{"id":124,"date":"2009-02-06T15:58:19","date_gmt":"2009-02-06T15:58:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/lynnvsekulow\/2009\/02\/dont-force-christian-high-scho.html"},"modified":"2009-02-06T15:58:19","modified_gmt":"2009-02-06T15:58:19","slug":"dont-force-christian-high-scho","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/2009\/02\/dont-force-christian-high-scho.html","title":{"rendered":"Don’t Force Christian High Schools to Change Curriculum"},"content":{"rendered":"

Barry, there’s another troubling development in the education world – this one is not about stimulus funds for higher education facilities – this centers on high school curriculum and focuses directly on what’s being taught in many Christian high schools across the country.   <\/span>We just filed an amicus brief in Association of Christian Schools International v. Stearns, a case pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit that will likely have a wide-ranging impact on Christian high schools nationwide. <\/font><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The case involves the University of California’s use of its admissions process to require religious high schools to change the religious perspectives of their courses in order for students at those schools to be eligible for standard admission to the numerous University of California (UC) and California State University institutions. <\/font><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

As our brief explains, “UC has repeatedly rejected courses from religious high schools solely or primarily due to the theological positions that are emphasized, claiming that the courses fail to adequately prepare students for study at UC. In many cases, the rejected courses include a wide variety of religious and non-religious perspectives and are geared toward developing students’ critical thinking skills and preparing them for college study, yet UC posits that the courses’ emphasis on a particular religious viewpoint or set of viewpoints renders them inadequate.” <\/font><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

Moreover, “UC has targeted courses that emphasize disfavored religious viewpoints, such as the idea that God has influenced human history and provides a universal, unchanging standard of truth and morality.”<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

One of the most egregious examples of UC’s discrimination against religious viewpoints is its rejection of San Diego Jewish Academy’s course entitled, “Shoah-Holocaust Studies.” <\/font><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

UC stated that the course must include “a different perspective and a broader viewpoint” and must also cover other human tragedies in order to be worthy of study. New Community Jewish High School’s Holocaust and Human Behavior course was also rejected because, in UC’s view, the perspectives for the course had to be expanded. <\/font><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

By contrast, UC approves of specialized non-religious History and Social Science courses that emphasize a particular culture such as Chinese civilization or that study historical events from an African-American, Women’s, or Latin-American perspective.<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

UC has rejected a host of other religious school courses that provide students with critical thinking skills and a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter such as Jewish Leadership, Jewish Philosophy, Women in Scripture, Moral Theology, Moral Philosophy, Social Justice, Ethics and Values, Women’s Studies, History of Christianity, and Catholic Traditions. UC’s objection is to the religious perspectives that are emphasized in these courses.<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

Our brief argues that “UC’s exacting scrutiny of the theological viewpoints of religious high school courses furthers no legitimate, much less compelling, educational purpose. Applicants’ religious worldviews bear no relationship to their likelihood of succeeding at UC. A reasonable observer would conclude that the primary effect of UC’s policy and practice is to display hostility toward religion in general and certain religious perspectives in particular. As such, UC has violated the Establishment Clause.”<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

We were joined in our brief by the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, the Common Good Foundation, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church State Council.<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

You can read our friend-of-the-court brief here<\/a><\/font><\/font><\/span>.  <\/font><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

Barry, the outcome of this case is critically important to religious high schools and high school students across the country. If UC is permitted to reject courses taught from a Christian perspective, numerous other public university systems across the nation could adopt similar policies. <\/font><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

This would make it much more difficult for many students at Christian and other religious high schools to gain admission to public universities and would force schools to consider changing their curriculum.<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Barry, there’s another troubling development in the education world – this one is not about stimulus funds for higher education facilities – this centers on high school curriculum and focuses directly on what’s being taught in many Christian high schools across the country.   We just filed an amicus brief in Association of Christian Schools International…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":163,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[61,8,35,11,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-124","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christian-schools","category-congress","category-education","category-public-schools","category-white-house"],"yoast_head":"\nDon't Force Christian High Schools to Change Curriculum - Lynn v. 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Jay Sekulow has also served as a faculty member for the Office of Legal Education at the United States Department of Justice.  As a member of the faculty he instructed Assistant United States Attorneys and investigators in the First Amendment issues associated with prosecution of obscenity. An accomplished and respected judicial advocate, Sekulow has presented oral argument before the U.S. Supreme Court in numerous cases in defense of constitutional freedoms. Several landmark cases argued by Sekulow before the U.S. Supreme Court have become part of the legal landscape in the area of religious liberty litigation.  In the Mergens case, Sekulow cleared the way for public school students to form Bible clubs and religious organizations on their school campuses.  In the Lamb's Chapel case, Sekulow defended the free speech rights of religious groups, ensuring that they be treated equally with respect to the use of public facilities.  And, most recently, in McConnell v. FEC, Sekulow ensured that the constitutional rights of young people remain protected with a unanimous decision by the high court guaranteeing that minors can participate in political campaigns. A nationally recognized and respected defender of religious freedom, Sekulow has assembled one of the most prestigious law firms in the nation.  Founded in 1990, the American Center for Law and Justice focuses in constitutional law.  The ACLJ, under Sekulow's direction, is involved in public interest and public policy issues working to protect religious and constitutional liberties. In 2007, the Chicago Tribune concluded that the ACLJ has \"led the way\" in Christian legal advocacy.  In 2005, TIME Magazine named Sekulow one of the \"25 Most Influential Evangelicals\" in America and called the ACLJ \"a powerful counterweight\" to the ACLU.  Business Week said the ACLJ is \"the leading advocacy group for religious freedom.\"  Sekulow's work on the issue of judicial nominees - including possible vacancies at the Supreme Court - has received extensive news coverage including a front page story in The Wall Street Journal.  In addition, The National Law Journal has twice named Sekulow one of the \"100 Most Influential Lawyers\" in the United States (1994, 1997).  He is also among a distinguished group of attorneys known as \"The Public Sector 45\" named by The American Lawyer (January\/February 1997).  The magazine said the designation represents \"45 young lawyers outside the private sector whose vision and commitment are changing lives.\" Sekulow brings insight and education to listeners daily with his national call-in radio program, Jay Sekulow Live!, which is broadcast throughout the country on nearly 850 radio stations.  Sekulow also hosts a weekly television program, ACLJ This Week, which tackles the tough issues of the day and is broadcast on a number of networks nationwide including the Trinity Broadcasting Network and FamilyNet.  Sekulow is also a popular guest on nationally televised news programs on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, FOX News, MSNBC, CNBC, and PBS.  He frequently contributes articles and commentary to national publications and is often quoted in the nation's leading newspapers including USA Today, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, and Washington Times. A graduate of Mercer University, Sekulow graduated cum laude receiving both a bachelor's degree and doctor of jurisprudence from Mercer University where he served on the Mercer Law Review as an editorial staff member.  Following graduation, Sekulow served as a tax trial attorney in the Office of Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service.  In that capacity, Sekulow prepared and brought to trial tax cases on behalf of the United States Department of Treasury in United States Tax Court. He also received a Ph.D. from Regent University, with a dissertation on American Legal History, and is the author of numerous publications and law articles. Sekulow serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for The Supreme Court Historical Society in Washington, DC.","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/author\/jsekulow"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/163"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=124"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=124"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=124"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=124"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}