The board of Papillion-La Vista High School in Nebraska voted unanimously to fire Robert Ziegler, a second-year math teacher. His offense? He openly admitted to sharing his Christian faith with students during math classes. I wonder where he got the idea that being hired as a math teacher gave him that authority.

The Omaha Channel reports:

Administrators said he discussed Christianity while teaching his math class several times, and parents and students had complained. ... He told the open meeting during three hours of testimony that he doesn't regret talking about God in his classroom, and he felt that as a teacher and a Christian he had no choice but to teach students about God.

"I know that in the end, that he's (God) going to judge me about what I've done," Ziegler said. "And that makes me think I'm responsible, whether I want to be or not, in the position of authority, I'm responsible for 120 kids and what they learn." ... Ziegler said he had chosen to follow God's law instead of man-made laws.

Ziegler evidently has supporters in the community, but I'd wager that they only support him because they share his religious beliefs (and thus don't need to be taught them). If Ziegler were a Muslim or a Jehovah's Witness, I'm sure that the same people would be outraged at someone abusing their position to promote a false or heretical faith like that.

What they wouldn't understand, though, is that both situations are effectively the same from a legal standpoint. A public school math teacher doesn't acquire the authority to teach religion simply because they are teaching the most popular religion. Teaching religion belongs in homes and churches, not public schools. The state cannot be trusted with the power to pick religions for the purpose of promotion.

Ziegler is right that his position of authority gave him responsibility for 120 kids, but his position as a public school teacher did not give him responsibility for their religious education. He was not made responsible for ensuring that they had orthodox beliefs, that they had a proper relationship with God, or that they correctly adhered to religious laws. All of this was outside his area of authority. Ziegler was hired as a math teacher, not a priest.

Read More:

• Separation of Church and State 101
• Church and State News
• Religion in Public Schools
• Secularism 101