Is this LEGAL?

[ShoesOnTooTight]

I just finished a CNA course at a public technical college.

On our last day of class we had a small graduation ceremony with the students and a few residents of the nursing home where we did clinicals.

Our instructor invited a guest speaker from a religious group she belongs to. The guest speaker preached about her religion and put down everyone who doesn't practice the same religion.

We had to go up one by one to receive a certificate from our teacher and a New Testament book from the guest speaker.

The school is not a private school and has no religious affiliation. This is a state approved program. The program had no religion component, discussions, or learning material. We were never asked if we felt comfortable with this before we were blindsided with it.

THIS ALL TOOK PLACE BEFORE OUR FINAL REVIEW WITH THE TEACHER FOR THE CLASS!

Is this legal?

What would you do?

How would you feel if you felt forced to participate in something like this outside of your own religious beliefs?

[hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN]

The legality of such practices are often debated in court, however, on a moral argument what happen is highly wrong.

The first thing I'd do is write a formal letter to whomever is in charge of the program at the school. They will likely apologize and that will be about the best you can hope for. In the not-so-uncommon event they don't apologize, however, I would simply go up the chain at the school until you feel your concerns have been addressed properly.

The legal route is time and money consuming, and unfortunately likely will not be worth your while unless you have cash to blow taking it to appeals and such in order to actually enact change.

Unfortunately, a good portion of Americans think the above scenario is fine and dandy and would fight to maintain the status quo.

Just look at all the "They took God out of school" arguments and bumper stickers that exist ever since the USSC ruled teachers or other state employees cannot lead children in prayer (but the students could continue to pray on their own).

[Bicster]

Is this legal?

What would you do?

How would you feel if you felt forced to participate in something like this outside of your own religious beliefs?

I would sue.....for millions.......there is no reason anyone should ever be made to listen to something they dont like. The terrorists have truly won.

[hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN]

I would sue.....for millions.......there is no reason anyone should ever be made to listen to something they dont like. The terrorists have truly won.

How was your comment anything but spiteful?

Ask yourself how you'd react if you attended your graduation and had to listen to a speaker claim all non-Muslims are infidels and were handed a copy of the Koran along with your diploma?

Yeah. Exactly.

[Jolie, BSN]

I would sue.....for millions.......there is no reason anyone should ever be made to listen to something they dont like. The terrorists have truly won.

I think this response is a little over the top. I agree that the ceremony as described was not appropriate for a public institution. But there are plenty of ways to redress the situation short of trying to make one a millionaire. Other than annoyance, what was the harm that would justify a multi-million dollar settlement?

The OP states that this took place before the final course evaluation. Good. The participants have their diplomas, now they can make their objections known without fear of reprisal from the instructor.

I would suggest a written complaint in the instructor's evaluation, to be followed up the chain of command. The students are entitled to an apology from their instructor, and reassurance that future classes will not be subjected to a similar ceremony. Nothing more, nothing less.

[Bicster]

Ask yourself how you'd react if you attended your graduation and had to listen to a speaker claim all non-Muslims are infidels and were handed a copy of the Koran along with your diploma?

Yeah. Exactly.

I would not care at all. My athiesm makes me tolerant to all religions. Overall people are too sensitive and look for reasons to raise a stink.

Was what she did inappropriate? Maybe. Was it legal? Sure. Get over it. Contact the ACLU, they'll love this.

Yeah, exactly.

[Bicster]

I would suggest a written complaint in the instructor's evaluation, to be followed up the chain of command. The students are entitled to an apology from their instructor, and reassurance that future classes will not be subjected to a similar ceremony. Nothing more, nothing less.

That is only if the OP is describing the situation accurately. Me thinks there is a little too much emotion involved. It just sounds slighty far fetched that someone speaking at a graduation was bashing everyone not a member of her religion.

[hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN]

I would not care at all. My athiesm makes me tolerant to all religions. Overall people are too sensitive and look for reasons to raise a stink.

Was what she did inappropriate? Maybe. Was it legal? Sure. Get over it. Contact the ACLU, they'll love this.

Yeah, exactly.

Atheism has nothing to do with tolerance for coerced proselytization.

What she did was quite likely not legal. "Get over it" isn't a valid or rational response.

What if it were about race and not religion? A white supremacist giving a lecture about how all non-whites are inferior and handing out copies of "Mein Kampf" with your diploma? Does your atheism make you tolerant to that? Mine doesn't. Is this situation legal? I'm going to guess no.

[racing-mom4, BSN, RN]

I am curious to know exactly how the guest speaker put anyone down? My thought is what ever..you did your class, your done, you had your ceremony now get on with it...legal or not, no harm was done, no one is permanently injured or scared they are now going to burn in the ever after...was it the best guest speaker your teacher could have had? no, but so what...Someday you will have patients that will question your religion and try and convert you to theirs, you may also be asked to pray with a patient who is not of your religion, you will encounter all sorts of religions working in the nursing world. You will learn that you must be tolerant of all sorts of religions. I hope this speaker didnt ruin your day, you worked hard, you completed now go start working!!! Congrats on an exciting future!

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

I would certainly report it. Incredibly inappropriate, and offensive to non-Christians and probably even some of those, as well.

[Jaguar Boy]

I don't know about legal or not, but if that happened at my graduation, I would be quite upset and disappointed. I think a graduation ceremony is supposed to be a celebration of achievement and a day to recognize a student's hard work. As well, it marks a significant change in a person's life, where they move from one phase of life to another.

I hope that, at my graduation from nursing school, I will hear a speaker who addresses my hard work and achievement and sends me onto the next phase of my life with good wishes and perhaps, inspiration.

I'm sorry that your graduation speaker did not do these things for you.

[TNMommy]

Wow! This makes my heart sad. I am praying for each and everyone of you that you will find guidance and understanding. What does it matter if they did not have the same preferance of faith. One of the responsibilites as a Christian is to witness to others and bring them to Christ. Maybe the speaker went about it wrong, and maybe the school should have brought it to the attention of the students that the speaker was a Christian before the ceremony took place. But all in all, what does it really matter. What makes you more mad, having your toes stepped on or hearing about a God that forgives.

By the way, doesn't anyone else remember receiving a Gideon Bible on the school campus? I do! They hand them out every year.