GUEST OPINION: Students push back to keep items of faith

By CHARLES C. HAYNES
First Amendment Center
When Jake Balthazor was sent to the office by his teacher last week, imagine his surprise.

After all, Jake hadn’t disrupted class, failed to do his homework or committed any other offense that might lead to disciplinary action at Coon Rapids High School near Minneapolis.

The problem, it turned out, wasn’t with what the 15-year-old was doing, but with the black-and-silver rosary beads he was wearing.
Rosary beads are used by many Roman Catholics to offer prayers to the Virgin Mary.

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