Move over France: Oregon wants to ban teachers from wearing hijabs in public schools

July 16, 3:42 PMBaltimore Muslim ExaminerJ. Samia Mair

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Oregon Senate Bill 786, which effectively bans Muslim women who wear a headscarf from teaching in public schools, may soon be law in Oregon, needing only Governor Ted Kulongoski’s signature.

The operable language states:

No teacher in any public school shall wear any religious dress while engaged in the performance of duties as a teacher. A school district, education service district or public charter school does not commit an unlawful employment practice under ORS chapter 659A by reason of prohibiting a teacher from wearing religious dress while engaged in the performance of duties as a teacher.

Ironically, the proposed legislation is entitled the Oregon Workplace Religious Freedom Act.

An employer will violate the proposed law if:

(1) The employer does not allow an employee to use vacation leave, or other leave available to the employee, for the purpose of allowing the employee to engage in the religious observance or practices of the employee; and

(2) The employer imposes an occupational requirement that restricts the ability of an employee to wear religious clothing, to take time off for a holy day or to take time off to participate in a religious observance or practice. (emphasis supplied)

So it appears that theoretically all Oregon employees, with the notable exclusion of public school teachers, will be guaranteed the right to wear a headscarf. I’m trying to figure out how this exclusion makes any sense.

Will a student seeing her Spanish teacher wearing a headscarf suddenly feel the urge to convert? I highly doubt it. I know a hijab-wearing Muslim Spanish teacher. She never mentioned that any of her students converted.

Will a student realize that her Spanish teacher is Muslim? Maybe, but so what? Religious affiliation is not a contagious disease that needs to be masked.

Everyone’s choice of dress sends a message—isn’t that point? The whole fashion industry would crumble if that were not so. Just a hairstyle sends a message. Perhaps the bill should require all public school teachers in Oregon to wear uniforms and the same wig. Or maybe it is just the religious message that offends bill sponsors.

If I were so inclined, I might look up the legislative history or google to determine the alleged reasons behind the public school exclusion—but I’m not. Nothing could justify this absurd bill that prevents Muslims, Jews, Sikhs, and others from adhering to the mandatory requirements of their religion if they want to teach in a public school.

While the Sikh community has been actively protesting this proposed legislation, other religious communities enthusiastically support it. CAIR also condemns SB 786 and in Action Alert #582, asks people to express their concern to Governor Kulongoski and other state officials.

See update to this article: Oregon already bans religious attire in public schools: SB 786 Update

See earlier article on France's attempt to ban burqas: France may ban topless beaches--just kidding.