This is an update from an article titled, "Christian valedictorian to appeal decision that denied her right to give speech," click here.
In being asked to be part of a graduation ceremony, it was important to Renee Griffith to be true to herself and express herself honestly. She wished to acknowledge her faith and how it motivated her to be the best she could be. Success in her mind comes from terms of her relationship with Christ while her good grades then became secondary. This is what she believes, and according to this is how she commits her life.
While no one can take those beliefs away, her school told her she can't tell anyone about them in her speech. Any religious references to "God" and "Christ" were not legitimate terms, and she was not allowed the right to say what she wanted to say.
The reason they gave was that, based on hearing her personal views, others might think that its the school which endorses and promotes Christianity. They incorrectly used the old disguise of "separation of church and state." Incorrectly, because this was not a state-paid teacher speaking; it was a student who was invited to speak because she had earned the right to do so.
Renee Griffith realized she couldn't be accurate about her high school experience without mentioning the true motivations for her accomplishments, actions, and life purpose. Even though she was offered the choice of changing the words "God" and "Christ" to neutral terms like "faith," that wouldn't have been exact. (Remember, this is a student who got the best of grades largely because of her ability to think in precise terms.)
When she insisted on having her right to free speech respected, she was then banned from participating at all in the program. Renee promptly filed a complaint with the Montana Human Rights Bureau; but the complaint was dismissed. She then filed a complaint in the Thirteenth Judicial District, and that court ruled against her complaint, that the district's decision was all well and good and did not violate the First Amendment.
Judge Gregory Todd went on to say that it was the school district's policy to ban religious references of any kind during graduation speeches, but Todd didn't understand fully what he was talking about--and Griffith knew it. While Tony Koenig, attorney for the school board said religious references weren't appropriate in a public school's graduation ceremony because it could affect a "captive audience," she wasn't using the speech to convert or elicit audience participation in her religious views.
She appealed that decision to the high court which ruled in her favor, 6-1. The court found that the school district violated its own written policies of non-censorship. One of the policies states that "the school administration shall not censor any presentation or require any content" and that students who are selected to speak may choose to deliver "an address, poem, reading, song, musical presentation, prayer, or any other pronouncement of their choosing." The court opined:
"We find it unreasonable for the School District to conclude that Griffith's cursory references to her personal religious beliefs could be viewed by those in attendance at the BHS (Butte School District) graduation ceremony as a religious endorsement by the School District.""We hold that the School District violated Griffith’s right to freedom of speech under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution when it impermissibly censored the content of her valedictory speech based on the viewpoint she expressed."
Bill O'Connor of Billings, Griffith's attorney, said that this is a victory for Griffith and for freedom of expression.
"They (Supreme Court justices) did not hold that religion take over our schools, but you have a right to have a religious opinion and be in school."
"All freedoms hang together. Civil liberties scarcely thrive when religious liberties are disregarded, and the reverse is equally true." -- Roland Herbert Bainton
"Montana Supreme Court rules district wrong to bar Butte student's speech," click here.
"'I realized that if I stay silent, there would be so many students after me who wouldn't be allowed to thank God or anyone else,'" she said......
The justices who ruled in favor of Griffith were Patricia Cotter, Mike McGrath, Michael Wheat, James C. Nelson, Brian Morris and Jim Rice. Justice W. William Leaphart sided with the district court.
'In demanding that there be no sectarian religious references, (the school district) was properly imposing content-based restrictions,' he said."
Article 1 of the Washington State Constitution is labeled Declaration of Rights. It includes 35 sections and has been amended seven times since the current version of the Washington State Constitution was ratified on October 1, 1889. // Freedom of Speech: Every person may freely speak, write, and publish on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right.
Another related case: Video, Brittany McComb giving valedictorian speech. Microphone was turned off.
Comments
Right on! Finally someone got it right. Thanks for sharing this Kara!
The student is not employed by the school, therefore the school had no right to censor her speech. A teacher wouldn't be allowed while on the government's time and dime as it were. But students have the right to express themselves any way they wish.
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