ADF files motion to halt policy in “JOHN 3:16” drawing case

ADF attorneys ask court to immediately suspend Wis. school’s policy against religious beliefs in artwork

MADISON, Wis. — ADF attorneys filed a motion Tuesday asking a federal court to immediately suspend a Wisconsin school district’s unconstitutional prohibition against religious expression while a student’s lawsuit moves forward.  A teacher’s grading policy in the Tomah Area School District bars depictions of “blood, violence, sexual connotations, [or] religious beliefs” in student artwork.

 
 

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“Christian students shouldn’t be penalized for expressing their beliefs,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel David Cortman.  “Allowing demonic depictions by some students while prohibiting Christian religious expression in artwork by others is a blatant violation of the Constitution.”

ADF attorneys filed a federal lawsuit March 28 after a student at Tomah High School was told by a teacher to remove or cover up a scriptural reference depicted in a piece of artwork (www.telladf.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4442).  The teacher cited a policy students were required to sign at the beginning of the semester which prohibited such depictions and told the student that he had “signed away his First Amendment rights.”  However, students who portrayed demonic illustrations in their work were not confronted about their artwork.

A copy of the motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Wisconsin in A.P. v. Tomah Area School District is available at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/APMotions.pdf.  A copy of the art class grading policy is available at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/TASDpolicy.pdf.

A copy of the student’s rejected artwork is available at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/APdrawing.pdf.  Copies of artwork depicting demonic images created by other students in the class are available at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/DemonDrawing1.jpg and www.telladf.org/UserDocs/DemonDrawing2.jpg.  Photos of other displays at the school containing religious content are available at the following links:  ADF is a legal alliance defending the right to hear and speak the Truth through strategy, training, funding, and litigation.

www.telladf.org