At Hicksville High, Christian Clubs Just Aren’t Welcome

• By Alan Sears
• Posted May 10, 2011
• 2 Comments »

Out on Long Island, they’re running a little short on religious freedom – especially in public schools.

It’s a sadly common problem, and one that has led to three separate lawsuits in as many years against school districts in that New York area that have tried to banish student-led (and constitutionally protected) Christian clubs from their campuses. Happily, Alliance Defense Fund attorneys have won official recognition for Christian groups in two of those districts: Lindenhurst Union Free School District and Half Hollow Hills Central School District.

Based on those precedents, we may well win the same concession from the Hicksville Union Free School District, where the principal has repeatedly denied recognition to Christian clubs, citing – on the record – “budgetary concerns.” Off the record, she’s been quoted as saying that “other schools may have [a Christian club], but I don’t want this in my school.”

In truth, that second comment rings more true, given that the district budget is approximately $117 million, and Hicksville High School already officially recognizes and grants full benefits to 35 other campus organizations, including the Ping Pong Club, Key Club, Interact Club, Ski Club, Model United Nations Club, and Mock Trial Club.

Yet in October of last year, when two Hicksville High students notified school officials that they had a name (Frontline Club), a teacher willing to serve as advisor, and 12 students interested in being active members, their request for official recognition was denied by the principal, who said she would not allow any religious clubs to receive official recognition – even though, according to the students, 12 other schools in the same county sponsor Christian clubs.

Over the years, this particular principal has repeatedly turned down similar student requests to start Christian clubs – telling one would-be group in 2008 that any religious club would have to be “multi-faith,” open to all religions, and allow non-believers to lead the organization. In other words, Christian clubs are welcome at her school as long as they’re not Christian.

“Public schools cannot ban Christian student clubs simply because they are religious,” says ADF Senior Counsel David Cortman. “If officials at government-run schools did their homework, they’d know that students have a constitutionally protected right to express their beliefs. It’s ridiculous that Hicksville High School says it has no budget for a Christian club but somehow has enough for a ping pong club.”

Please be in prayer for our attorneys’ efforts in this case, and for students all over America who, like the young Christians at Hicksville High, are trying to stand conscientiously for their faith in an often inhospitable campus setting.