http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/kitv/20020206/lo/1070536_1.html
High School Faces Fight Over Satan Reference
Kaimuki High School's dress code came under fire Tuesday from a member
of the Church of Satan.
The dress code singles out clothing and accessories that promote
Satanism.
The head of Citizens for the Separation of State and Church said the
school's policy violates free speech provisions in the Constitution.
KITV 4 News saw piercings, dyed hair
and bare midriffs. However, the
school's written policy states the
following are not allowed in classrooms:
gang-related clothing, or clothing
promoting alcohol, tobacco, profanity, or
Satanism.
"Just simply labeling it as Satanist
is inappropriate. It singles out one
religion over others and you can't do that under the
Constitution," Mitchell Kahle of CSSC said.
The head of Citizens for Separation of State and Church
said the complaint came from a member of
the Church of Satan who works at the school. The person
was offended by the policy but wants to
remain anonymous.
Most students KITV 4 News talked to said they don't know
any Satanists at the school but support
the right of religious expression.
"Satanism, believe it or not, it is a religion. People
actually believe it. It's a way of life so if you can
wear a shirt that says Jesus loves you, you should be
able to wear a shirt that has a pentagram on it,"
Kahle said.
"If people are allowed to wear bracelets that say: 'What
Would Jesus Do,' they should be allowed to
say: 'What would Satan do,'" 10th grader Ashley Williams
said.
But not all agreed with questioning the policy, saying
some clothing is disruptive.
"We go to school to learn, not to, like, it's not like a
fashion show," senior Alice Kim said.
Department of Education (news - web sites) spokesman Greg
Knudsen said the attorney general's
office is reviewing the policy.
As a result of Tuesday's complaint, the reference to
Satanism in the dress code policy will be taken
out.
It's already been deleted from the school's Web site.
However, it's unclear how many hard copies of
the policy exist with the Satanism reference and how
those will be deleted.
