FORT WORTH, Texas — A high school freshman in Texas was suspended for expressing a religious belief to a classmate while his teacher was allowed to force a disturbing personal viewpoint upon students.
During German class in a Fort Worth school, the teacher was leading a discussion about religious beliefs in Germany when the topic of homosexuality arose. Dakota Ary told one of his classmates, “I’m a Christian and, to me, being homosexual is wrong,” according to Liberty Counsel, which is representing Ary.
The teacher overheard Ary, wrote an infraction charging him with “possible bullying” and sent him to the principal’s office. The teacher indicated on the infraction, “It is wrong to make such a statement in public school.” Ary was sentenced to in-school suspension and two days’ suspension.
Meanwhile the teacher was allowed to display a picture of two men kissing on what he called a “world wall” in the classroom, and when students were offended, he told them that homosexuality is becoming more prevalent in the world and they should accept it, Liberty Counsel said.
Ary’s mother, Holly Pope, told Fox News Radio Sept. 22 that her son is a well-grounded 14-year-old who is an honors student, plays on the school football team and is active in his church youth group.
“He’s been in church his whole life, and he’s been taught to stand up for what he believes,” Pope said.
After a meeting with Pope and her attorney, the school rescinded the two-day suspension and allowed Ary to play in an upcoming football game.
“Just because you walk through the schoolhouse doors doesn’t mean you shed your First Amendment rights,” Matthew Krause of Liberty Counsel said. “Dakota wasn’t disrupting class. He wasn’t bullying or harassing anybody. He was just stating his personal opinion on a topic somebody else brought up and in a civil and respectful manner.”
The teacher was placed on administrative leave. (TAB)
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