ACLU will support Kearny Student

by: Jason Springer

Mon Feb 19, 2007 at 04:23:42 PM EST

We have had alot of coverage here on Blue Jersey about the situation with the Kearny High School Student who's teacher told him he belonged in hell if he didn't believe in Jesus. It seems the ACLU now has his back...

The American Civil Liberties union is backing a Kearny High School student who objected when a teacher made religious statements in the classroom, including allegedly telling students that those who do not believe Jesus died for their sins belong in hell.

The ACLU says rather than take action against the teacher for making the statements, they punished the student for taping his classes. The student for his part is not taking this lying down either...

"I believe it is important to stand up for our constitutional rights and to make sure that these violations of the First Amendment, which apparently have been going on for years, are stopped once and for all," junior Matthew LaClair said at a news conference Monday in Newark.

Good for them for fighting back.

Jason Springer :: ACLU will support Kearny Student

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ACLU will support Kearny Student | 12 comments

Thank God and The ACLU... (4.00 / 1)

What happened to this child is an unholy abomination, a betrayal of the United Sates Constitution and a form of child abuse.

The fact that the school board obviously doesn't have the common sense and common decency to fire this religious fanatic who thinks it's his job to indoctrinate kids in a public school is more than sufficient grounds for a litigation.

Feel free to reread my last post on this topic http://www.bluejerse...

Here's a bit of it...

David Paszkiewicz, I've got news for you. People who think they can dictate to others absolute "spiritual" "truths" are petty tyrants who are at best deluded ego trippers who unwittingly do the devils work and at worst willing agents of Satan.
If you David Paszkiewicz, are the former...I pray you have a sliver of Conscience remaining in your being and you enter the fray of public discourse to defend your actions...which, you should be (from your "perspective") proud of.
On the other hand, David Paszkiewicz, if you are the latter...then you have no choice but to remain silent, hidden in the dark place where you have condemned yorself to "exist".
That darkness, as you David Paszkiewicz, well know can not stand the Light of Day.

From news reports I gather that the victim in this case has suffered harassment from some of his schoolmates. It may be that the perpetrator has some considerable support in the community.

"Religious" fundamentalist fanatics are not known for their lack of perspicacity; look at the "success" they achieved in Afghanistan.

It's a dirty rotten lousy shame that the officials who should have KNOWN BETTER (I suspect they did but they were just too chicken to have done the right things) have let this kid down...now some justice just may be done.

May the Light of justice and secular democracy shine in a federal court; as it has certainly been covered up by the town of Keaney to this point. If there's any fairness in the world this Paskiewicz will lose his job, the policy (disallowing kids from gathering proof of wrong doing) will be changed and this youngster will win an award that will more than pay for all his college expenses!!!

by: Nick Lento @ Mon Feb 19, 2007 at 16:00:57 PM CST

by: you @ soon

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Expect, any moment now... (0.00 / 0)

That the ACLJ will make an announcement regarding their entry into this thing on the side of the teacher. In fact, do not be surprised if they have been counseling and quietly representing this teacher for a while. This has all the markings of a situation planned and enacted to create a court case. SOP in the ACLJ playbook.
Now that the ACLU has joined the fray, expect much to start crawling out of the shadows.

The nom de plume has a long and distinguished history.

by: Tandalayo Scheisskopf @ Mon Feb 19, 2007 at 16:40:12 PM CST

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Ahem.... (0.00 / 0)

http://www.nj.com/ne...

ACLU supports student in flap over preaching teacher
2/19/2007, 3:26 p.m. ET
By WAYNE PARRY
The Associated Press
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - The American Civil Liberties union is backing a Kearny High School student who objected when a teacher made religious statements in the classroom, including allegedly telling students that those who do not believe Jesus died for their sins belong in hell.

by: Nick Lento @ Mon Feb 19, 2007 at 17:05:11 PM CST

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Qurious (0.00 / 0)

What's with the ACLJ?

by: SmartyJones @ Mon Feb 19, 2007 at 17:09:40 PM CST

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Aha.....Tandalayo Has Not Lost His Marbles!!! (0.00 / 0)

http://www.pfaw.org/...
LOL

by: Nick Lento @ Mon Feb 19, 2007 at 17:12:38 PM CST

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My Bad (0.00 / 0)

Was thinking of NJ's state version of ACLU. Knew some folks who had worked there in the past, and they were quite good. Not up to date on them.
Oh and Tandalayo, I only know you through your feisty posts, but I was really hoping you were a girl.
But, I know that it doesn't really matter. You are certainly you.

by: SmartyJones @ Mon Feb 19, 2007 at 19:14:37 PM CST

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A long time coming (0.00 / 0)

The backstory is that Matt La Clair had been listening to this teacher's rantings for a long time. He asked the teacher to stop. Denied. He went to the principal who told him that he was mistaken--surely the teacher wouldn't say those ignorant things. After a while of not being believed, Matt taped the teacher and brought the proof to the principal. And, instead of holding the teacher accountable, the principal blamed Matt. And refused to do anything. Now Matt is being harrassed at school.
He's a brave kid, trying to do the right thing. To insinuate that he set up the teacher, or that this was an ACLU plan, is insulting to this kid and the crap he's had to endure for his courage.

by: the pollster @ Tue Feb 20, 2007 at 20:14:21 PM CST

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ACLU will support Kearny Student | 12 comments