Oregon to bar teachers from wearing kippot (skullcaps)
A newly-passed Oregon law that prohibits teachers from wearing religious clothing may prohibit teachers from wearing kippot (skullcaps) in the classroom. The Oregon Workplace Religious Freedom Act, which was just signed by Governor Ted Kulongoski, was intended to enable workers to don religious attire such as yarmulkes, turbans, and hijabs while on the job, as well as take time off for their holy days.Pennsylvania already has a similar law.
However, the bill also states that "no teacher in any public school shall wear any religious dress while engaged in the performance of duties as a teacher. A school district, education service district or public charter school does not commit an unlawful employment practice … by reason of prohibiting a teacher from wearing religious dress while engaged in the performance of duties as a teacher."
Rights organizations are protesting the decision, saying it encroaches on personal religious freedoms and leaves the door open to exploitation of the law as a means of suppressing religious people.
The answer is probably to wear a toupee, but if this relates to you, ask your rabbi.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 3:56 AM
5 Comments:
I'm not Jewish, but would a baseball cap or a cowboy hat be OK?
Cripes... just wear a fedora!
Wear a sombrero. Sotomayer's got your back.
Shy Guy, funny!
Yeah, wear a cowboy hat or baseball hat.
I'd like to see someone try to say I can't wear a hat at all, due to "cultural mores."
What a great court battle.
Why has this not been resolved over the years?
Carl, you're the atty. Has this kind of thing ever been heard by the U. S. Supreme Court?
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