Teacher Must Remove ‘In God We Trust’ Banners From Classroom After SCOTUS Denies Case
- Posted on March 29, 2012 at 8:46am by
Billy Hallowell
- Print »
- Email »
With President Barack Obama’s health care legislation dominating judicial chatter, an important free speech case went relatively unnoticed earlier this week.
Last year, California school teacher Bradley Johnson vowed to take his battle over patriotic and religious banners to the U.S. Supreme Court. Unfortunately for Johnson, the nation’s most power justices declined to hear his case (Johnson vs. Poway Unified School District), solidifying a lower court ruling against the presence of the banners he had placed in his classrooms for decades.
Back in September, we told you about Johnson, who has served as a mathematics teacher in California’s Poway Unified School District for decades. For much of that time he has prominently displayed patriotic and faith-themed posters — a move that has drawn intense criticism and eventual removal mandates from school officials.
The banners, which touted messages like “In God We Trust,“ ”God Bless America,“ and ”God Shed His Grace on Thee,” were ordered taken down by a school principal back in 2007 when Johnson transferred to a new high school. But for years, the AP calculus teacher says that nobody saw any problem with her posters.
“Nobody thought there was anything wrong with them. Administrators, superintendents, school board people who had been in my room,” he explained.
After the banners were taken down, Johnson filed a lawsuit. Initially, he was successful, but in 2011, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected his claim that the posters were appropriate in his public school classrooms. In addition to requiring that the banners be taken down, the court also said that Johnson would have to cover the school board’s legal expenses.
The San Francisco Chronicle sums up the debate between Johnson and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in the following terms:
Johnson said he had hung the same banners since 1982 and described their messages as patriotic. He accused the district of discriminating against Christians by allowing another teacher to display a poster with the lyrics to John Lennon’s song “Imagine,” which includes a line about imagining no religion.
But the appeals court found that the “Imagine” poster had no religious purpose, and said a teacher has no right to “use his public position as a pulpit.”
The Supreme Court declined to hear the case without comment.
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 587 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 414 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 412 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 375 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 372 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 412 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 414 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 372 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 151 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 303 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 412 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (97)
MR_ANDERSON
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 11:05amAnd this comes from one of the more conservative parts of California…
I would have kept my posters to “in God we trust” as that can easily be defended.
Report Post »(Aronow v. United States)
madasblazes
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 4:51pmTeacher Johnson,
Report Post »Repeat these words out loud,
“ I will not comply”.
Peachy Keen
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 4:57pmThanks to our liberal American haters this is what our country has come to. When we cannot show our pride in our great nation it is time to change things. When a tiny minority has more say than the majority the so-called judges need to be removed and judges of integrity, great ethics and very high values and standards need to be elected. These sicko’s need to move to other coutries where they can spill more of their hatred. God Bless America and those who love her!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »AndYetItMoves
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 1:47pmI love America. I also despise, distrust, and disdain christianity with every fiber of my being. See how that works? You can love one and hate the other, just as many christian blazers love baby jesus and hate the country that provides them with the platform to do so. Considering our American revolution was also a revolution of the enlightenment, maybe all of you should get with the program.
Report Post »LoneStarGigger
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 10:25amIt is true, I received a one dollar coin for change and it did not ha “In God We Trust” on it.
I kept it as proof for anyone who doubted that they took it off. They did.
Furthermore, if you depend on Snopes for the truth, you will be sadly disappointed. Since George Soros bought Snopes out, you only get Soros’ version of the truth. I will never use Snopes for anything again. Didn’t you think it weird that whenever something was asked about Obama it always came back as an untruth? Never a fact. That should have tipped you off. All Conservatives should avoid that site.
Report Post »There are other sites for facts like: Politifacts, for one.
Locked
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 10:37amPsssst. Look on the edges. Post some pictures here. We’ll wait :-)
Report Post »Locked
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 10:38amAlso, as you referenced Politifact:
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2010/feb/11/chain-email/e-mail-claims-god-we-trust-removed-dollar-coins/
We‘re constantly reminded that falsehoods continue to ricochet around the Web long after they’ve been discredited. The latest example comes from a chain e-mail claiming
Report Post »that newly released dollar coins do not contain the words “In God We Trust”.
The Third Archon
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 2:35amAlso, the phrase “In God We Trust” wasn’t ADDED to our currency until 1956 (well, paper currency, and wasn’t adopted as the new official motto until then–it had appeared on coins before that), so it was hardly ever sacred.
It SHOULD be removed from our money, so if there is story circulating around that is HAS been, all I can say, is GOOD.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 10:24amThank GOD! Still does NOT change the fact that this administration is trying to take GOD out of everything. If you are a MUSLIM or a Black Panther, you can stand on any corner you want and preach HATE. BUT you can NOT read your Bible in front of a CLOSED DMV because “someone” might HEAR you? WHAT?? Write about THIS, if you are as concerned as I am! http://video.foxnews.com/v/1536482417001/pastor-arrested-reading-bible-in-front-of-dmv/?playlist_id=86856
Report Post »SoNick
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 1:40pmenough with the false equivalences already! The Black Panthers (all 12 of them… they,re about as relevant as the Westboro baptist Chruch) are not hanging banners in public school classrooms, so your comparison fails.
Report Post »holy ghostbuster
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 7:16amI’ve seen lots of Christians standing on street corners yelling bible verses at the tops of their lungs, but I’ve never seen a Muslim screaming the Koran on a corner. If I had seen a Muslim doing it, I would think it to be just as crazy.
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 10:15amThe churches will roll, they have become worthless for everyone but the money changers.
Report Post »ForTheRepublic
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 10:09amIf the court refused the case,
Report Post »then I guess that means the teacher don’t have to do nothin
AndYetItMoves
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 1:49pmIndeed.
Report Post »Female
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 10:09amCalculus students being subjected to those “patriot God” posters, oh my! How will those students of such intellect and impressibility; be able to mentally handle such brainwashing?
The man really needs to have his CA teaching credentials suspended, move to a conservative state, and run for Governor ;)
Shame on Poway located in the hills of San Diego county! San Francisco 9th district a blight on our conscience!
Report Post »Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:59amThe real news here is that a 9th Circ. Ct. App. decision was UPHELD by SCOTUS. That’s almost unheard of.
Report Post »Locked
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 10:09amIs “upheld” the correct term to use here? Technically the SCotUS just declined the case, without giving a reason; seems like “upheld” would be only if they took the case and upheld the previous decision.
Report Post »Christian
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:46amHe should just do a zoom in and blow up of a dollar bill and say it’s a poster to teach currency.
Report Post »Cavallo
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 10:38amOr a quarter, and an image of the delcaration of independance, maybe an image of the original bill in congress changing the pledge.
Report Post »SoNick
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 1:46pmor actually tech some History and display the Pledge as it was originally written. Hint: the words “under God” do not appear anywhere
Report Post »HeisIAM
Posted on April 1, 2012 at 6:23pmWas he allowed to leave up his Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life liberty and the pursuit of happiness, that to secure these rights governments are instituted among men deriving their just power by the consent of the governed”
Report Post »We are the governed, and I say keep the poster!
possom
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:41amI’m tired of waiting for calif to slide into the ocean. Where’s my crowbar?
COFemale
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 5:52pmI’ll take the southern end near San Diego. Can you take the middle or Northern part?
Report Post »TangLaoYa
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:37amAs an experiment he should put up the same posters in Arabic and see if he gets the same reaction. Or maybe “God Is Dead” and credit it to Fukashima as a quote. (Was it Fukashima or someone else?)
Report Post »Can California be accused of imposing a state religion, ie: atheism?
Locked
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:41am“God Is Dead”
Nietzsche. Who’s Fukashima? Are you talking about the nuclear power plant disaster in Japan?
Report Post »Pontiac
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 11:06am[Can California be accused of imposing a state religion, ie: atheism?]
Report Post »Perhaps you can explain how atheism is being imposed.
Was he ordered to put up a banner that says the following?
-In no Myth we Trust.
-One nation under no myths.
-No blessing America.
-God sheds dandruf on thee.
Tell me TangLaoYa, what religion is being imposed here, in a government school, that all tax payers pay for, and people of various beliefs attend?
SoNick
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 1:49pm“God is dead” is definitely Nietzsche. You are probably thinking of Francis Fukuyama, who proclaimed “the end of History” in his famous essay.
Report Post »HeisIAM
Posted on April 1, 2012 at 6:28pm“Nietzsche is dead!” – God
Perhaps we should get “consent from the governed”, ask the students what they think of the school board decision.
Report Post »Pontiac
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 12:33pmIOW HeisIAM wants Majority rule (Mob rule).
Report Post »Hey HeisIAM, you have your churches & you have your homes. Teach your kids all the dogmatic baloney you want there. We do not need Christian, Muslim, Scientology, or Atheist school teachers pushing their beliefs in any government classroom. You give one the right to do so, you give them all the right to do so, and you do NOT want to open that Pandora’s box.
EqualJustice
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:30amJust MORE proof that the COMMIES are trying to remove GOD from everything… sad times.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:39amGood, I’m glad they are removing those graven images. There should be no image to worship, and that’s why the Lord goes by “I am.”
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:41amAs long as human beings are aware they exist, God written in men can not be removed, and that’s why Heaven and earth can fade away but the word shall remain.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:53amIf you want to know the “Word” of the Lord, all you have to do is observe people and their actions. I’ll take three Commandments for example: When you see people living by the sword, at some point they all become killed by a sword, when a nation lives by the sword at some point it falls by the sword, or when you kill the spirit of your children, then it must mean your own spirit is not alive – Thus the Commandment Thou Shall not Kill.
Report Post »When someone has an adulterous affair it takes away from the importance of a parents word for raising their children, and the children fall because they won’t listen to mom or dad. And often messing with someone’s mate ends in murder – Thus Thou Shall not commit adultery.
When you take away the things another has worked for you cheat yourself from getting good at coming by it through work, and at some point the people who you steal it from may die, and then there is no one to steal from – Thus Thou Shall not Steal.
And this is the way it is for all the Commandments.
Itsjusttim
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:59amTherefore you should understand – you can never rid the earth of the Lord.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 10:20amThey SURE ARE TRYING to remove GOD,e ven the SPOKEN word. http://video.foxnews.com/v/1536482417001/pastor-arrested-reading-bible-in-front-of-dmv/?playlist_id=86856
Report Post »jcldwl
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:23am9th circus, what a joke. You would think Federal Judges would know the U.S. Constitution and the fact it only addresses that Congress shall not establish a state religion. This teacher is not Congress and has no power to establish a state religion not to mention his signs said nothing about religion. They referenced God, not religion. I hope these Judges don’t mind extreme unending eternal heat.
Report Post »binge_thinker
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 1:43pmNinth circus the most overturned appeals court in America.
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:21amWell, in Communism the State is your god, which would be considered preaching a belief system in the classroom. These kids are taught communism therefore are taught another belief system that goes against what California is against. So teaching that praying to the state is okay, but praying to God (a guaranteed right 1A) is illegal does not make sense…Remember the bill of rights pertains to ALL citizens even this teacher. It is when government steps in and declares you can’t freely pray or speak of religion the way you want that is dangerous…but that’s not happening here…(sarc)
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:17amislam is what obama wants to rule here.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:03amOh, well why don’t you just take all the God stuff down, because it doesn’t matter, those who are of God know they are of God regardless. Therefore God can not be scrubbed out of existence by taking away the written word, because the word is engraved in the soul of man. There’s nothing you can do about it. You Atheists can take down all references to God all across the world, but it won’t matter because God is in the people who are of God, and therefore you can not remove God. Case in point: The way all you Atheists are attacking God and trying to remove his written word, and the word “God” from all areas does nothing. Do you know why? Because you Atheists even have a portion of God in you, and you are enforcing the Commandment; Thou Shall not make unto thee any graven image, or the likeness of anything that is in Heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or in the waters below.
Report Post »I just want Atheists to know, I appreciate the work you are doing for the Lord.
Itsjusttim
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:19amSo like I said: people who are of God have it engraved in their soul to the lesser or to the greater fruit. The Commandment about Idolatry, and the one Thou Shall not Kill – by even redistributing wealth you are actually helping the people you are taking the wealth from because; first you are taking away their idols; secondly, you are making it whereby they won’t be killing the spirit of their children by making their children want. So, you are doing the work of the Lord there too, but of course you are giving wealth to people who haven’t labored for it, and you are killing their spirit, and so that negates out the good you were doing and you are still at zero.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:23amSpeaking of Graven Images, what is the hang-up on Jerusalem? Jerusalem is an idea, not a place.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:25amAs I said before, Atheists are closer to the lord’s heart than they know.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:37amAnd I just want you to know that no matter what you do to me at some point, even though I’m like rubber bouncing back, I just want you to know the Lord loves you, especially since you‘re doing his work and you don’t know it, but that‘s the sad part because you don’t know him.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:01am.
That man needs to be removed!!!! Letting him say those things, and hanging Propaganda Poster’s. Those Poor, Poor Children. We may have to have those Poor Children who took his message to heart, put to Sleep!!!! We can’t have that kind of thing getting out of control…….
Vote SDM 2012
Report Post »Mark0331
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 8:57amI guess the Economic course will be removing all pictures of currency from their books/teaching material as well, or just outright ban the use of currency in the school.
Report Post »lynnissmart
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:21amI wouldn‘t be surprised if that’s next…!
Report Post »indy1
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 8:56amImagining there’s no religion has no religious purpose? Only in Libtardia!
Report Post »davida61
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 8:53amIt’s time for a revolution. Mr. Johnson DO NOT take your banners down. Stand your ground even if it means going to jail or losing your job. This can’t keep happening in this country. Somebody MUST start standing up even if it is painful and sacrificial. Christians have GOT to start fighting back or we are going to lose what we have left of this country. I‘m ready to fight and I won’t be turning the other cheek. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!
Report Post »Locked
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:19am“It’s time for a revolution. Mr. Johnson DO NOT take your banners down. Stand your ground even if it means going to jail or losing your job.”
It’s pretty easy to tell other people to go get fired to make a point. I‘m guessing it’s a bit tougher when you’re the actual person in question.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 8:53amSir, run don’t walk, to a CHRISTIAN private school that would love to have you teaching there. Blessed will be the students, families and parents who have you present.
JESUS HIMSELF said, “And whosoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgement than for that city.” Matthew 10:14, 15.
Report Post »HKS
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 8:53amLet’s see here now, a teacher can’t use her position as a pulpit, OK. Then a teachers can’t use their position as a liberal left propaganda machine? That would be an Interesting concept.
Report Post »dmforman
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 8:58amPromoting a liberal, marxist agenda, is an entirely different matter.
Report Post »drago
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 8:53amHow much more are we going to take people……..
Report Post »kaydeebeau
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 8:52amtime to abolish the 9th Circus
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:18ampast time to do that
Report Post »BubbaCoop
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 8:51amWhat’s the official motto of the U.S.?
Report Post »Locked
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:22am“In God We Trust,” since 1956. Before then there was no official motto, but “E Pluribus Unum” was generally considered the motto.
Report Post »ChildofJesus
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 8:49amWhat’s next? Remove it from the coins?
Report Post »dmforman
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 8:59amThey already have from the dollar coin. Check it out for yourself!
Report Post »Locked
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:29am@DMForman
You are either misinformed or lying. In 2007, the new one-dollar coins had “In God We Trust” printed along the outer edge, as well as “E Pluribus Unum.” Since 2009, the Treasury’s coins have put “In God We Trust” back on the side. But never was it removed.
Report Post »http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/dollarcoin.asp
EqualJustice
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:30amThey already tried that!!
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:32amWAIT? They took “IN GOD WE TRUST” off of the new coin? I’m going to check that out! How can they just DO that? If this is TRUE, we ALL need to contact our reps and DEMAND they keep our money the SAME! I bet there will be a LOT more people losing their MINDS before BO is done…
Report Post »Locked
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:39am@Equaljustice
“If this is TRUE, we ALL need to contact our reps and DEMAND they keep our money the SAME! I bet there will be a LOT more people losing their MINDS before BO is done…”
Good thing it’s not true then! Also, just a reminder that the changes to the one-dollar coins where the position was changed happened during Bush’s presidency, not Obama’s.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 10:26amPS; Thanks, Jesse Lee, for saving me the time and giving me the true scoop about BUSH changing the “position” of the words IN GOD WE TRUST. (even though that was NOT my concern) :)
Report Post »