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?
In your quotation of my post, I think you accidentally skipped the sentence following the one above where I stated that it isn't applicable where there is implicit (or of course explicit) endorsement and backing of the government.
Here's an analogy. You're a school principal and you invite Fred Phelps to come speak to your kindergarten class. He does not have the freedom of speech to say his quite clearly insane thoughts regarding his particular brand of religion.
He and the school would be considered liable in such a situation and he would not be able to claim freedom of speech as he is not acting as a private citizen.
There is basis for a lawsuit following several metric tons of precedent in this very area. It would accomplish little in the grand scheme of things- a drop of reason in a pool of confusion, if you will, but that doesn't make what she did any more legal.
It's kind of funny. I'm glad the Dean supported me, however is it wrong of me to expect more? I mean I'll accept this email as an apology and move on, but I kind of feel they could have sent a written apology to all of the students involved? I'm guessing I am the only person who complained, but I think the other students have the right to know that this is unacceptable at our school too? Maybe if more people were aware this type of ceremony is not to be done at a public school, then it wouldn't have happened in the first place. I don't mean to put down my instructor, but as far as I can tell she is a small town lady and it probably never crossed her mind that one or more of the students in her class might be offended. Now the other students may go on in their nursing assistant or nursing careers thinking this is acceptable.
then share the email apology with your class, since it is being shared with the nursing faculty (as in the dean's letter). Your "instructor" being a small town lady is still an instructor, who is aware of religious sensitivity and diversity. Don't assume she's a simpleton.
MassED, BSN, RN
2,636 Posts
you guys are wearing me out!