http://www.sanmateocountytimes.com/Stories/0,1413,87~11268~2556644,00.html
By Jill Tucker
November 24, 2004
Steven Williams, a fifth-grade teacher at Stevens Creek Elementary School in the Cupertino Union School District, filed the suit in U.S. District Court Monday, arguing a First Amendment right to teach the history of our country and its founding fathers, which includes religious, and specifically Christian, references.
The lawsuit alleges the school's principal Patricia Vidmar required Williams to submit his lesson plans and the supplemental handouts he planned to use in his classroom for review.
She then prevented Williams from giving students several handouts including:
- Excerpts from the Declaration of Independence with references to ``God,'' ``Creator,'' and ``Supreme Judge.''
- ``George Washington's Prayer Journal.''
- ``The Rights of the Colonists,'' by Samuel Adams, which includes passages excluding Roman Catholics from religious tolerance because of their ``doctrines subversive of the civil government under which they live.''
- George W. Bush's presidential 2004 Day of Prayer proclamation, with a supplemental handout on the history of the National Day of Prayer.
- Several excerpts from John Adam's diary, including the July 26, 1796 passage, ``Cloudy ... The Christian religion is above all the religions that ever prevailed or existed in ancient or modern times, the religion of wisdom, virtue, equity and humanity, let the black guard Paine say what he will; it is resignation to God, it is goodness itself to man.''
Williams' attorney, Terry Thompson of the Alliance Defense Fund, said the principal's policy is a violation of the teacher's First Amendment rights and is blatant censorship of the writings of great men because they mention God or Christianity.
It is a matter of history that the founders were ``men of deep religious faith,'' Thompson said. ``To hide this fact from young fifth grade students is shameful and outrageous. We're not founded by the Boston agnostic club.''
The Alliance Defense Fund includes more than 700 attorneys across the country and focus on legal issues supporting religious freedom, anti-abortion efforts and marriage between a man and woman only.
District officials would not comment on the lawsuit, saying only they received it and referred it to their attorneys.
Speaking from his home Wednesday, a school holiday, Williams said the problems started last year after he responded to a student who asked why the Pledge of Allegiance includes the phrase, ``under God.''
Eventually a parent complained and the principal started requesting his lesson plans and handouts.
``I've never even tried to hint the kids need to believe this or this is the right religion to believe,'' said Williams, who has been teaching eight years. ``I'm just trying to teach history.''
The lawsuit does say Williams is an ``orthodox Christian.''
The state's fifth-grade social studies standards include learning about the religious, economic, social and cultural origins of the United States.
Williams said he thinks society has become hypersensitive to any reference of Christianity in the public arena, especially schools. He said he has taught students about Ramadan and Kwanzaa and applauded for those lessons.
``People are like, `Oh good, that's diversity,' '' he said. ``As soon as Christianity involved, it's separation of church and state.''
ADF attorney Thompson said he hopes the lawsuit will result in a court ruling saying Williams is ``well within First Amendment rights to hand out supplemental materials that are accurate and accurately reflect founding principles of this country.''
Williams said he wants to bring attention to how sensitive society has become to religious references, even when it comes to American history.
He added he has only respect for Vidmar and the staff at Stevens Creek.
``I really feel blessed to be there,'' he added.
Contact Jill Tucker at jtucker@angnewspapers.com