School censors Bible citations on Post-It notes
Then accused of violating federal law and the Constitution
By WND StaffPublished January 23, 2020 at 1:46pm
The speech of students involved in various clubs at Lewis County High School in Weston, West Virginia, includes postings on bulletin boards.
And it's protected.
Except, apparently, for tiny Post-It notes with Bible verse references that members of Youth Alive post.
The Rutherford Institute has confronted the school for its censorship, citing the federal Equal Access Act as well as the First Amendment.
The club, Rutherford said, had used the bulletin board for inspirational notes.
"Included among the self-help topics addressed by the Post-It notes were a selection of Bible verses for those who are feeling brokenhearted, alone, insecure, stressed, confused, needing faith, needing encouragement, and in need of forgiveness," the institute said.
John W. Whitehead, president of the Rutherford Institute, said school administrators are displaying lack of concern for the students
"What a missed opportunity to support young people in their efforts to find positive, constructive methods of engaging with fellow students who might be struggling with feelings of depression, unhappiness and stress," said constitutional attorney," he said.
"Not only is the removal of these inspirational notes a clear act of censorship that violates the First Amendment, but it also sends the disheartening message to young people that school officials care more about doing what is politically correct than doing what is right."
The Youth Alive members posted the message:
"Finding Help In the Bible" accompanied by small Post-It notes with references to Bible verses.
But when students arrived to begin 2020 classes, Youth Alive members "were informed that the posted material must be removed."
"Club members, informed that the removal order resulted from a complaint about the material on the board, were told that it was a violation of church and state," Rutherford said.
Institute lawyer Doug McKusick said in his letter to the school that it violated both the federal Equal Access Act and the First Amendment.
"It is well-established that students do not lose their constitutional rights when they enter the schoolhouse, and the right to freedom of expression is one students retain even while on school grounds," the letter said.
The letter said the decision to censor the words "is not justified [by] any governmental interest in avoiding a violation of the Establishment Clause, but constitutes discrimination."
"On behalf of the club, its members and their parents, we ask that the decision forbidding the posting of the materials be rescinded and that the club be allowed to repost the materials."
The institute sent its letter to Supt. Robin Lewis and Principal John Whiston, as well as the board of education.
A woman who answered the phone at the school told WND there was no one there who could comment.
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