Teacher Violates Religious Freedom of a Student Witch

The shop teacher at Guthrie Center High School in Iowa believes he was wrongly suspended from his job last month. The superintendent of the tiny school district disciplined Dale Halferty, the school’s shop teacher for the last three years, for refusing to allow one of his students to build a Wiccan altar as a class project.

Halferty was sent home for two days while school officials consulted with a lawyer. Guthrie Center High School has a policy prohibiting discrimination against students who express their religious beliefs as part of school assignments. The state of Iowa, and federal law, also prohibits such discrimination.

But Halferty believes his own Christian belief system will be violated if he is forced to allow the unnamed student to construct an altar for a religion Halferty believes is “wrong and bad for youth.”

“Personally, I think it is offensive to worship rocks and trees,” he told The Des Moines Register. “I am just trying to be moral. I don’t know how we can profess to be Christians and let this go on.”

The incident leading to Halferty’s suspension for insubordination began in his Industrial Arts class. One of his students told him the table he was building was going to be a Wiccan altar and that he (the student) was a practicing witch.

Halferty informed the student he could continue to work on the table as long as he didn’t bring any religious materials to class. The student, according to Halferty, kept bringing a book on Wicca to class, so Halferty informed the student he would no longer be allowed to continue with the project.

Though Halferty feels his own religious beliefs are being violated, Principal Garold Thomas likens Halferty’s refusal to that of a biology teacher who won’t teach evolution. Teachers are given specific assignments to teach and if they refuse, they are technically insubordinate.

Halferty will be allowed to return to his classroom, but if he continues to disallow the student the opportunity to work on his chosen project – which Halferty had initially agreed to – he will be deemed insubordinate again, and other disciplinary steps will be taken. These measures include possible termination.

During Halferty’s suspension, at least 70 Guthrie Center High students signed a petition stating they did not want witchcraft practiced in their school, but as Wicca is a religion based on reverence for the Earth, perhaps a bit of instruction about just what exactly Wicca represents would be beneficial.

The Founding Fathers made it a point to allow an individual the right to worship as one pleased. But today, those who do not “conform” to the supposed Christian roots of our country, are still subject to harassment.

Public schools face the difficult task of balancing the faith systems of its students and employees. In matters such as this though, shouldn’t the teacher, as an adult, be the one required to bend? Our jobs are based upon our adherence to the rules/terms of employment. Every teacher knows teaching religion – yea or nay – in the public school setting is not allowed. They also know it is against the law to force a child to participate in an activity contrary to the child’s belief system, or to penalize a child who voluntarily inserts their religion into an individual assignment. It’s not a secret and shouldn’t have come as a surprise to Mr. Halferty.

Whatever one’s opinion of Wicca might be, there are rules regarding religious discrimination. Although without knowing what Wicca really is, can one even have much of an opinion?

Was Mr. Halferty correct in banning the student project based on his own religious beliefs? Is that permissible for a public school employee? Don’t students have rights, too?

Wiccan altar by Kam's World
Ann Bibby

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Serena M.

10:03AM PDT on May 9, 2012

I had pointed out it was social darwinism already, thanks all the same and may I advise you to consider the 'tin foil hat' as a moniker for 'absolute idiot' by those using such yesterday yappy retorts ala twilight zone. What have YOU to offer by way of knowledge or understanding? All you've done is useless inane criticism without foundation.Fruit Fly, Frog, Pig, Dog.... SAME difference. Evolution is a scam.

But then you are a char. As they say 'before enlighten, washing dishes. after enlightenment, washing dishes'.

send a green star

char l.

9:37AM PDT on May 9, 2012

Serena, I think you need to loosen your tinfoil helmet a bit...

And you also need to learn the difference between a "scientific theory" and a "theory" as used by non-scientists.

As to "'evolution' as in Darwinian socialisation based on nothing more than sick ideologies to serve the eugenicist programs of the elite class." You are actually talking more about "social Darwinism", which was propounded by Herbert Spencer, and had little to do with Charles Darwin.

Oh, and the genetic experiments you mention weren't tsetse flies as far as I know. They were on the common fruit fly, as it responds well to selective breeding.

You seem to hold all religions AND atheism in complete contempt as "Satanic", so I'm curious as to what you might deem acceptable spiritual practice, other than your obvious bias towards immature humans. And I'm quite sure that neither Winston Churchill nor Abe Lincoln ate them.

9:19AM PDT on May 9, 2012

On the comment about pederasty (correct term for chld hatred/rape) usually through sodomy being the sole preserve of Catholic Priests: All these rituals are purely pagan and date way back throughout all streams of male only cults using women as 'anchors' and objects in the ceremonial spheres. Winston Churchill was an Arch Druid (baby killing bastard) and several children's bones were found where Abe Lincoln stayed in London. The FF's were all Masons etc, etc. All religions are based on paganism. It does not make them any better or worse than they are as control mechanism. All militia and elites are pederasts by tradition.

9:18AM PDT on May 9, 2012

8:59AM PDT on May 9, 2012

Remember the international furore' over nothing when that sad pathetic little back water preacher with 50 followers threatened to burn the Koran? Like who cares other than the Jewish Press?

8:57AM PDT on May 9, 2012

Quite right: a biology teacher of any merit would NOT teach 'evolution' as in Darwinian socialisation based on nothing more than sick ideologies to serve the eugenicist programs of the elite class.

If evolution were a viable theory (and we must remember it is only a theory still) then the useless and horrible millions of experiments with tetsi flies and other other species (including very much our own) would have produced EVIDENCE. The only evidence we see are frankenstein monsters due to genetic tampering and nothing to do with nature at all.

A fly will never be anything other than a fly as it was from the start, complete and perfect within itself and species. A man or wombman likewise. Until the 'expert' nazi scientists come needle and equipment in tow.

As for allowing a student to built a Wiccan shrine, it is of no more incident than that of the nativity scenes endlessly presented as factual history throughout pre-Socialised Europe. Perhaps all these state religions (and they are) are Satanic in any case, as Satanism is now OK in the homosexual military.

If the majority of students are Christian, however, than this 'test case' to incite political furore from the christian right vs atheistic left should never have become an issue. And incidently, Wicca is not just about rocks, water, nature. It is the worship of elementals, spirits, demons. Same as Christianity, Islam and Judaism. False idols.

The UN New World Religion is to be Luciferian. After the collaps

Natacha L.

12:55AM PDT on May 9, 2012

it's a total lack of freedom to keep the student from doing an altar just because it's not for christian use.

We *wiccans* may worship nature but at least our priest/esses arent hidden pedophiles hurting people

Debrahanna E.

12:50PM PST on Dec 3, 2011

Nothing like an uneducated Teacher acting out of pure ignorance!!
Blessings..
Cheyannah (DebrahAnna)-Admin of
Cheyannah~Selene's Witches
http://www.facebook.com/CheyannahSelene

Scott H.

2:13PM PDT on Jun 8, 2011

@ Heather D. - The difference between a Christian speaking out against someone else's life, whether it be religion or sexuality, and that person expressing themselves is vast. If a Christian wants to express themselves they are welcome to; as this story show, they can put their faith in their assignments just as mus as this Wiccan can. The issue comes, however, when a Christian thinks they can speak out agains another and condemn them. That is no longer expression of belief, that's harassment.

Heather D.

6:43PM PDT on Mar 15, 2011

If I were in this teacher's position, I'm honestly not sure what I would do. As a Christian, I'm sure it would make me uncomfortable to have a student bringing in Wiccan supplies because I believe that those beliefs go against what the Bible teaches. I don't say that to offend anyone here who might believe differently; I am simply stating what I believe and how what I believe may affect this situation if I were the teacher. As a Christian, I also believe that we should treat others respectfully, which can be a tricky thing in a sensitive situation like this. "Respect" can mean different things to different people. Unfortunately, when a Christian takes a stand (respectfully or not) against something that others may find acceptable or believe in (i.e. homosexuality, pagan practices and beliefs), those who are doing or believing those things tend to immediately cry that the Christian is being "unfair" or "intolerant" or "disrespectful" because they are offended by being told that what they are believing or doing is wrong...and yet, those same people who claim to want fairness, tolerance, and respect often do not show these same qualities to Christians for their beliefs. I'm pretty sure that this is not very fair or tolerant at all, and it does create a lot of problems for people. I think that we should try to be kind and respectful to others, but there does come a time when the truth has to be spoken.