How ADL Makes a Difference

Separating Church and State

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Thanks to ADL training, more than 500 public school teachers in Kearny, New Jersey, have now been taught the proper role of religion in the public schools. What's more, all of the Kearny social studies teachers know how to instruct students in ADL's curriculum, The First Amendment in Public Schools, ensuring that it will become a regular part of the social studies program.

The trainings were meant to counteract the teaching of religious beliefs by an 11th grade history teacher, who spent the first week of class saying that evolution and the Big Bang are not scientific, dinosaurs were among the animals on Noah's Ark, and if you reject Jesus Christ, you belong in hell.

A student in the class, Matthew LaClair, and his family complained about the inapproriate material to the school and local Board of Education, but nothing happened. When Matthew's father threatened to take legal action, Matthew soon found himself ostracized and the recipient of a death threat. ADL contacted Mr. LaClair and offered to help. Months later, the agreement reached by the School Board and the LaClairs included ADL training in religious freedom.

“ADL taught the teachers about what the law is, about the separation of church and state as it applies to public schools,” says Matthew. “Clearly some of the teachers need it. Some teachers may not care. But some will actually take what they learn and use it in class. And that in itself is great.”

With your support, ADL can intervene wherever religious preferences and discrimination threaten religious freedom.