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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 1985)
Editorial Religious garb law is unconstitutional Can a teacher instruct students in an Oregon public schixjl while wearing religious clothing? Not according to a state law that has been in effect since the 1920s. The state law calls for the automatic invalidation of the teaching cer tificates of public school teachers who wear religious garb in the classroom. But Wednesday, the Oregon Court of Appeals ruled that the mandatory revocation of the certificate is un constitutional. The court said this part of the statute is too harsh. nnu mm is» piwismy wiimu mr luim^ The decision overturned the revocation of the teaching certificate of Karta Kaur Khalsa, a former Eugene public school teacher who lost her certificate last year after refusing to stop wearing the white turban and garments associated with the Sihk faith. Khalsa believes the law violates her First Amendment right to freely practice her religion. But because State Superintendent of Public Instruction Verne Duncan already reinstated Khalsa's certificate on the condition that she not teach in Oregon wearing religious clothing, the court simply supported an action that has already been enacted. And because the court ruled oniy on the constitutionali ty of the penalty, it failed to address the larger question: Does the law restrict the constitutional right of individuals to freely practice the religion of their choice? We think it does. We strongly advocate keeping church and state separate, but we also support the right of in dividuals to practice their religion. The line between the two is often fuzzy, but not so in this case. This state law is clearly a violation of First Amendment rights and a definite case of discrimination. First, the law does not define what religious dress is. The law is open to interpretation and is left vulnerable to being used to discriminate against particular groups. And because of the degree of ambiquity, the state could have to decide what is and what is not religious garb, and therefore become involved in religious decisions. Ironically, supporters claim the law is necessary to maintain the wall of separation between church and state. They appear to be afraid that religiously dressed teachers will pass their religious biases on to their students. But simply wearing a particular style of dress will not influence the attitudes of students. At most, it is simply a statement of one's religion, much the same way as wearing the Star of David or a cross will indicate religious beliefs. Simply stating *‘l am a Catholic” or "I am a Sihk” is free of subjectivity as far as school lessons are concerned. Of course it is possible for a teacher dressed in religious garb to taint school lessons with a particular bias. But it is equally possible for a teacher not dressed in religious garb to bias teaching material. The law discriminates against religions that require a particular dress because it assumes that people dressed a particular way will necessarily present biased information; almost to suggest that they are completely inseparable from their religion. It also assumes that they are guilty before any crime is committed. In addition, because public school teachers are already prohibited from presenting religious material in the classroom, the law is superfluous. Khalsa reported that she intends to appeal the decision. We hope that eventually the law is declared unconstitu tional in its entirety. o*"’ ^ i ^ nr*—^ f—**• *—'— - $>RR<UWES-N0 Wtaa tm&ms Kt*i tme yioous. unpair marpships Of mer terrible OMPWGN WAVE LEFT TfcOR MISS FERRARO FEEUN6 OUlTE DELICATE. Letters Don *t separate In the article, "Committee seeks change in Emerald policy/' which appeared on the front page of the Oct. 28 Emerald. Cindi Kim, a member and co-founder of the IFC and former director of the APASIJ, charged the Emerald with lack ing an understanding of racism. I believe Miss Kim lacks the understanding. ",. .anything that portrays a certain ethnic group in stereotypical terms is inherently racist,” Kim says. First of all. stereotypes are usually based on majorities. How else should a group be por trayed if not by majority? And doesn't the portrait reflect a general reality that even those stereotyped perceive? Secondly, is unifying the various “ethnic" groups a move to protest or support racism? Ig norantly uniting groups only draws a line between the perceived "US” (ethnic groups) and "THEM" (racists). This dividing line only breeds racism by separating further people who possess natural dif ferences. The formation of "ethnic" organizations, while doing good, also feeds racism. In reference to the China Delight ads. I agree they aren't amusing, but I doubt if any ad is ever meant to be derogatory. I think the restaurant's name and the contraceptive ad (p.3, ODE. Oct. 28) are more offensive. Racism won’t end until peo ple stop seeing differences in Oregon Daily Emerald The Oregon Daily Emerald is published Monday through Friday except during exam week and vacations by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co., at the University of Oregon. Eugene. Oregon, 97403. The Emerald operates independently of the University with offices on the third floor of the Erb Memorial Union and it, a member of the Associated Press. The Emerald is private property. The unlawful removal or use of papers is prosecutable by law. General Staff Advertising Director Susan Thelen Advertising Sales David Wood - Sales Manager, John Boiler ■ Intern. Michael Gray. Robin Joannides. Carlos Lamadrid, Marcia Leonard, Shawn Leuthold, Julie Lewis, Catherine Lilja - Intern, Brett Pickman, Anne-Marie Vranizan - Intern, Laura Willoughby. Production Vince Adams, Kelly Alexandre, Shu-Shing Chen, Ellen Cross, Judy Dieringer, Stormi Dykes, Manuel Flores, Steve Gibbons. Rob Hare, Jim Marks, Ross Mar tin, Mary May, Mary McGonigal, Rob Miles. Angie Muniz, Kara Oberst, Charta Parker, Ken Parrott, Jennifer Peter son, Geoff Rainville, Michele Ross, Alyson Simmons, Pea Solonika, Gregory Tipps, Colleen Tremaine, Steven Wall Production Manager Classified Advertising Assistant to the Publisher Russell Steele Vince Adams Jean Own bey Editor Managing Editor News Editor Editorial Page Editor Editorial Page Assistant Sports Editor Photo Editor Graphics Editor Friday Edition Editor Sidelines Editor Night Editor Aiiocliti Editors Higher Education Community General Assignment Administration Student Government Student Activities Julie Shippen Diana Elliott Jolayne Houtz Michelle Brence Matthew Dodson Robert Collias Karen Staflwood Ross Martin Sheila Landry Allan Luo Scott McFetrldge Gary Jimenez Scott McFetrldge Linda Hahn Kirsten Bolin Mary Lichtenwalner Julie Freeman Reporters: Sean Axmaker. Dan Coran, Karen Engel, Frale de Guzman, Deborah Janes, Kim Kaady, Andrew Lamar. Robert Oakes. Barbara Shaw, B.J. Thomsen. Photographers Kamila Al-Na|jar, Shu-Shlng Chen, Steve Gibbons. Rob Hare, Jim Marks, Ross Martin. Steven Wall News and Editorial 686 5511 Display Advertising and Business 666-3712 Classified Advertising 686-4343 Production 666-4361 Circulation 666-5511 each other and .Mart seeing the bonds that should unite us. Uni ty of all people, not of a par ticular people, will end racism and possibly more Paul Kim Eugene Nice try Did anyone read the Hold Your Nose Commentator this week? Read the one about the Somocistas being the true Con tras? After wading through two and one-half pages of unsup ported, extremist, right-wing verbage, 1 discovered something interesting. The story is by-lined by Eden Pastors, a leader of Reagan's American terrorism squads. Eden lends credence to the story because he gives us first-hand accounts of battles and how our money is needed to win their "freedom." The story begins in the first person using the pro nouns I, we. and us. Then on page 12, column two, the last paragraph. Eden Pastora all of a sudden refers to himself as "Eden Pastora.” What's up guys? Do I delect a lack of intellectual integrity? Who’s really writing your stories? It wouldn't happen to be coming from a CIA puppet, would it? Or a CIA concubine? This seems to dampen your self-righteous, front-page at tempt at calling sin: sin. That article was simple and unsup ported nice at best. The fourth column was full of false equivocations, gaps in logic and guilt by association. Then page two was a complete contradic tion reverting to your situa tional ethics saying that the lesser of two evils makes South Africa OK. Nice try Commentator. I was holding my nose. Eric Johnson English No stereotype In response to the "Street wise" column in the Oct, 28 Emerald; Sorry Charla Parker. There have boon canes where an accus ed rapist was also a taxi driver, just as there have been cases where the accused was an ac countant, banker, congressman, doctor, electrician, football player, minister, national guardsman, or almost any other type of vocation or profession you might wish to name. Many men are certified or even licensed members of the establishment. And nowhere does it say that )ust because a man has some social seal of ap proval. he can't also be a rapist Most rapes are not committed by the stereotypical shaggy haired drifter. There is no physical description that describes all or even most rapists. Think about it. Even lie con cerned about it. My second comment, and it's not in response to Ms. Parker, is that then* is little reason for the driver, male or female, to have to be some massive, armed and dangerous guardian of good The point is that rapists do not tend to attack gruups. The risk gets too great. The shuttle pro gram is designed to group together individuals who would otherwise be walking at night alone. Third. The idea is to protect women from rapists. If that ex cludes males, so be it. Rape is the primary violent crime that occurs on the U of O campus, and that is what the shuttle pro gram is being designed to reduce. L.S. I-nuthold Senior. Business Letters Policy The Emerald will attempt to print all letters containing fair comment on topics of interest to the University community. Letters to the editor must be limited to 250 words, typed, signed and the identification of the writer must be verified when the letter is turned in. The Emerald reserves the right to edit any letter for length or style. Letters to the editor should beturned into the Emerald office. Suite 300, EMU.
