A religious extracurricular club will be introduced to Monroe High School.
By: Rebecca Tokarz
MONROE The school board reluctantly approved a new extracurricular high school club Wednesday.
The club, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, challenges members to "receive and serve Jesus Christ in their relationships," according to the fellowship’s Web site.
Some school board members said they were concerned about approving the club because of its religious connection. However, they said that because the club is "student initiated," they had no choice but to approve the after-school club.
"The law is clear, under the Federal Equal Access Act, the Board of Education must treat religious clubs the same as nonreligious club," board attorney Bertram E. Busch said.
Mr. Busch said treating the group differently, or not approving its creation would be in violation of the First Amendment and could result in legal action, including a civil rights lawsuit.
In last year’s the Good News Club vs. Milford Central School decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the school violated the rights of a religious club, which held its meetings after school. In that case, the court found that by denying the club access to the school on the grounds that it was religious in nature, Milford discriminated against the club because of its religious viewpoint in violation of the Free Speech Clause.
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which has more than 7,700 participating schools, uses athletics as its platform and athletes and coaches as role models and spokespersons to reach the world. It aids athletes and coaches in maintaining or restoring relationships and directing athletes and coaches toward family and church, its Web site said.
The information presented by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes said the organization also looks to build strong relationships and help guide students away from cheating, alcohol and drugs, Mr. Busch said.
The school board received and read information on the club and its policies and practices provided by the students who are looking to start it.
Mr. Busch said the club probably is not without its merits. He said that even if the club is religion oriented, it can still teach students morals and character development skills.
While the students are legally allowed to meet after school on Thursdays, Mr. Busch said, there are legal guidelines to ensure that other students’ rights are not violated.
He said that club meetings must be voluntary, student initiated and open to everyone. The group cannot interfere with the overall workings of the school or its other clubs and nonschool persons cannot frequently attend, direct or control meetings.
If prayers or other practices of the club disturb other organizations holding meetings or practices after school, legally, the time, place and manner of the meetings can be limited, Mr. Busch said.
The club supervisor will not have a participatory role in the club, Mr. Busch said.
The decision to allow the club was a moral struggle for some school board members.
"I laud the children’s intentions, but it doesn’t belong in the schools," school board member Jay Ellis Brown said. " I am speaking from the gut."
Mr. Brown, who voted against the club’s creation, said that even though the club is open to everyone, he doubts that many people of other religions will join. He also said schools are supposed to bring commonality and uniformity, but this will divide the school.
"I have personal reasons (to vote against this), but based on legal counsel, I vote yes," Jamesburg representative to the school board Patrice Faraone said.
Legally, school board President Joe Homoki said, the board had to support the club. "We will lose if we don’t," he said.
He also said Monroe Township is a quality school district and that he is sure the district can make it work.
Similar situations have recently been brought to the courts.
A U.S. District judge ruled on Tuesday that a Bible club in Stafford should have the same rights and should receive the same privileges as other organizations.
According to the Associated Press, an after-school Bible club in Stafford Township won a lawsuit against a school district that would not allow it to send permission slips home to parents, but would allow fliers to be distributed by the Boy and Girl Scouts, according to the Associated Press.
School officials refused to disseminate the information because of its religious character. The group said attendance was limited because parents did not know about the meeting.