Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 10, 1990 TAG: 9007100049
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MARGARET CAMLIN NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
The act says that public schools cannot discriminate against clubs on the basis of their religious, philosophical or political content if other extracurricular groups are allowed to meet on school property.
Until last spring, the FCA, along with the Junior Civitans, Chess Tournament Club and other groups met monthly at the high school on "Club Day."
"It was really a good thing," recalled Betty Holcomb, a physical education teacher who sponsored the FCA for about six years.
"Even the kids that weren't Christians would come - they want to hear good things. They were encouraged by the word of God."
Last spring, retired Superintendent Kenneth Dobson told Assistant Principal Odell Sheffey and Principal Dewey Wilson that he believed the school was "going against equal access law," Sheffey said.
The Equal Access Act prohibits sponsorship of student religious groups by a school or its employees.
Dobson said Friday he does not recall the conversation with Sheffey. "I don't recall saying that, Mr. Wilson handled that," he said. "I can't recall it even coming up."
Wilson said he gave Sheffey the responsibility to seek legal advice about the FCA from County Attorney Thomas McCarthy.
Wilson said the decision to ban the FCA was made sometime last spring.
Sheffey said McCarthy told him that the religious clubs needed to be disbanded. McCarthy said Friday that he answered Sheffey's specific questions "but I don't believe I ever advised banning the club."
According to Sheffey, Dobson's successor, James Burns, "found a loophole in the law" and last fall allowed the club to meet early in the morning before school - so long as it did not have a teacher sponsor.
But the club soon fizzled out. It met too early for many students who came to school by bus, Sheffey said.
Also, the loss of Holcomb as its sponsor didn't help matters, Sheffey said. "Your clubs are only as good as your sponsors."
At one time, the FCA had about 150 members, Holcomb said.
In June the Supreme Court reiterated that neither public schools nor their employees may sponsor or initiate religious clubs.
The law also says that "non-school persons may not direct, conduct, control, or regularly attend activities of student groups."
The clubs must be initiated and led by students, but they may now meet during school hours if other extracurricular clubs are given that opportunity, McCarthy said Friday.
Legally, teachers may "monitor" the club for custodial purposes, but they may not actively participate, Interim Superintendent Phyllis Bishop said Friday.
Sheffey is concerned about the implications of the Supreme Court's ruling. If the FCA returns, it could "open the door to almost anything - God forbid, Satan worshipers," he said.
Indeed, it will be difficult to draw the line because the law clearly forbids discrimination. If students want to form a Klu Klux Klan, Communist, gay rights, or even a Satan worship club, school officials would be in a quandary.
"I'm just hoping nobody like that will apply," Sheffey said.
School officials continue to have the authority to ban groups they believe interfere with the orderly conduct of school or the well-being of students and faculty.
Sheffey said he believes students will come forward this fall and re-establish the FCA. "If it's on a regular club day, we've got some good young leaders, and I think the club would take off again."
Don Hilkemeier, vice president of public relations for the national Fellowship of Christian Athletes, said many high schools across the nation had prohibited the FCA because the Equal Access Act had not been tested constitutionally.
"We're delighted with that ruling," Hilkemeier said of the Supreme Court's decision. "This ruling brings out once and for all the legality of the Equal Access Act" and it "publicly sends a message to school districts around the country."
by CNB