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WICHITA NORTH HIGH SCHOOL |
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Wichita North High School, Wichita, Kansas |
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When this Indian leader of his
people prays, he will use the religious symbols of his spirits to
make the connection.
His sacrifice is claimed to be honored at Wichita North High School but its meaning is mocked by those who do not practice the religion which uses the eagle feather. |
WHEREAS- Wichita Public Schools, following the Kansas Association of School Boards' guidelines provides administrative Board Policy P1501 and does state in Administrative Implemental Procedure #5;
"The temporary use of religious symbols such as a cross, Menorah, crescent, star of David, crèche, symbols of Native American religion, or other symbols that are a part of the religious holiday are permitted as teaching aids if they are displayed as an example of a holiday's cultural and religious heritage".
For example: EAGLE FEATHERS
WHEREAS- The Wichita Public Schools are using on a permanent basis the Native American religious symbols of eagle feathers on logos, art work, sculpture, administrative documentation and other media in association with Wichita North High School, these must be removed.
BE IT NOTED- Federal law (16 USC 668a) provides for Indian religious use of Eagle Feathers and other Animal Parts under a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service permit system. THEY ARE RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS.
Local school boards and the Kansas State Board of Education -violations of Federal law.
PERMANENT ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
"The regular display of religious symbols, portraits and other representations of religion in the school or in classrooms is unlawful. Washegesic v. Bloomingdale Public School, 813 F.Supp. 559 W.D. Mich. 1993".
This statement and legal citation is a quote from, "The Role of Religion in Kansas Schools", published by the Kansas Association of School Boards, Topeka, KS, page 13 I n1994. It refers to a federal court case in which a portrait of Jesus Christ had hung on the wall of Bloomingdale High School in Grand Rapids, Mich., for 30 years. In February, 1995, after a student lawsuit, a federal judge ordered the portrait removed as a violation of the First Amendment's prohibition against government establishment of religion.
BE IT NOTED- Federal law (16 USC 668a) allows Indian religious use of Eagle Feathers and Other Animal Parts under a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service permit system. THEY ARE RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS.
Native American religious symbols such as the images of eagle feathers, symbols of clothing, song, dance and nicknames that refer to "Indians" are religious symbols. Being Indian is being of the culture and is fundamentally religious by contemporary and historical practice. Everything about Native American life is addressed within the Medicine Wheel. As the Sioux Medicine Man, Black Elk taught, every step is a sacred event. Permanent use of Native American religious symbols by Kansas Public Schools is an establishment of religion by government and is a violation of the First Amendment.
Native American religious symbols in public schools are a constant source of bickering, infighting, argument and debate on the appropriate use, honor or respect much the same as Christian denominations argue on the proper meaning and use of Christian religious symbols leading to multiple Christian denominations. Never the less, Native American religious symbols do permanently remain in public schools in violation of federal law.
| When this leader of
his people prays he will use the religious symbols of his God to
make the connection.
His sacrifice will not be honored at Wichita North High School by religious images. He will not receive equal recognition next to Native American religious symbols. |
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Do Christians
have equality for their religious symbols in the public schools?
Don't they honor their religion as much as schools honor Indian religion? |
Must persons of Jewish, Muslim, Budist and Bahai faiths be kept from permanent placement of their religious symbols in public schools?
While permanent Native American religious symbols are used in public schools Christians and others have struggled with schools in order to allow, posting of Christian historical and contemporary religious documents, a moment of prayer in schools and the teachings of Christian leaders in the curriculum and during school activities. These struggles have been met with constant defeat as the schools and courts deny access to Christians. Perhaps Christians do not really love Jesus, his teachings or care to have equality in this country?
In the mean time Native American religious images are permanently placed in 32 Kansas high schools and 33 middle schools. In many of these schools Native American consultants, advisors and spiritual people who believe in the sacredness of Native American cultural and religious traditions have been invited into classrooms and activities to teach about their cultural and religious beliefs and to guide students in their permanent use. Are Christians being given the opportunity to permanently display their religious symbols and teach students about Christianity?
No, they are not. This is a violation of the fourteenth amendment providing equal protection under the law. Non Indian religious symbols do not receive equal protection. Is it God's will that Christian students must be restricted to silence and mumbles instead of having the freedom to pray to their God?
PETITION FOR EQUAL TREATEMENT OF RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS
All persons of religious beliefs do now engage our Fourteenth Amendment Rights of equal protection and the rights provided by the Equal Access Act, do now ask for equal access to display and receive the endorsement, pride and honoring that Native American Religious Symbols enjoy from the public schools.
I want to go to the petion page
KANSAS AND NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER'S INDIVIDUAL EXPOSURE TO LIABILITY
The Kansas Association of School Boards, Religion and the Schools Committee has provided extensive guidance on this subject in their publication, "The Role of Religion in Kansas Schools", which states on pp 1-2,
"As elected public officials, board members also have an obligation to support the laws of Kansas as well as the laws of the United States. The policies they establish to meet the needs of their school district must be in compliance with both state and federal laws. They may face a dilemma when conflicts arise between the law and their own personal religious beliefs or community pressure to act. A school board's deliberate disregard of the law exposes the board to liability and sends the inadvisable message to students and the community that laws and school rules can be ignored.
Board members acting within the scope of their authority are immune from most personal liability. However, a board member who violates the law while acting outside his or her scope of their authority can be sued and will be personally responsible for any judgment. Board members are entitled to qualified immunity when performing discretionary functions if their conduct does not violate clearly established statute or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known."
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"ONCE
A REDSKIN, ALWAYS A REDSKIN" The pride of ethnic hatred Wichita North High School, GENOCIDE AND THE SHAME OF PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION |
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To send a letter to the Wichita Public Schools Board of Education send it care of: EMRC - Clerk of the Board - Arlene R. Moore clerk@feist.com, Clerk of the Board of Education, 833-4053
To write to the Superintendent of Schools Education Management and Resource Center * 201 N. Water * Wichita, KS 67202 , or phone 316 833-4003 Communications.
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