If a Cupertino teacher has been inappropriately bringing up Christianity in his classroom, the JCRC wants to see it nixed.
Following a complaint filed by teacher Steven Williams claiming he was unfairly censored because of his Christian beliefs, the Cupertino Union School District was deluged with more than 3,000 angry complaints. Many of the letters and phone calls, however, were spurred by erroneous news reports that the district had “banned” the Declaration of Independence.”
In recent days, though, calls of support have trickled in. One call was from Jackie Berman, education specialist for the S.F.-based Jewish Community Relations Council.
“We’ll be supportive of the district if the facts turn out as they seem to be. We will support the district’s position that the classroom should not be used to gratuitously bring in religious material not appropriate for the multicultural society we live in.”
Added Bob Kane, the chair of the JCRC’s education committee: “It’s always a concern when somebody is trying to push the envelope to make a point. … This guy has an agenda, and he’s pushing it.”
Parents’ complaints led principal Patricia Vidmar to monitor and, at times, ax the lesson plans of Williams, a fifth-grade teacher at the Stevens Creek Elementary School.
Vidmar’s move led Williams, a self-professed “orthodox Christian” to file a complaint against the Cupertino Union School District last month in San Jose District Court, claiming his rights under the First and 14th Amendments had been violated.
However, Mike Zimmer, who is not Jewish, spoke with students in his daughter’s class last year and claimed Williams might spend as much as 20 minutes a day in class discussing his religious experiences — such as recounting a Bible study session or expounding on “why Jesus was such a great man.”
While parents and the district claim materials such as statements by presidents on religion juxtaposed with a quote from Jesus cross the line into classroom proselytizing, Williams and his lawyers claim he has been singled out by the district because of his Christian beliefs.