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Christian schools sue UC system
Coalition claims admissions officials discriminate against religious courses
By Michelle Maitre, STAFF WRITER
Tri-Valley Herald, CA
Daily Review Online, CA
The Argus, CA
Aug 30 2005
A coalition of Christian schools has filed a federal lawsuit accusing
University of California admissions officials of discrimination for
refusing to accept certain high school courses taught from a religious
viewpoint. The suit, filed Aug. 25 in Los Angeles district court by
the Association of Christian Schools International and Calvary Chapel
Christian School in Murrieta, also says UC's policies violate rights
of free speech and religion.
The suit says some courses containing Christian views aren't accepted
as part of UC's "a through g" requirements, which outlinethe courses
students must take to qualify for admission.
The suit says UC doesnt recognize certain classes, including those that
challenge evolutionary theory or others with titles such as Special
Providence: Christianity & the American Republic and Christianity and
Morality in American Literature, yet allows courses in subjects such
as Armenian Studies, Latin American Literature and more.
Of all the various viewpoints that are permitted, as they should
be, thats (Christian) the one theyve chosen to single out and treat
differently and very unfavorably, said Wendell Bird, an Atlanta-based
attorney for the schools association, which represents more than 800
religious schools in California.
Plaintiffs in the suit include six students in grades 10 through 12
at the Murrieta school who say they will be ineligible for UC because
their course work wont be accepted. The suit seeks an injunction
against UCs practices.
UC spokeswoman Ravi Poorsina said officials hadnt seen the suit and
couldnt address its specifics. Still, she said, the university has a
responsibility to set course requirements that will prepare students
for UC course work. UC serves 208,000 students at 10 campuses,
including Berkeley.
Its not intended to single out any one group or type of school or
religious belief, Poorsina said.
UC reviews numerous proposals each year from public and private
high schools seeking to add new courses, she said, and ultimately
approves about 85 percent, adding that others may be approved after
additional work.
There are many courses that have religious undertones or represent the
religious side of things that are approved, Poorsina said. I dont know
about these specific courses (in the lawsuit), but its not cut and dry.
Robert John Russell, professor of theology and science at the Graduate
Theological Union in Berkeley, said universities are within their
rights to set standards for the course work theyll accept.
Religious belief can cloud the debate, but the ultimate decision
comes down to whether a student has received quality instruction,
Russell said. A student who received poor instruction in biology -
say with old textbooks - would not meet the same standards as a
student who received rigorous instruction.
Russell argues that creationism is a theological debate, rather than
scientific instruction.
Its almost ludicrous anyone would even take this seriously, Russell
said. It seems absurd that a student who had poor
biology would meet the same standards as a student with good biology.
..This has nothing to do with First Amendment rights. .
Bird said UCs policies are interfering with schools and parents rights
to teach according to their beliefs. The policy has implications for
curricula at other private schools, he said.
Something that discriminates against or penalizes one religious faith
is so easily extended to penalize others, said Bird, who said students
from Christian schools typically outperform their peers from public
schools. In our view, were fighting for their right as much as the
right of our Christian schools.
Coalition claims admissions officials discriminate against religious courses
By Michelle Maitre, STAFF WRITER
Tri-Valley Herald, CA
Daily Review Online, CA
The Argus, CA
Aug 30 2005
A coalition of Christian schools has filed a federal lawsuit accusing
University of California admissions officials of discrimination for
refusing to accept certain high school courses taught from a religious
viewpoint. The suit, filed Aug. 25 in Los Angeles district court by
the Association of Christian Schools International and Calvary Chapel
Christian School in Murrieta, also says UC's policies violate rights
of free speech and religion.
The suit says some courses containing Christian views aren't accepted
as part of UC's "a through g" requirements, which outlinethe courses
students must take to qualify for admission.
The suit says UC doesnt recognize certain classes, including those that
challenge evolutionary theory or others with titles such as Special
Providence: Christianity & the American Republic and Christianity and
Morality in American Literature, yet allows courses in subjects such
as Armenian Studies, Latin American Literature and more.
Of all the various viewpoints that are permitted, as they should
be, thats (Christian) the one theyve chosen to single out and treat
differently and very unfavorably, said Wendell Bird, an Atlanta-based
attorney for the schools association, which represents more than 800
religious schools in California.
Plaintiffs in the suit include six students in grades 10 through 12
at the Murrieta school who say they will be ineligible for UC because
their course work wont be accepted. The suit seeks an injunction
against UCs practices.
UC spokeswoman Ravi Poorsina said officials hadnt seen the suit and
couldnt address its specifics. Still, she said, the university has a
responsibility to set course requirements that will prepare students
for UC course work. UC serves 208,000 students at 10 campuses,
including Berkeley.
Its not intended to single out any one group or type of school or
religious belief, Poorsina said.
UC reviews numerous proposals each year from public and private
high schools seeking to add new courses, she said, and ultimately
approves about 85 percent, adding that others may be approved after
additional work.
There are many courses that have religious undertones or represent the
religious side of things that are approved, Poorsina said. I dont know
about these specific courses (in the lawsuit), but its not cut and dry.
Robert John Russell, professor of theology and science at the Graduate
Theological Union in Berkeley, said universities are within their
rights to set standards for the course work theyll accept.
Religious belief can cloud the debate, but the ultimate decision
comes down to whether a student has received quality instruction,
Russell said. A student who received poor instruction in biology -
say with old textbooks - would not meet the same standards as a
student who received rigorous instruction.
Russell argues that creationism is a theological debate, rather than
scientific instruction.
Its almost ludicrous anyone would even take this seriously, Russell
said. It seems absurd that a student who had poor
biology would meet the same standards as a student with good biology.
..This has nothing to do with First Amendment rights. .
Bird said UCs policies are interfering with schools and parents rights
to teach according to their beliefs. The policy has implications for
curricula at other private schools, he said.
Something that discriminates against or penalizes one religious faith
is so easily extended to penalize others, said Bird, who said students
from Christian schools typically outperform their peers from public
schools. In our view, were fighting for their right as much as the
right of our Christian schools.