
By: Robin Murray-o'hair
Re: Re: School Officials Promise Action

SCHOOL OFFICIALS PROMISE ACTION ON SHOWING OF RELIGIOUS MOVIE IN
PUBLIC SCHOOL

Atheist Group Described the Film as "Pure Religious
Indoctrination"

by Conrad F. Goeringer

     There are more developments in the case of a Salt Lake City
school which showed sixth-grade students a religious film,
ostensibly as part of a "social studies" curriculum.

  News of the incident was made public during the week of April
17 when American Atheists asked school officials to investigate
the circumstances behind the showing of the movie "Where Jesus
Walked."  The one-hour video was produced by United Christian
Productions, Inc.  The cover jacket  said the film was a "Video
Journey Through Bethlehem, Nazareth, Jericho, Capernaum and
Jerusalem."

   "This video journey stands as a witness to the Divinity of
Jesus Christ and His bountiful love for all mankind." Chris
Allen, Utah spokesman for American Atheists, sent letters to the
local school district and the State Superintendent of Education,
charging that the filming violated numerous state laws and
education department regulations.  "I have never seen a more
serious violation of the First Amendment anywhere in the Utah
schools," noted Allen, "and I am amazed that this was condoned
and approved."  American Atheists demanded that action be taken
to make sure that "Where Jesus Walked" would not be shown in the
state school system, and that officials issue a public policy for
violating the First Amendment rights of students and parents.

   "It is religious prejudice perpetrated on Atheist, Jewish and
other non-Christian children and their families", said Allen.

   Yesterday, there was word that while the film had been shown,
the sound track had supposedly been turned off while the teacher
lectured the class.  In another press release, American Atheists
claimed that the sound could indeed be heard according to at
least one student.

   The American Atheist action received extensive coverage in
both the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News.  The Tribune
reports that Granite School District Assistant Superintendent
Briant Farnsworth says the district is "reviewing" the movie and
will decide whether disciplinary action will be taken against the
teacher involved.

   Other controversies in Utah have involved a West High choir
singing religious christmas songs and a Bingham High basketball
coach conducting pre-game prayers; American Atheists' spokesman
Richard Andrews cited these incidents as "cause to doubt (the
state school system's) commitment to separation of church and
state."

   The Granite film showing took place on March 17; the movie was
shown to about 90 students. --30--

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