New Jersey district will train teachers on separation of church and state

May 10, 2007
Kearny school system settles dispute with student who recorded his teacher proselytizing in class.

The Kearny (N.J.) school board and the parents of Matthew LaClair, a 17-year-old junior at Kearny High School, have settled a dispute about a teacher who proselytized in class. The settlement calls for training for teachers and students about the separation of church and state, and a public statement by the board praising Matthew for bringing the matter to its attention. Matthew recorded his history teacher, David Paszkiewicz, making comments in class in September. Among the remarks: Only Christians have a place in heaven; the Big Bang and evolution theories are not scientific; and dinosaurs were on Noah’s Ark. After the tapes became public, Matthew says, he received a death threat and was shunned and bullied by some of his classmates.

Click here to read The New York Times article.

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