Teacher's Claim On Use of Historical/ Religious Materials In Class Settled

The San Jose Mercury News reports today on the settlement of a much-publicized lawsuit by fifth-grade teacher Stephen J. Williams against Cupertino Union School District officials. Willams claimed that his First Amendment rights were infringed when the school principal and other officials limited his classroom use of historical documents with religious references in them. (See prior posting.) The settlement agreement, filed in federal court in San Jose on Thursday, restates the district's existing policy that "allows teachers, no matter what their religious beliefs, to use appropriate educational material, (including supplemental handouts of historical significance) during instructional time that has religious content -- so long as it is objective, age appropriate, and in compliance with curriculum." A website set up by Stevens Creek parents gives more information on the controversy.