Covered Girl Challenge in Public High School

The article can be found here: http://www.cincinnati.com/story/opinion/letters/2015/04/17/mason-school-hijab-religious-freedom-constitution/25947197/

A Muslim Student Association group at a public high school in Mason, Ohio organized a voluntary school-wide event called “Covered For a Day.” The purpose of this event was to have female students wear a hijab, or a headscarf worn by Islamic women, on one day to raise cultural awareness. The school’s Student Activities Department sent out an email to parents of the high school students stating that the primary goal of this event was to “celebrate the school’s unique and diverse student body.” Along with the female student participation of wearing hijabs, pupils both male and female were also invited to an open discussion during school hours. Parents who wanted their children to partake were asked to fill out a permission slip.

The school began receiving many complaints in the immediate aftermath of this email. The principal of Mason High School, Mindy McCarty-Stewart, then sent a follow up email apologizing. “This previous communication should not have come from out Student Activities Department because this was a student-led initiative, rather than a school-sponsored activity.” McCarty-Stewart went on to say that after much consideration, the ‘Covered Girl Challenge’ event was cancelled.

I do not believe that the event should have been cancelled. While I understand how some could view this event as controversial, many critics were simply angry due to the prejudice they felt towards Islam. One parent responded in an email “You’re spending our money to support Islam…” While another wrote, “Stop trying to down play the horrible things that have occurred in this nation at the hands of Muslims.” It is clear that people have negative stereotypes about a religion and its practices. This event was singled out because many people did not feel that this was an acceptable religion to be celebrated or respected. The school cancelling this event suggests that it agrees with this idea.

I do not believe that this is an establishment of religion because the school did not sponsor it. The principal expressly pointed out that it was a student-run initiative. Taxpayer dollars were in no way being used to support this event or any religion at all. I do agree that the school made a mistake in using its Student Activities Department to endorse the event, however. The school should not have played a role in actively supporting and raising awareness for this religiously affiliated event. The event would have been less controversial had some students created an event on Facebook, for example. That being said, I feel that it was possibly a violation of rights to prohibit the students from participating in this day of cultural awareness. Cancelling this event, in my opinion, is the school’s way of validating negative stereotypes about a religion and the culture that comes alongside it. The principal set a bad example by letting the intimidators win and cancelling a diverse and cultural event.

In my opinion, the students of Mason High School have a right to organize and celebrate religious diversity at school, so long as it is not intrusive, harmful, or school-sponsored. This event clearly was not harming anyone. It was simply raising awareness for a culture and religion that many students in the school identify with. Cancelling this event most likely alienates the Muslim students attending MHS even further by suggesting that celebrating their diversity is not a worthy task and that their religion and practices are dangerous. Islam often has a negative connotation, and these students were simply hoping to lessen this stereotype within their community.

The First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion. These students should be able to practice their religion and should be able to have discussions about their religion. Furthermore, this was a completely voluntary event and no students were required to participate in it if they did not wish to. I do not believe that this event would have been unconstitutional. In fact, I see a possible constitutional violation by prohibiting the event. As the political cartoon above suggests, would the school cancel a student-led initiative for a ‘wear your cross’ day? Islam is being singled out here because it is not deemed an acceptable religion, and that seems to be preferencing one religion over another. Overall, I do not believe that the school should have cancelled this student-run diversity event.

What do you think? Was the school simply working to not establish a religion? Or did MHS give in to bigotry and discrimination?