Student Wins Suit After Teacher Says Creationism 'Superstitious Nonsense'

[Mr. T]

SANTA ANA, Calif. — A federal judge ruled that a public high school history teacher violated the First Amendment when he called creationism "superstitious nonsense" during a classroom lecture.

 

U.S. District Judge James Selna issued the ruling Friday after a 16-month legal battle between student Chad Farnan and his former teacher, James Corbett.

 

Farnan sued in U.S. District Court in 2007, alleging that Corbett violated the establishment clause of the First Amendment by making repeated comments in class that were hostile to Christian beliefs.

 

The lawsuit cited more than 20 statements made by Corbett during one day of class, all of which were recorded by Farnan, to support allegations of a broader teaching method that "favors irreligion over religion" and made Christian students feel uncomfortable.

 

During the course of the litigation, the judge found that most of the statements cited in the court papers did not violate the First Amendment because they did not refer directly to religion or were appropriate in the context of the classroom lecture.

 

But Selna ruled Friday that one comment, where Corbett referred to creationism as "religious, superstitious nonsense," did violate Farnan's constitutional rights...................

 

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,518864,00.html

[Guest mz.]

"Hey, teacher, you cannot call my denial of science 'superstitious nonsense!'" doesn't exactly impress the chicks.

 

Unfortunately, no amount of money will be able to buy Mr. Farnan his pride back.

[Mr. T]

Farnan is not interested in monetary damages, said his attorney, Jennifer Monk of the Murrieta-based Christian legal group Advocates for Faith & Freedom.

 

Instead, he plans to ask the court to prohibit Corbett from making similar comments in the future. Farnan's family would also like to see the school district offer teacher training and monitor Corbett's classroom for future violations, Monk said.

[Guest mz.]

Like I said, no amount of money could by his pride back.

[calfoxwc]

This makes no sense to me.

 

The teacher can say whatever his opinion is, the student is entitled to disagree.

 

The only problem is if the teacher actively worked to intimidate or provoke the student

 

into not having the opinion he does have - verbally.

 

Other than that, I don't get it.

[Mr. T]

This makes no sense to me.

 

The teacher can say whatever his opinion is, the student is entitled to disagree.

 

The only problem is if the teacher actively worked to intimidate or provoke the student

 

into not having the opinion he does have - verbally.

 

Other than that, I don't get it.

 

 

I'm not sure sounds like the student and the teacher both may be in the wrong. But then we must remember their are some idiotic people who like to trample all over others beliefs out of all the hate and anger that has been built up in their lifes. Maybe the teacher was part of a group that advocates this action such as QFPS.