An initial ruling has been issued in a dispute between a California elementary school teacher and his principal over the religious nature of discussions and material used in the classroom by the teacher. The case has provoked a good deal of attention because some of the materials at issue, while religious in their theme, were excerpts from state constitutions or from historical documents from the country's founding era. The teacher, Stephen J. Williams, claims that the school has treated him differently than other teachers because of his Christian beliefs.
The court permitted the teacher to proceed with an equal protection claim regarding his lesson plans and supplemental handouts that contain religious expression. However, the court dismissed William's free speech, due process and establishment clause claims. Among other things, the court held that Williams has no free speech claim so long as the restrictions imposed on him reasonably related to legitimate pedagogical concerns. The Alliance Defense Fund issued a press release announcing the decision. The full opinion of the California Federal District Court in the case, Williams v. Vidmar, is available online.
