Christian club proselytizing at middle school
After hearing concerns from parents about a religious club’s activities at a Solana Beach middle school, district officials revisited their policy on what is appropriate for student organizations.
San Dieguito Union High School District administrators investigated in early January after members of The Pulse, a Christian club at Earl Warren Middle School, were said to be attempting to proselytize their classmates. Parents said they heard the club was having an adult church leader conduct lunchtime meetings on campus while encouraging nonreligious students to attend by offering free pizza.
“I think the primary concern that was expressed was that students were being enticed to come to the club under false pretenses,” said San Dieguito Superintendent Ken Noah.
In addition to parents complaining, Noah said the Anti-Defamation League also contacted the district.
Dean Broyles, an attorney for the Western Center for Law & Policy, a nonprofit legal organization in Escondido that focuses on religious issues, represented The Pulse after administrators became involved. Broyles argued that the club’s activities were protected under the First Amendment and sent district officials a legal opinion outlining that stance.
“It’s a student Christian club, of course they’re going to read the Bible and pray. It’s ridiculous to think they have to censor their behavior over the complaints of parents,” he said.
The Pulse is the school’s version of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, said Craig James, who arranges for Christian sports figures to talk at the club’s monthly meetings. He said the club’s guests have included Padres pitcher Heath Bell and Olympic bronze medalist snowboarder Shannon Dunn-Downing.
“These are positive role models that set good examples,” James said.
James said a youth pastor, who only appeared on pizza day, led a prayer and read some scripture. Broyles said he didn’t know how the students were publicizing the meetings.
Under district policy, students have wide latitude to form clubs, including religious groups. However, they must lead their own meetings and only have adult guests on a rotating basis.
The district tries to limit the amount of times clubs serve food because it competes with the federal lunch program guidelines, said Eric Dill, San Dieguito’s associate superintendent of business services. Dill said the district, which is comprised mostly of high schools, reaffirmed that its student-club policy applies appropriately to its middle schools.
Craig James’ son, Tyler, an eighth-grader, is the club’s president. Tyler, 14, said the club has continued to attract big crowds. It ran out of space last month when pro surfer Matt Beacham visited.
“It’s harder with no food and stuff because the food got canceled, but actually the last time we had it, we filled the whole room,” he said.
via Religious club creates flap at Solana Beach school – SignOnSanDiego.com.
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