[ACLU-NM] ACLU Urges Caution in Teaching about Jesus

[Kimberly Lavender]

~ ACLU-NM NEWS RELEASE ~





For Immediate Release                               Contact:       Peter
Simonson

December 9th, 2004
ACLU-NM Exec. Director

                                                                            
                    266-4622, cel. 620-0775



ACLU Urges Caution in Teaching about Jesus


New Mexico State Senator Joe Carraro recently sent a memo to New Mexico
school districts encouraging them to teach about Jesus Christ in the public
schools.  In so doing, the Senator overstepped his legislative authority and
set public schools on a course that could alienate many students and their
families, and that could result in civil litigation based on protections in
the federal and New Mexico constitutions.  That the Senator emphasizes Jesus
’ historical importance, rather than his religious significance, does not
obscure the fact that the Senator, as a representative of the government,
has asked schools to use their state authority to impress upon students that
Christianity deserves extraordinary attention in our society and culture.  A
religious intent clearly underwrites the Senator’s action, making it
unconstitutional as government establishment of religion, in violation of
the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States and of the
corresponding provision of New Mexico's Constitution.



It is important to note that Senate Memorial 83, the basis for Carraro’s
missive, does not have the binding authority of law and may be
unconstitutional.



In drafting the U.S. Constitution, our forefathers aimed to establish a
country in which the beliefs of the minority were protected from suppression
by the ideals of the majority.  They saw this as the cornerstone of
democracy and as an essential condition of freedom.



Although many, perhaps most, New Mexico students probably adhere to some
form of Christian teaching, some do not.  Some have grown up in homes where
Judaism is the central tradition and Hannukah, not Christmas, is the focus
of celebration at this time of year.  Other students may just have completed
Ramadan.  Still others may live in homes where religion and spiritualism are
questioned.  None of these families would want to see their traditions
challenged or diminished by the religious preferences of legislators or
teachers.



If teachers choose to indulge the request of Senator Carraro and teach about
Jesus Christ, the ACLU of New Mexico urges the following in order to avoid
problems:



  a.. Give equal teaching time to key figures in other religious traditions,
as well as to key proponents of atheism and agnosticism and their influence
in the development of U.S. society;


  a.. Provide a balanced, critical analysis of Jesus and Christianity,
examining facts and myths, as well as both positive and negative impacts.
Recall that this country was founded by people fleeing Christian religious
persecution in England.


  a.. Avoid any tendency to celebrate Jesus or Christianity and keep to a
purely objective, fact-based discussion of their influence in the world.


Finally, the ACLU strongly urges teachers to take this opportunity to
discuss with students why our forefathers insisted that government should
“make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof.”



###





Kimberly Lavender
Public Education Coordinator, ACLU-NM
PO Box 80915
Albuquerque, NM 87198
www.aclu-nm.org



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