1. Grade 12 “Promoting Respect” Workshop “Religious freedom” through attire Greater Mankato Diversity Council

2. Introduction And you Instructions:
One of the facilitators introduces GMDC
Each facilitator introduce themselves—possibly mention something about themselves that is relevant to the topic of the day
Ask students to introduce themselves---name and something relevant to this grade topic such as “name any religion,” “which country you want to visit…what is the major religion of the country?” etc.

3. Rules and expectations
Respect the rights, beliefs and opinions of all participants.
Use respectful tone of voice, non-judgmental, respectful words, and respectful nonverbal communication.
Respectful as opposed to disrespectful communication.
 Examples: “My religion does not believe that” as opposed to “Your religion is crazy to believe that.”
 Other examples of speaking with respect:
I have a question about ……
 Can you tell me more about ….
 I think it is interesting that you …..
 That reminds me of ….
 I used to think ……but now I think …..
 Thank you for telling me more about ……
 Can you please tell me why…..
Instructions:
Religion is a sensitive topic. We will review these rules and expectations first.

4. First Amendment Freedom of: Religion Speech Press Instruction:
Ask students what the first amendment guarantees.

5. 1st Amendment: Freedom of Religion
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof …”
Instructions:
Explain vocabulary: Thereof = of it
Guide the students to understand that the freedom of religion First Amendment has 2 parts.
Part 1: What does it mean?
The government can’t make one religion the official religion of the U.S. .
The government can’t make one religion the official religion of the U.S.

6. 1st Amendment: Freedom of Religion
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof …”
Instructions:
Explain vocabulary: Thereof = of it
Part 2: What does it mean?
The government can’t interfere with anyone’s religious beliefs or with their right not to practice a religion.
Ask examples: .
The government can’t interfere with anyone’s religious beliefs or with their right not to practice a religion.

7. For example: Government cannot stop Christians from going to church.
Government cannot stop Jews from believing in one God.
Government cannot stop Muslims from praying 5 times a day.
Government cannot stop Buddhists from praying in Sanskrit.
Government cannot make Sikhs cut their hair.
Government cannot force a nonbeliever to believe.
Instructions
Show these examples one by one.
Government cannot stop Christians from going to church.
Government cannot stop Jews from believing in one God.
Government cannot stop Muslims from praying 5 times a day.
Government cannot stop Buddhists from praying in Sanskrit.
Government cannot make Sikhs cut their hair.
Government cannot force a nonbeliever to believe.

8. Objectives of this lesson
Over 310 religions and denominations in the US + atheists and agnostics.
Impossible to cover every aspect of religious freedom in 45 minutes.
We are going to look at one aspect of religious freedom as an example: religious attire
There are some complex issues regarding religious attire.

9. Female head coverings Instructions:
Ask what religion these women belong to?
Buddhism
Judaism
Christianity
Muslim
Some people do not feel comfortable seeing women in hijab.
But women with head covering has been quite common throughout world regardless of what religion you practice.
What do you think of this?

10. Limitations of First Amendment Rights
Religious practices that seem to be protected by the First Amendment can sometimes become the subject of controversy and legal challenge.
Instructions:
Explain the following in your own words:
The “Free Exercise” clause of the First Amendment prohibits the government from interfering with the practices of any religion except in the “compelling interest” of the greater society as determined by law and the courts. What this means is that: Although religious belief is fully protected, religious conduct is limited by laws (Marci Hamilton) and as determined by the courts. For example, it is against the law to be married to more than one person at a time even if your religion allows it.

11. You are the lawyer!
You are representing the Florida State or Ms. Freeman (case 1) or Ms. Tagore or Dept. of Homeland Security (case2)
Each group is assigned to one of the cases and which side you are arguing for.
Read the case and discuss within the group and come up with your reasoning supporting your client. Give the reasoning to the whole class.
Groups assigned to Case 1 is the judges for Case 2 and vise versa.
Instructions:
Group students into even groups
Assign one of the two cases to each group and which side they are arguing for.
Hand out Case #1 and Case #2 to students
Have students discuss within the group to come up with their reasoning to support their client.
Explain:
We are going top examine two court cases regarding religious attire, in particular, hijab and small knife, Kirpan. First read the case you are assigned and have discussion. Assuming you are the layers and come up with the argument to support your client.

12. kirpan
niqab

13. CASE #1: Sultaana Freeman v. State of Florida Dept
CASE #1: Sultaana Freeman v. State of Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
In 2002 The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida filed a religious discrimination lawsuit against the State of Florida on behalf of Sultaana LaKiana Myke Freeman, a Muslim woman who wears niqab and does not reveal her face to men outside her family.
The complaint alleged that state officials violated Freeman's rights when they revoked her driver's license because she refused to replace her old driver's license photograph in which her face was covered with one showing her entire face.
Instructions:
Read the summary of the case posted on screen to let case 2 students know what case 1 is about. Ask each of the case 1 groups to give their argument to support their client. Ask case 2 people which side won the argument.
Does Freeman have a claim involving a sincere religious belief?
Is the action of the government imposing a substantial burden on Freeman’s ability to act on her religious beliefs?
Is the State of Florida action furthering a “compelling state interest?”
Has the State of Florida pursued that interest in a manner that is least restrictive or least burdensome to Freeman’s religion?

14. Case1: Actual Court Decision:
In 2003:
May – Freeman v. State of Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles took place in Circuit Court under Judge Janet C. Thorpe.
Judge Thorpe ruled against Freeman.
Freeman appealed. 
In 2004:
The Appellate Court heard oral arguments.
In 2006:
– Original decision was upheld.
Instructions:
Read the actual court decision.

15. CASE #2: Kawaljeet K. Tagore v
CASE #2: Kawaljeet K. Tagore v. United States Department of Homeland Security
In 2004, “Tagore was hired as a revenue agent for the IRS in the George “Mickey” Leland federal building (“Leland building”) in Houston, Texas.
In April 2005, she participated in an Amrit Sanskar ceremony, pursuant to which she was formally initiated into the Sikh faith. Following the ceremony, Tagore began wearing the five articles of the Sikh faith, including an approximately 9–inch kirpan.” (Tagore v. United States, n.d.)
The kirpan is “a Sikh article that resembles a knife or sword but, unlike those objects, often has an edge that is curved or blunted.” (Tagore v. United States, n.d.)
Tagore was fired and she sued for wrongful termination based on having her religious rights violated. After initially having the case dismissed, Tagore has appealed to the Fifth Circuit of the US District Court of Appeals.
Instructions:
Read the summary of the case 2 on screen to let case 1 students know what case 2 is about. Ask each of the case 2 groups to give their argument to support their client. Ask case 1 people which side won the argument.
Does Tagore have a claim involving a sincere religious belief?
Is the action of the government imposing a substantial burden on Tagore’s ability to act on her religious beliefs?
Which side, employer or employee, should initiate a discussion of the employee’s religious beliefs and the need for reasonable accommodation?
Can/should employees be treated differently based on assumptions about their religion?
Is 3” a safe length for a knife blade? Is 2.5”?

16. Case 2: Actual Court Decision
2013 5th Circuit Ruling*
A three-judge panel ruled in favor of the fired employee (Judicial Watch, 2013)
“found her religious freedom rights were violated by the government. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) put a “substantial burden” on the religious exercise of the Sikh IRS employee by prohibiting her from working at the Houston federal building due to her faith, according to the decision.” (Judicial Watch, 2013)
2014 Civil Agreement between Tagore and the U.S.
The U.S. has for the first time recognized that the kirpan, a small knife used in Sikh religious services, is a religious article entitled to accommodation under federal law” (Orzeck, 2014)
Agreed to “clear Tagore’s personnel records of any reference to her having violated federal law by entering federal buildings with her kirpan, allowing her to apply for and obtain reemployment with any federal agency.” (Orzeck, 2014)
* During the hearings in 2014, Tagore and other Sikh witnesses were allowed by the court to wear Kirpins into the Houston courthouse to be able to attend and testify. This ruling was considered a “first-of-its-kind order”(Orzeck, 2014)
Instructions:
Read the actual court decision from the screen.
Orzeck, Kurt. Nov U.S. Settles Religious Bias Suit, Allows Sikh Knife At IRS Retrieved from
Judicial Watch. November 18, Sword ban in fed buildings violates Sikh religious rights. Retrieved from
Tagore v. United States. Retrieved from

17. Closing
Why do you think it is important to understand the freedom of religion?
We reviewed the examples of religious attire. Sometimes, it is easy to tell what religion others believe based on their attire. Do you think we can respect people who believe in religions different from ours (or no religion)? How?
Instructions:
Ask students these questions and have a short discussion if time allows.
1) It relates to our fundamental right. Therefore it is important to know/understand when your right is violated.
2) By not discriminating, by not excluding , by understanding their religion. We may believe in different religions but that’s it. Like skin color, everything else is the same. We can respect them as human beings.

18. Feedback
1= Strongly Agree 2=Agree 3=Disagree 4=Strongly Disagree
Today I learned more about the basic facts of the First Amendment to the Constitution
In the group activity, using the example of religious attire, we discussed how religious freedom might conflict with Law
I learned that employers have to have reasonable accommodations regarding religion and cannot discriminate based on religious attire.
From our class session, I can see the value of standing up for my own religious beliefs and practices and others.
Instructions:
Watch time.
One facilitator (or ask teacher’s help) distributes the students feedback sheets. Explain 1, 2, 3, 4
Read questions
Ask for any comments at the bottom.
Thank all the students for their participation and administer the feedback survey encouraging honest answers and comments on the bottom.
Please write any comment on this presentation at the bottom of the sheet.

19. Thank you!
Thank students and the teacher.