 1-800-545-2433.
What reading opportunities are available for students during the summer?
Research shows that many children experience a decline in reading proficiency during summer vacation. Thirty-two percent of U.S. fourth-graders reported that they never or rarely read for fun outside of school, a significantly higher percentage than the international average of 18 percent.
To encourage students to actively read over the summer and thereby enhance student achievement the following school year, several initiatives across the country are available.
Reading Rockets an educational initiative of the flagship public television and radio station WETA, with funding from the U.S. Department of Educationoffers a wealth of reading strategies, lessons and activities designed to help young children learn how to read and struggling readers improve their comprehension skills. Visit http://readingrockets.org or call 703-998-2001.
Reading Is Fundamental's National Book Program delivers free books and literacy resources to those children and families who need them most. The program is available in all 50 states and reaches young people of all ages in a variety of settings, including schools, community centers, Boys & Girls Clubs, migrant labor camps, churches and health clinics. Visit http://www.rif.org or call 1-877-RIF-READ.
Gulf Coast Summer Reading Initiative a public-private partnership among the U.S. Department of Education, First Book and Scholastic, Inc.is providing new books this year to replenish those lost in schools, libraries, community organizations and homes in areas affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Visit http://www.bookrelief.org or call 1-866-READ-NOW.
Local libraries are good resources for additional opportunities for reading. If your child doesn't have a library card, summer is a great time to sign up for one. In addition to a wide selection of books to borrow, many libraries have high-quality, child-friendly summer reading programs. For the location of your nearest public library, visit the American Library Association at http://www.ala.org or call 1-800-545-2433.
News Show Highlights Summer Programs
Programs that focus on reading and learning during the summer months to ensure students return to school prepared to achieve will be the focus of the June edition of Education News Parents Can Use, the U.S. Department of Education's monthly television program.
After the final school bell has rung, far too few students engage in summertime activities designed to continue their practice of academic skillsparticularly critical reading skillslearned during the school year. As a result, many students experience "summer learning loss," which leaves them ill-equipped for the academic challenges of the next school year. This month's broadcast: showcases several award-winning and effective summer learning programs; explores innovative strategies to academically engage and nurture low-income and disadvantaged youths during the summer; profiles corporate, community and library-based initiatives designed to encourage students to read and learn during the break; and spotlights the efforts of organizations dedicated to providing disadvantaged students with access to books and reading materials in the summer and throughout the year.
Each month, Education News Parents Can Use showcases: schools and school districts from across the country; conversations with school officials, parents and education experts; and advice and free resources for parents and educators.
To learn about viewing options, including webcasts, visit http://www.ed.gov/news/av/video/edtv/; or call toll-free 1-800-USA-LEARN.
Arts Resources at the FREE Web Site
Ragtime music, Herb Block's editorial cartoons and Pakistani theatre are among the resources recently added to the federally supported Web site http://free.ed.gov. A one-stop shop for hundreds of teaching and learning resources from more than 35 federal agencies, the Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE) site includes the following additions, which focus on the arts.
Ragtime from the Library of Congresspresents sheet music, essays, and video and sound clips related to this distinctly American music genre that originated in the late 19th century and influenced early jazz styles. This section includes a biography of famous ragtime composer Scott Joplin along with segments of his classic "Maple Leaf Rag," which helped spread the ragtime craze.
Enduring Outrage also from the Library of Congresspresents more than 30 cartoons by Pulitzer-Prize-winning political cartoonist Herb Block published between 1940 and 1994, which focus on a range of topics from pollution to racism.
Gift of the Indus: The Arts and Culture of Pakistan from the Kennedy Centerintroduces, through various video clips, the music, theatre, dance and visual arts of Pakistan, a nation created in 1947 as a homeland for Muslims of the Indian subcontinent. This section highlights the rhythmic folk music of the Punjab, the martial dances of the Pashtun, and the elaborate geometry seen in buildings, carpets and textiles.
Van Gogh's Van Goghs from the National Gallery of Artfeatures, along with his life story, a sampling of paintings by this ingenious and prolific Dutch artist, who was mostly self-taught and whose works paved the way for the expressionist art of the 20th century.
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The Achiever is a monthly publication for parents and community leaders from the Office of Communications and Outreach, U.S. Department of Education (ED). Margaret Spellings, secretary.
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