|
|
May 4, 2001/Iyar 11, 5761, Vol. 53, No.31
Deer Valley allows Bible clubs
BARRY COHEN
Editor
The Committee on Religion in the Deer Valley Unified School District is taking steps to allow Bible clubs on campus, making a reality legislation passed by the Arizona state legislature and signed into law by Gov. Jane Hull on April 27.
The Arizona State Senate voted by an 16-11 margin April 23 to make it unlawful for a public school teaching seventh- and eighth-graders to deny equal access to pupils requesting to hold a meeting of a religious, political or philosophical nature on school grounds. On April 17 the House of Representatives passed legislation of identical wording by a vote of 42-12.
"It was a question of fairness," said Francie Noyes, press secretary for Hull. "Once (schools) say some groups can form and meet on campus, then it is only fair to allow all clubs."
"There was extensive internal debate in the governor's office," said George Weisz, executive assistant to Gov. Jane Hull. "It was not just looked at quickly and signed."
At the April 25 Deer Valley committee meeting, a distinction was made between curricular clubs and non-curricular clubs, said Michelle Steinberg, member of the religion committee. She also is a member of the Joint Task Force of Religion in the Public Schools, Northwest Valley, affiliated with the American Jewish Committee and is executive director of Kids Voting Arizona.
According to draft guidelines from the Deer Valley religion committee, a club is curricular if "part of the organization's activities enhance, extend or reinforce the specific subject matter of a class in some meaningful way."
An example would be Students Against Drinking and Driving because the group contributes to the school district's message of heath and prevention, said Timothy Tait, public information officer of the Deer Valley district.
Clubs unrelated to class subject matter are non-curricular, placing religious clubs in the same category as game-playing clubs, he added.
The goal is to treat all non-curricular clubs - regardless of theme - the same, in order to create uniformity throughout the Deer Valley district, said Steinberg.
All non-curricular clubs will be charged a $5-per-hour facility usage fee and are required to show proof of liability insurance, said Tait. The fees are not meant to be a barrier, he added. "We are encouraging businesses and local community organizations to support the groups."
Another distinction between curricular clubs and non-curricular clubs concerns publicity. Non-curricular clubs will be limited in how they publicize their meetings, said Tait, including not being allowed to make announcements over school public address systems and distributing or posting flyers only at a "qualified spot, table or bulletin board," he added.
According to the religion committee's draft statement, a disclaimer posted on the bulletin board will state: "The activities and clubs posted on this board are not sponsored by the District or the School and participation by students is entirely unrelated to any school program."
Steinberg doubts the statement will effectively distance schools from the clubs meeting on their campuses. "My biggest concern is the perception that public schools are sanctioning, supporting, encouraging a particular religious belief," she said.
Younger students are "malleable and impressionable" and may be pressured by their peers to attend Bible club meetings, said Rabbi Robert Kravitz, executive director of the American Jewish Committee area office. He said he expects some fifth- and sixth-graders would want to attend, thinking they are school-sponsored activities.
Tait said the issue of younger pupils attempting to attend seventh- and eighth-grade meetings is "a paramount concern." There are three seventh- and eighth-grade schools in the Deer Valley district; four schools are kindergarten-through-eighth-grade.
Another issue is the decision to group all non-curricular clubs, whether political, philosophical or religious, in the same category. Eleanor Eisenberg, executive director of the Arizona Civil Liberties Union, who also attended the religion committee meeting, questioned whether the school district would allow groups such as communists, gays and lesbians, Wiccans (witches) and atheists to meet.
"This is not just a Jewish issue," said Eisenberg.
Schools will make rational decisions and help the kids do what is right, said Noyes. "People will try to make the 'camel-under-the-tent' argument or the 'slippery-slope' argument" about what groups may get formed," she said. People who quarrel with how the law is enacted can make their case to the legislature, she added.
The 12-member committee on religion, appointed by district Superintendent Bill Hill, is comprised of educators, parents, students, local religious leaders and other community leaders, including Sen. Scott Bundgaard (R - Glendale), said Tait. Dr. Mike Kriddle, former Deer Valley Unified School District board member, oversees the committee, which reports to the superintendent, Tait added.
"Segments from the non-Jewish community should feel threatened (by the legislation)," said Bill Straus, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League. Many members of the religious right would not want schools opening their children's eyes to too many beliefs, but as long as the clubs meet the criteria of being non-curricular, schools do not have control over their content or teachings, he added.
According to the committee draft, non-curricular clubs are required to be student-initiated and student-led; school employees and agents can be present only in a non-participatory manner.
At issue is whether lawsuits will be filed to challenge the law. Both Straus and Eisenberg said their groups have not decided about legal action.
|
