August 20, 2009
Law forbids religious attire for teachers in Oregon
Oregon will join Pennsylvania as the only states that forbid teachers from wearing religious attire.
By Oregon Faith Report,
The nationwide debate over religious observances in schools and the workplace made its way to Oregon. During the 2009 legislative session, leaders in Salem passed the Oregon Workplace Religious Freedom Act. The act requires employers to accommodate employees’ observance of religious holidays and allows them to wear religious garments as long as it does not pose a significant difficulty or expense to the businesses.
On the surface, the bill appears to be a step toward diversity. However, a clause in the bill specifically singles out public schools as workplaces where religious freedoms do not apply. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) joined forces with the Sikh community in Portland and argued against the Oregon Workplace Religious Freedom Act. Their efforts failed.
When the law goes into effect on January 1, 2010, Oregon will join Pennsylvania as the only states in the country that forbid teachers from wearing religious attire on school grounds.
This bill is troubling for some Muslims residing in Oregon because they view their religious attire as a part of their identity, not an expendable piece of clothing or an accessory. The Oregon Workplace Religious Freedom Act seeks to assure public schools remain neutral. Yet, some argue that this can be done through other means such as establishing a particular code of conduct.
The Speaker of the Oregon House has said he plans to change the law.
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August 20, 2009
This law sounds like it was designed to stop Christian evangelizing (wearing a Christian T-shirt or something) but inadvertently hits Muslims hardest who may want to wear a cap or head covering. Either way, this law should be struck down as unconstitutional
August 20, 2009
How can it be called the religious freedom act if it curbs religious freedom?
August 20, 2009
I have mixed feelings on this one. I wonder what it was really aimed at?
August 20, 2009
As a public school teacher, I do wonder why public schools were singled out.
August 20, 2009
If the purpose of public schools is education, seems to me that the freedom for religious apparel would provide an opportunity for diversity in dialogue. After all, any classroom discussion, if appropriately facilitated is bound to produce opinions from a variety of perspectives. Which is good. How can anyone form valid conclusions if he/she is deprived of a smorgasbord of pertinent information?
August 20, 2009
Teachers are to represent the school not a religious or political belief. Political speech is also covered in this bill. We want our teachers to teach and not preach. Is that not fair?
August 21, 2009
Unfortunately the Oregon law regarding teachers’ dress has been on the books for many years. Some people are upset that it was not removed as part of the overall Oregon Workplace Religious Freedom Act, but the Act did not change the law.
We are hopeful that new legislation will correct this disparity next session.
August 23, 2009
I have read (and I believe correctly so) that the middle-eastern custom of head/body covering for females pre-dates Islam, and that there is nothing in the Koran on the subject. This ought to turn the whole subject at hand here upside down; we are dealing with a cultural and not religious practice.
August 23, 2009
Steve Vetter is correct in stating that the practice of covering the head for religious reasons predates Islam. The orthodox forms of Judaism and Christianity being two examples. The Qur’an does encourage modesty in dress and behaviour for Men as well as Women. However, not all Muslims interpret and practice this in the same manner.
August 24, 2009
Now isn’t that special. The filthy stiinking jews (YEs that is EXACTLY what kind of creatures they are) Go live in IsraHELL for a while and you will observe exactly what i did - the most Godless demonic sinful culture on earth! I - no anybody i have know in my entire lifetime has been harmed by Arab people - yet EVERY moral rot in America is supported financed legislated and supported by the stinking Jews. I have had a son’s life ruined by these jew pigs - i have had relatives by marriage murdered by these kike scum - I have suffered business losses from their criminal mentality - yet we give them a free pass for anything they want. Truly religious Arab people are among the most moral and decent people I have ever known.
The ONLY ethnic group of people who work tirelessly day and night to turn MY country into a rotted moral corpse are the stinking JEWS - PERIOD! There is not a SINGLE serious moral malady in America today that was NOT the doing of the filthy jews - NOT ONE
AND MAY I REMIND YOU - who still call yourselves observant practicing ‘Christians’ - that our Lord damned the JEWS as being the “SONS OF THE DEVIL” - in the Gospel of John - NOT the Arabs!
JC
I risked my life as commander in the most elite paratroop branch of our military two generations ago - so as to guarantee no stinking Marxist Zionist scum like the Oregon rasists would ever persecute another’s religious beliefs. You scum in the ‘people’s republic of Oregon’ need to find yourselves another country and get your sorry asses out of MY country!
This law makes no sense to me