Running head: ARTIFACT #6 Karen White V.

BOARD OF EDUCATION

Karen White v. Board of Education

Artifact #6
Mariah Connor
Dr.Warby
EDU 210
March 4, 2016

Artifact #6 Page 2
 Karen white is a kindergarten teacher. She is also newly found Jehovahs

Witness. She had to inform parents and students the she could no longer participate

in certain activities because it was against her religion to do so. She could no longer

decorate the classroom, sing happy birthday to students, or recite the pledge of

allegiance. Now parents are protesting and the principal is recommending dismissal

based on her ineffectively meeting the needs of her students.

Karen white should be dismissed. In case Lee v. Weismen (1992), the court

stated that although government may accommodate the free exercise the free

exercise of religion such accommodation cannot supersede the fundamental

limitations imposed by the Establishment Clause, which prevent the government

from using coercion to support or encourage participation in religious exercise or

worship. Karen White would be supported her religion in the classroom by not

participating in the occasions of the needs of her students.

Karen Whites religion is interfering with her educational classroom. In case

Stone v. Graham (1981) The U.S Supreme Court ruled that prominent display of

Jesus Christ displayed outside the principals office violated the Establishment

Clause. This related to Karen Whites case because her displays of being Jehovahs

Witness are affecting her students. If she cannot accommodate to the various

amounts of diverse students while being a teacher, then she should be dismissed.

On the other hand, there is no justifiable basis for Karens dismissal. In

Supreme Court Case, Engel v. Vitable (1962) a student cannot be compelled to

recite a state-composed prayer at school even if its nondenominational. The court

ruled that it is no part of the business of government to impose official prayers for

any group of American people. Therefore, Karen should not be dismissed based on
the fact that it is against her religion to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. It is not the

governments business to decide on what she can and cant do.

Artifact #6 Page 3

Also in West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette (1943), Barnette

challenged the board that they should not be required to recite the Pledge of

Allegiance in school. It was against their religion to do so. The court ruled in favor of

Barnette. Just like Karen White, she should not be required to recite the Pledge, or

do anything that is against her religion.

However, Karen should be dismissed on the grounds that she is not meeting

the needs of her students. Teachers have their own rights and freedoms to things.

But teachers arent allowed to have their religion affect their performance as a

teacher. Karen being a Jehovahs Witness affects her ability to successfully execute

events that the students need. So therefore, Karen White needs to be dismissed.
 Artifact #6 Page 4

References

Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S 421 (1962).

Lee v. Weismen, 505 U.S 577 (1992).

Stone v. Graham, 449 U.S 1104 (1981).

West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette (1943).