Oregon, Nebraska and Pennsylvania are the only remaining states to prohibit religious clothing in public schools. But Oregon has taken the first step in lifting the ban in a vote on House Bill 3686. Proponents of the bill praise the vote as a civil rights victory, and suggest that teachers of diverse religions would be able to exercise their freedom of religion, and teach in the state’s public schools. Opponents of the bill raise concerns about the rights of students to be free from religious indoctrination or coercion, and argue that those rights would be jeopardized by the lifting of the ban. The Bill will next go to the Senate for a vote. If the Bill is approved, it will go into effect in 2011. To read an article about the Bill from the Oregonian, and the arguments on both sides of the issue, please click here.
