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Build a Wiccan Altar? Not in My Shop Class, Teacher Says
Filed under: In The News
Can building a Wiccan altar lead to the practice of black magic? An Iowa shop teachers says yes. Credit: jimd2007, Flickr
An Iowa shop teacher who refused to allow a student to build a Wiccan altar in class has been placed on leave in a flap over religious freedom of expression.
Dale Halferty, who has taught industrial arts at Guthrie Center High School in Guthrie, Iowa, for three years, admits he forbade the student to construct an altar dedicated to the religion as part of a class assignment, The Des Moines Register reports.
Wicca is known as the modern form of witchcraft and typically involves the worship of multiple gods.
A 20-year veteran of the classroom, Halferty asserts that he was well within his rights to prevent the teen from building the structure, which he says poses a threat to the separation of church and state. He previously prevented another student from building a cross in the class.
"... This kid was practicing his religion during class time, and I don't agree," Halferty tells the Register. "I don't want any religious symbols in the shop. We as Christians don't get to have our say during school time, so why should he?"
The student in question reportedly told the teacher that he is, indeed, a practicing witch. Halferty tells the Register he initially permitted the student to build the altar, on the condition that the teen keep any religious materials out of the classroom. However, Halferty says, the boy continued to bring a book about witchcraft to class.
The teacher re-evaluated his decision to allow the altar's construction and recanted his permission, deciding it "was wrong on every level."
"It scares me. I'm a Christian," Halferty tells the Register. "This witchcraft stuff -- it's terrible for our kids. It takes kids away from what they know, and leads them to a dark and violent life. We spend millions of tax dollars trying to save kids from that."
The school district begs to differ with Halferty, and points to several district policies -- and some at the state and federal level -- that prohibit religious discrimination, no matter what faith a student practices or how he or she chooses to express that faith in classroom assignments. Superintendent Steve Smith and Principal Garold Thomas have placed Halferty on leave while they confer with the district attorney.
The debate is causing some raw emotions among the 185 Guthrie Center students who say they do not want "witchcraft" practiced in their school. A petition circulated in late February stating as such garnered at least 70 signatures, the Register reports.
Ben Stone, the executive director of the Iowa Civil Liberties Union, says this appears to be a clear-cut case of religious discrimination.
"The teacher may have good intentions. It's a learning process," Stone tells the Register. "But he needs to respect that students can exercise their religious viewpoints within the context of an assignment."
Related: Do All Teen Girls Have a Wiccan Phase?
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 2)
3-03-2010 @ 6:26PM
Jes said...The kid who wanted to build a cross should have been allowed to build it, just the same as the kid who wanted to build the altar should have been allowed to build it. If kids are allowed to pray before tests, what's the difference in making something practical for their religious life like a cross or altar for worship? They're not hurting anyone, and it's ridiculous that this has turned into an argument about "witchcraft." If people were educated about more religions than just Christianity, they would know that Wiccans live by a peaceful creed. Wiccan does not equal evil human-sacrifice creeper. Not in the slightest. Do your homework before you go blasting someone's lifestyle.
Reply
3-03-2010 @ 6:32PM
justanotherjen said...I agree. They both should have been allowed to build their projects. Separation of Church and State is about sanctioning one religion over another by the authorities (in this case the teachers and the school). It has nothing to do with prohibiting the kids' free expression as long as it doesn't interfere with the class or other kids' rights. Building a personal project does neither.
I'm an atheist and it bugs the crap out of me when I hear cases of kids being told they can't pray over their lunch or read a Bible during free period. That's their right. As long as they aren't preaching to their classmates or causing a scene leave them be.
3-03-2010 @ 6:43PM
Mandi Neumann said...Because we have a rule which is the separation of church and state. You cant allow one if you don't allow all. I am a Christian and I believe that what you say would be great if in fact it would work that way. What if we ignored the separation and we have people coming out saying they want to practice being "a vampire" and they can prove its a religion under the correct terms. I don't know about you but I wouldn't want my child to see that at school. They know they are believers in Christ and they stick up for that. I just don't think opening that Pandora's Box is a good idea.
3-03-2010 @ 7:34PM
Scarlet said...i totalling agree with you, i myself, am a practitioner of Wicca, there is no sacrificing of fellow men involved with Wicca. and i know of a fellow practioner, a class mate, who was allowed to make a pentagram in his metal working class, with no problems from anyone, and people are allowed to make crosses in the class as well if they want to. its only a problem when people start to say that all religions, but their's, are bad and that everyone is evil because theyre not of the same religion. there is no "correct" religion, all religions are good and correct. as long as people arent trying to force others to convert to another religion, at school or else where, there are no problems at all.
3-03-2010 @ 6:44PM
Mandi Neumann said...Well said to the teacher and he is right! If we Christan's cant "practice our religion" during school time then why should he. I don't think it's denying anyone a chance to practice anything. the separation of church and state was made for a reason and if we use it with Christianity then the other religions such as Wicca has to abide by it also. he was well within his rights and I would be interested in seeing how this plays out. Keep us posted.
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3-13-2010 @ 6:20PM
Nivasi said...Well Mandi,
Do you think creating a cross or an altar is practicing the religion itself?
I think the problem here is, folks' have their girdles cinched up a 'tad' too tight.
Practicing the faith *in* the school is where the separation of church and state are. Those that fear other religions *is* the problem, not in the act of creating a symbol.
Besides.. an altar can be anything.. like a table top, mantle that you'd use over a fireplace. Just like in the Christian religion, its not what you call it its what you believe it is to YOU.
Nivasi
Practicing Wiccan
3-03-2010 @ 6:43PM
Mandi Neumann said...justanotherjen I am a Religion Professor and a believer in Jesus Christ. I am impressed with what you said about letting them be when they pray at lunch or read the bible during free time. I am impressed to hear a lack of personal opinion regarding our God and respect shown to people who do want to practice their religion. I to used to be an atheist which is a whole other subject so I wish you well on your journey.
Reply
3-03-2010 @ 9:38PM
John Nelson said..."It scares me. I'm a Christian," Halferty tells the Register. "This witchcraft stuff -- it's terrible for our kids. It takes kids away from what they know, and leads them to a dark and violent life. We spend millions of tax dollars trying to save kids from that."
Really, Mr. Halferty? Millions of tax dollars spent fighting Wicca? I'd be interested in knowing what source you cite for that remarkable claim. Oh, you just pulled it out of your ass? We thought so. It was kind of a giveaway when you made the similarly baseless (not to mention stupid) claim that Wicca leads to "...a dark and violent life..." If you'd like, I can cite real statistics that show that Christianity is responsible for far more "darkness" and violence then Wicca ever was.
You are a fearful and ignorant bigot, Mr. Halferty. It is time that you examined your beliefs in the light of some facts, instead of the pack of lies that you have obviously assumed to be true.
Reply
3-03-2010 @ 10:22PM
respee1 said...Simply put: separation of church and state. Wicca is a religion. As christian religion cannot be practiced in schools (ex. prayer), then Wicca shouldn't be practiced either. Why is this even news?
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3-03-2010 @ 10:35PM
respee1 said...I wish to also say, that Wicca does not equal satan, evil, or darkness. Wicca is a religion that worships what gives us life: Air, Fire, Water and Earth, plus Aether (or Spirit). Witches don't cast evil spells upon people. They cannot make spells that go against a person's will. Wicca also respects ALL religions. The Wiccan Crede is:
Bide The Wiccan Law Ye Must,
In Perfect Love, In Perfect Trust.
Eight Words The Wiccan Rede Fulfill:
An Ye Harm None, Do As Ye Will.
And Ever Mind The Rule Of Three:
What Ye Send Out, Comes Back To Thee.
Follow This With Mind And Heart,
And Merry Ye Meet, And Merry Ye Part.
Now, a true witch wouldn't harm anyone. Especially with the knowledge that what they would send out, would come back at them three-fold.
Also what, pray tell, is wrong with worshiping that which gives us life? Air to breathe, water to nourish our bodies, fire to warm us (and cook our food), earth to live upon, and a belief in a spirit?
No, I am not a practicing witch. I, however, know several and I like to be knowledgeable about things, rather than automatically think they are bad.
Reply
3-03-2010 @ 10:46PM
dragonrider said...blessed bee you are the first to say those things if rules apply to one they should apply to all the child that wanted to make a cross and to the child that wanted to make the alter
3-03-2010 @ 11:19PM
RM said...THE BIBLE HAS A LOT TO SAY ABOUT WITCHES, MEDIUMS.
3-05-2010 @ 7:17AM
m2rdj said...So...Wiccans, worship air, water, Earth, and spirit. All things that are created by....GOD! So instead of worshiping the creations, why not worship the CREATOR?
3-30-2010 @ 11:31AM
Nivasi said...these are the only words:
Eight Words The Wiccan Rede Fulfill:
An Ye Harm None, Do As Ye Will.
The rest of that comes out of Doreen Valiente's poem.
The orginal works is part and parcel to several works.
10-20-2010 @ 2:26PM
NomNomAylinn said...m2rdj, you're ignorant.
We do belive in a God also, just not the Christian one.
We beleive in two Gods, as a matter of fact.
Learn your facts, before opening your ignorant mouth.
3-04-2010 @ 12:26AM
bloomingrose said...My best friend and brother in law is the most wonderul Father to his little girl who is also my sisters little girl, my sister being a wonderful
Mother, and the Father of this little girl has been Wiccan since I knw him in High School and hes now approaching his 30's and still Wiccan and no he does not lead a dark or violent life, hes a person filled with light and love in his Wiccan faith.
Reply
3-04-2010 @ 3:16AM
Tabitha Poisal said...the bible also says that Jesus used seers,,,which are mediums right???
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9-20-2010 @ 4:04PM
lomomle said...could you tell me where in the Bible Jesus went to a seer.Please read the bible before you make such comments.prophets in the old testaments were called seers like Samuel.mediums are totally different.
3-04-2010 @ 6:41AM
MrsB said...Individual students ARE allowed to express and practice their religious views as part of class assignments. There are in fact government guidelines on just this matter.
Separation of church and state doesn't apply here as long as the students aren't trying to force their religious views on other students (which the student in question was not).
Separation of church and state refers more to the school as an institution and the employees of the school.
You can see the government guidelines for students here:
www.examiner.com/x-26373-Domestic-Witchery-Examiner~y2010m3d2-Pagan-101-Guidelines-for-religious-expression-in-public-schools
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3-04-2010 @ 9:05AM
LS said...I submit that this would be a very different story if the reporter had done his job and reported simply the facts, instead of the inflammatory remarks that - agreed - paint the teacher as a bigot.
First, a precedent had been set in this classroom, and was never challenged, when the teacher forbade the first student to make a cross. Citing "separation of church and state", the teacher said, "no making the cross". Nobody complained. It was a non-issue, a teacher doing exactly what is expected of him. Why? Because it was a Christian Cross, and those are not allowed in a public school.
But now, suddenly, we are up in arms about a student not being allowed to make a Wiccan Altar. Read the article again - he was originally allowed to make it, but the teacher said, "no practicing". But the kid continued to bring a Wiccan book to the class. Put the shoe on the other foot. If the teacher had said, "ok, you can make the cross, but no practicing of Christianity in my class", and the student continued to bring a Bible to school... all hell would have broken loose. You know it would have. The teacher would have been fired for allowing the kid to have the Bible in class, and the kid likely would have been disciplined in some way, probably suspension. And the principal would have been brought down, and lawsuits would have ensued.
There is a distinct double standard happening here. Nobody, not parents, not teachers, not the ICLU, batted an eye when the cross was forbidden. But now everybody is freaking out when the Wiccan altar is forbidden. THAT'S the problem. Either you allow both, or you allow neither. The teacher's unfortunate, inflammatory, and ignorant comments have no relevance at all to this story. They serve only to inflame and distract.
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