Community | November 14, 2009 | 48 comments

Atheist, LGBT & Freethought Sites Censored by School District

source: http://FFRF.org

Image
DeliaTheArtist
"The Freedom From Religion Foundation, responding to complaints from concerned Indianapolis taxpayers, has sent a letter of strong objection to the Indianapolis Public School system for its policy of censorship of web content that promotes or provides information about "atheistic views." This policy, which also censors Wicca, Witchcraft, "voodoo rituals or any other for of mysticism," is unlawful because it violates the Free Speech Clause as unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination, FFRF charges.

This policy does not prohibit or even mention religious views such as Christianity. A website like FFRF.org, which educates on freethought and nontheism, would, however, be blocked under this policy. This promotes religion over nonreligion, which is forbidden under the Establishment Clause.

In her letter, Foundation Staff Attorney Rebecca Kratz pointed out that, in addition to the illegality of the policy, it discriminates against the 15% of the population that is nonreligious, the fastest growing segment of the American population (American Religious Identification Survey 2008).

"This policy not only violates the rights of students in the Indianapolis School District, but limits their capacity to expand their knowledge and acceptance of all individuals and beliefs," Kratz noted.

The policy also blocks LGBT sites "that provide information regarding, support, promote, or cater to one's sexual orientation or gender identity including but not limited to lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgender sites" (see second page of policy).

FFRF demanded that the district either immediately end this discriminatory policy or adapt it to include blocking all religious and nonreligious websites.

FFRF is calling for people to take action.

They ask that people send messages to the superintendent and school board members protesting this discriminatory website blocking policy. Please remember to keep messages short and sign your name and address. For maximum effectiveness, respond as an individual and not as someone replying to this action alert. We are pleased to receive blind duplicates of your messages at bgutsch@ffrf.org.

Superintendent, Dr. Eugene G. White
John Morton-Finney Center for Educational Services
120 E. Walnut St.
Indianapolis IN 46204
Phone: 317-226-4411
Fax: 317-226-4936
ginders@ips.k12.in.us

School Board members:
President, Dr. Michael D. Brown, brownm@ips.k12.in.us, 317-297-0548
Vice President, Elizabeth M. Gore, goreem@ips.k12.in.us
Dr. Mary E. Busch, buschm@ips.k12.in.us
Diane Arnold, ArnoldD@ips.k12.in.us
Kelly E. Bentley, BentleyK@ips.k12.in.us
Dr. Michael R. Cohen, cohenmr@ips.k12.in.us
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48 comments // Atheist, LGBT & Freethought Sites Censored by School District

  • This_Is_Not_My_Name
    • +1
      This_Is_Not_My_Name  

    • It was like this in all of my old schools. I had to do a project on Greek Mythology and half the sites wouldn't open because of "Folklore &/or Mythology", trying to get halloween pics for another assignment had many sites blocked on charges of "Cult/Occult", and was trying to get info on when Day Of Silence was but they blocked it too for LGBT-ness. :(

    • 1 year ago
  • fernweher
    • +1
      fernweher  
    • This_Is_Not_My_Name:

      NotMyName, this is a travesty. Censorship is not protection. People should realize that by limiting what schools can show, they are blocking you from learning about legitimate and socially relevant topics. Your experience is proof of this.

    • 1 year ago
  • ClintJCL
  • csmonut
    • 0
      csmonut  

    • What the religious right seems to not care about is the fact that there NEEDS to be a separation of church and state...and that includes ALL learning centers, or we will become a country that is run by religious zealots.
      Hmmm...want to live under religious rule? Go back to burning witches and stoning women to death? No laughter allowed, no music unless it's religious....yep...sounds like a lot of fun.
      NOT!

    • 2 years ago
  • RojoGatto
  • J_Jammer
    • 0
      J_Jammer [removed]  

    • Ohno do you know what they block at work? They block porn and chat sites and all kinds of places that use videos. They are ruining my first amendment rights. Woe.....is me.

    • 2 years ago
  • J_Jammer
  • DeliaTheArtist
    • 0
      DeliaTheArtist  

    • I don't think the question is simply "Do they have a right to them", but "are they discriminatory?" - If sites with sexual information are inappropriate, all sex related sites should be banned,not just LGBT. If you don't want people looking at religious sites, why only block "alternative religion" but give a pass to the mainstream ones? The schools/my job may have the right to filters, but do they have the right to openly support one religion or sexual orientation over another?

    • 2 years ago
  • kitteneater
    • 0
      kitteneater  
    • DeliaTheArtist:

      This is my theory: They are trying (and failing) to PREVENT discrimination by leaving those fuzzy subjects unacknowledged. things they allow to filter through are widely accepted subjects that don't call for disruption or controversy; People are pretty set in their ways about Islam, Judaism, and Christianity: Why question a train of thought we have all followed and questioned before?

      More controversial things like LGBT and atheism are newer ideas concerning freedom of thought. People are unsure about these things, and it makes them uneasy, which could provoke pondering, follow-up research, and perhaps conversation with co-workers or fellow student, which may result in disagreements, which could lead to fighting on company/school property.

      Out of sight, out of mind, I suppose.

      I know it's really screwed up logic, but it takes the blame off of the school or workplace.

      Other than that, I really see no reason as to why they'd permit some religions/sexual ideas but not others...

    • 2 years ago
  • kitteneater
    • 0
      kitteneater  
    • Image

    • I actually agree with j-jammer, to some degree. The current school system is created neither for gathering knowledge nor questioning modern values of good and bad. School is made for "learning-" aka memorizing and regurgitating facts. It could change. But not soon. Until then, I use proxies.

    • 2 years ago
  • Charlespistol
    • 0
      Charlespistol  

    • Haha how ridiculous... to try to block stuff that like that... the only thing the school will bring to itself with regulations like these, are protests like these from different social / religious groups. I can understand blocking stuff like pornography or other explicit content, but not this kind of stuff.

    • 2 years ago
  • Ares
    • 0
      Ares  

    • Indeed, such an outrage. There should be no filters at all on school computers. After all, suppose a child wanted to do a report on the biological consequences of having raucous gay buttsex? Should they not, then, be able to view pornographic homosexual websites? Also, they should be able to watch violent videos of the war overseas, so that they have no innocence and are forced to deal with all the fucked up people in this world, whether they like it or not. This shouldn't even be an issue, it's absolutely ridiculous.

    • 2 years ago
  • DeliaTheArtist
  • ii386
    • 0
      ii386  
    • Ares:

      haha ares.. really? I think you have totally sideswiped the issue here. No one is claiming that filters on school computers is wrong (porn, hate speech, violence), but an overly aggressive filter that limits access in an unlawful way isn't okay...because it is against the ....law....

      I should have expected this comment from you since it has to do with gaining rights for atheists, and we all know where you stand...at the right hand of the Father.

    • 2 years ago
  • arikata
    • 0
      arikata  

    • Oh dear, our school system keeps on shooting itself in the foot doesn't it? Did they really think they could get away with that? Dumb move guys, dumb move.

    • 2 years ago
  • J_Jammer
    • 0
      J_Jammer [removed]  

    • No such thing as free speech in school. Sorry.

      I would write a letter....but the reason behind writing one is terrible and therefore I won't and I write great letters. I get responses.

    • 2 years ago
  • randallr01
  • J_Jammer
    • 0
      J_Jammer [removed]  
    • J_Jammer:

      You are deprived.

      They won't listen to your letters because it'll be the same old same old. They'll toss them out like they do all the rest. No letter will make them reverse their thinking when they believe it's in the best interest of the school.

      Just like Obama doesn't care what America thinks. He's only doing what he believes is right.

    • 2 years ago
  • DeliaTheArtist
    • 0
      DeliaTheArtist  
    • Image

    • I decided to test my job's computer blocks to see if they had the same discriminatory practices...we do. I have no problem getting on Christianity.com, Islam.com or Jewfaq.org, but when it comes to atheists.org? Blocked. Why? "Alternative Spirtuality" sites are censored-

      "Sites that promote and provide information on alternative spiritual and non-religious ideologies such as atheism, agnosticism, witchcraft, and Satanism. Occult practices, voodoo rituals or any other form of mysticism are represented here. Includes sites that endorse or offer methods, means of instruction, or other resources to affect or influence real events through the use of spells, incantations, curses and magic powers. This category includes sites that discuss or deal with paranormal or unexplained events."

      Very interesting! We also block "Alternative Lifestyle" sites (LGBT). I never realized this!

      Sorry about the strange pic and link; I'm having trouble with Current's new setup on this particular computer!

    • 2 years ago
  • csmonut
  • CalgarC
  • fernweher
  • Stentor
    • 0
      Stentor  

    • Methinks the district is being responsive to the parents that actually pay for it as opposed to outside pressure groups that this article is designed to stir up. Mind your own business, raise your own kids if you have them, and pay attention to your own local districts and quit pestering these people.

    • 2 years ago
  • DeliaTheArtist
  • fernweher
    • 0
      fernweher  
    • Stentor:

      ignoring the expansion of censorship is not a good idea. if information is blocked in one town, it affects everyone who is trying to share information worldwide. on top of this, disturbing events that are ignored have a way of spreading to other areas until public action is taken. if no one objects to indiana's censorship it could make it easier for other schools to adopt the same plan.

    • 2 years ago
  • Toughth
    • 0
      Toughth  
    • logicpocket:

      In other words we don't want anyone upsetting the moral right apple cart. If to many decide somone is schisting the public with superstition we should consider that it founded on morals. It seems to me the most moral people are the ones who are willing to do the most damage.

    • 2 years ago
  • IronLionZion
    • 0
      IronLionZion  

    • It's getting scary in this country, remember the school in missouri that caved in to parents about the Brass Evolutions band tshirts? Now this, I am so sick of certain religious groups in this country. What they don't realize is that we left england because we wanted to get away from a religious-ran state, now the religious-right wants to become exactly that, which is the most un-american thing I can think of and most of the founding fathers would be rolling in their graves if they knew what was going on now. The conservatives have been on the wrong side of history in almost every case when it pertains to social issues and progression of cultural values in this country.

    • 2 years ago
  • sugarlilly
  • J_Jammer
  • fernweher
  • J_Jammer
  • IronLionZion
  • Toughth
    • 0
      Toughth  

    • I live in Indianapolis. It dosn't amaze me to much about not allowing students to compare religious beleif. If it was up to the school board around here the earth would only be 10000 years old, and the only book that would realy count is the bible. If it was up to our government system many would be burnt at the stake for herasy. They would also sell tickets to the event by privetizing the rights for exectution.

    • 2 years ago
  • NotFooled
  • Toughth
    • 0
      Toughth  
    • Toughth:

      I was not really raised in Indiana. My education was a polyglot of several countrys and many states and diferent educational styes. I just went to school here for three years at the end of my high shcool time. befor I came here I was usualy trying to get lost in the Black Hills.

    • 2 years ago
  • Saladin
    • 0
      Saladin  

    • I remember when I was in school, they used to censor anything regarding socialism, communism or Marxism. It made doing reports a little annoying.

      Not only that, but it didn't work. Smart kids figured out ways to get around the screening, so all it did was punish kids actually trying to get work done.

      What I think is hilarious is that the same cunts that instituted this policy would probably go home and watch the news about Chinese internet and snort about how much better it is to be free in America.

      Much like how national politics works, there is this annoying minority of stuck-up, conservative fucktards who yell and scream as loud as they can to censor and lock away things to "protect" children. And the administrators are either too cowardly, too dumb or too fascist to care about it.

    • 2 years ago
  • Mudboy16
    • 0
      Mudboy16  

    • This is bullshit. If this spreads to other parts of Indiana (which it probably will) Something is going to have to happen at the Federal level to fix this.

    • 2 years ago
  • LadybugLady
    • 0
      LadybugLady [removed]  

    • I am going to write these folks I think young adults have to see all options of religion or beliefs. What is going on with the religious right nowadays,they are trying to shove their thoughts on everybody.

    • 2 years ago
  • Varex_Sythe
  • JanforGore
  • ii386
    • 0
      ii386  
    • JanforGore:

      Understandable considering you haven't grown up with computers in the classroom like I have, but computers can be a wonderful supplement to education. There are things that are more easily demonstrated with videos, graphs, animations, examples, pictures, etc...There are free study periods which students can explore the internet. There are computer classes in which students are encouraged to explore the internet in order to find research, get information for projects, get research ideas, and so on. There are many ways classroom learning is useful and other ways it is insufficient.

    • 2 years ago
  • Pawper
  • J_Jammer
  • sugarlilly
    • 0
      sugarlilly  

    • our educational system is archaic as they come & already a decade late for an update! but then to block avenues of learning even further? sounds just like america.

    • 2 years ago
  • occhipij
  • TitaniumDragon
    • 0
      TitaniumDragon  
    • occhipij:

      Except, of course, that they don't. Someone doesn't understand the first Amendment!

      The school is a public building. As such, it cannot, no matter what the parents want, restrict access selectively to certain materials. It could ban access to ALL religious materials (possibly, but possibly not; that too might violate the 1st amendment, though as part of a general ban it might be acceptable) or none of them, but not to only specific ones. This is very clear.

      GLBT ban most likely violates at least anti-discrimination laws which apply to all public schools, and most likely is a violation of the 1st and 14th amendments (equal protection under the laws) as well.

      There's no "PTA meeting" vote which could resolve this, and majority does not rule in such cases.

    • 2 years ago
  • goodname
  • Pawper
    • 0
      Pawper  
    • occhipij:

      The most parents can do is to ask the school not to allow their children on the internet. They can't tell the school to censor something in particular unless it violates the law, such as porn sites.

    • 2 years ago
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