10/14/11: Federal Court Bans Patriotic Banners from Classroom

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:00 — 1.4MB)

A federal appeals court has ruled that a California School District can ban patriotic banners from the classroom. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals says teachers are public employees, and school districts can control their messages.

For more than 25 years Bradley Johnson placed red, white, and blue banners around his classroom with common patriotic themes, including “God Bless America,” “In God We Trust,” and “One Nation Under God.” A fellow teacher complained, and school officials maintained that the banners were “too Christian” and might offend a Muslim student.

Other classrooms at the school featured Tibetan prayer flag banners, images of Buddha and Buddhist leader Dalai Lama, posters of Hindu Leader Mahatma Gandhi, and posters of Muslim leader Malcolm X.