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http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2008/01/19/religion/dpt-intheory12.txt
http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2008/04/03/religion/dpt-spiritualguidance03292008.txt
http://www.templeisaiahoc.org/
(...as published in the Daily Pilot)
IN THEORY:
Should teachers sign oath?
[Published: Friday, May 9, 2008 10:24 PM PDT]
Daily Pilot: "Teacher Wendy Gonaver was recently released from Cal State Fullerton just before her first class because she did not sign a loyalty oath swearing to defend the U.S. and California constitutions against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Gonaver, a Quaker and pacifist, said she felt the oath infringes on her rights of free speech and religious freedom. Do you think the Cal State system is right to insist on the oath?"
Pastor Tomlinson: Of all the questions that have been submitted for In Theory, this is the most difficult for me. It touches on freedom of speech and religious expression, which are very dear to my heart as an American, a veteran and a Christian. At first, we might be tempted to side with the teacher. As I search my heart on this, however, I have to side with Cal State Fullerton on this very difficult decision. Here is my reasoning:
1. Our constitutional guarantees are not unlimited freedom to do as we please. A civilized society must sometimes limit the desires of an individual to maintain order and the common good.
2. The requirement to sign the loyalty oath has been around since 1952. It should not have been a surprise to the teacher that she would be expected to abide by the same law as have more than 2 million Californians who signed the oath as a condition of employment.
3. I agree with the original intent of the oath, which, if I understand it correctly, was to prevent educators from teaching anti-American sentiments to young people. Our schools should not be classrooms for disgruntled, unhappy people to vent.
I feel for the teacher, but I believe that as long as the law requires the signing of the oath, she should either sign it and abide by it, or seek employment in some other venue.
Pastor Dwight Tomlinson
Liberty Baptist Church
Newport Beach
