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The impact of religion on education issues separates four officials from their positions North Allegheny votes for new spirit on school board Thursday, May 17, 2001 By Pamela R. Winnick, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
After a minority of North Allegheny school board members opposed adoption of a controversial social studies textbook at an August board meeting, some residents accused the board of promoting a right-wing Christian agenda.
Although other issues face the district, religion clearly played a part in Tuesday's primary, when a six-member coalition of moderate Republicans swept to victory on both party ballots.
Winning by margins of nearly 2 to 1 were Linda Bishop, Beth Ludwig, Karen Boujoukos, Timothy Schweers, Jeff Morella and incumbent Dan Hubert.
Losers were incumbent board President Bob Howard and board members Joe Morrison and Dr. Eric Brader, and newcomer Lorna Gavin.
A number of local churches, including North Park Evangelical Presbyterian Church, distributed questionnaires to board candidates several weeks ago, soliciting their views on such controversial church-state issues as how evolution should be taught in science classes.
"I believe that the social studies textbook flap and other similar issues brought people to the polls so that those individuals who had a connection to the Christian Coalition would be defeated," said Rabbi Art Donsky of Temple Ohav Shalom in McCandless.
"While some of the [incoming] members are very strong in their religious beliefs, they understand the separation of church and state," said Louise Bradley, a member of the McCandless Republican Committee.
"I feel that there has been a push in this country to place people on school boards who would like to incorporate their fundamentalist views into our educational system," said Kathy DiBiase of Franklin Park, one of a number of critics of the outgoing board.
"While they have every right to hold their beliefs, I am dedicated to working toward public schools that are free of religious coercion of any kind."
In a letter distributed to Franklin Park residents last week, board member Joy Allen, who did not seek re-election, raised religion as a campaign issue.
"A belief in God, no matter what your religion, is important because it tells a voter much about a person's character and values," Allen wrote.
"Taxpayers need to feel confident that their tax dollars are being spent wisely without conflicting with their religious beliefs."
Even off the campaign trail, religion has spurred a number of controversies in the district in recent years.
Three years ago, Loren Filson, then a senior at North Allegheny Senior High School, complained that the school had scheduled exams and meetings with college admissions officers on Jewish holidays and displayed Christmas ornaments without recognizing other holidays.
Despite an 8-1 board vote to change its policies, last year it did not schedule Yom Kippur as a holiday, adding to the controversy and resentment.
Two years ago, several Jewish parents complained about the planned performance of "Godspell," a musical about the life of Jesus. In a 7-1 vote, the board sided with the complainants and canceled the production, But that decision angered other residents who felt their own free speech rights had been violated.
Last summer, some board members tried to block adoption of a fifth-grade social studies textbook perceived by some as being politically leftist.
Board member Lois Schultz, who was not up for re-election this year, was the textbook's chief opponent. Elected two years ago, Schultz has faced criticism because her children attend Eden Christian Academy rather than the district's schools.
In a July 16 memo to the board, Schultz stated her objections to the textbook. Among them were the book's "inclusion of Duke Ellington, Martin Luther King, Geraldine Ferraro, Betty Friedan and the National Organization for Women," along with its treatment of the issue of the Second Amendment right to bear arms.
Although the board ultimately approved the textbook, the issue remained fresh among some district residents, who feared that conservatives on the board might continue to mix religion and education, particularly in such controversial areas as the teaching of evolution.
Still others do not believe religion played a major role in the outcome of the primary, citing other pressing issues -- classroom size and renovation of the district's aging buildings -- as far more decisive.
"Religion was never an issue," Ludwig said. "It wasn't why I chose to run." She said she was more concerned about educational issues, such as class size and curriculum.
Bishop, who captured the most votes of any candidate, also claimed religion was not an issue -- at least not until Allen made it so in her letter.
Allen wrote: "[Bishop] was at the heart of religious attacks against myself and other board members when we did not approve of a fifth-grade social studies textbook. Mrs. Bishop and her supporters felt that my Catholic religion excluded me from making effective decisions about textbooks."
Bishop, a graduate of Catholic schools, said she was "devastated" by Allen's remarks. "I have a deep and abiding faith in God," Bishop said.
"And I forgive Joy Allen."
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