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ditional religions, occult sites," students

effort to remove Vamos a Cuba from Miami-

in a World Religions class in Osprey

Dade district schools, David Rosenthal

couldn't access information on a number

called on the district to remove Cuban Kids

of religions that are considered outside of

as well, another book charged with por-

the mainstream, including sites dis-

traying life in Castro's Cuba as too pleas-

cussing the Dalai Lama and Tibetan

ant. This time, though, the Miami-Dade

Buddhism. The filter was required under

board of education might have dodged a

the federal Children's Internet Protection

major fight, dismissing Rosenthal's com-

Act of 2000, which mandated that all

plaint because he lives in Broward County,

school districts and libraries receiving

not Miami-Dade. Rosenthal, however,

federal funds have filters in place to pro-

promised to fight on, saying that the dis-

tect children against material deemed

missal was a result of "either ignorance on

obscene or otherwise harmful to minors.

their part or a disingenuous attempt to

quash the complaint."89

"It just isn't right," said sophomore

Melody Stromal. "We should be able to

look at information on whichever reli-

Homosexuality

· Miami--Miami Sunset Senior High starts

gion we want." District administrators

were sympathetic to the students' plight

off every day with a student-run televi-

and said they were trying to refine what

sion broadcast. One such broadcast at

the filters blocked, but pointed out that

the end of February threw the school into

it can be hard to know what is or is not

turmoil when, in a series of segments fea-

a legitimate site or religion.91

turing students and staff talking about

· Leon County--When she didn't hear any

their views on homosexuality, a few stu-

dents and a teacher spoke out against it.

Christian music at the Fairview Middle

Business technology teacher Donna

School band concert in December, grand-

Reddick's comments were particularly

parent Sandy Fulton started a petition for

upsetting for many students. Reddick

more Christian music at school concerts.

said that "God destroyed Sodom and

Fairview Principal Roger Pinholster told

Gomorrah because of their sexual sins,

her, however, that he could not promise

which included homosexuality."

that more Christian music would be in

After Reddick's and the critical stu-

future concerts, saying that he thought

dents' views aired, district officials began

the selection of pieces should be left up to

to review their policies on religious and

the music director. Still, he said he

free expression, but Principal Lucia Cox

respected Fulton's "right to her beliefs

nonetheless suggested that the critical

and her right to ask question." Brenda

comments from both Reddick and the

Havlicak, head of the Fairview band-par-

students might have violated school

ent organization, suggested that it might

board policy because "we separate church

be best to steer clear of religious music

and state" and "don't discriminate against

altogether: "As a parent, I just want all

children to feel included and welcome."92

sexual preference." Matt Staver, president

of Liberty Council in Orlando, had a very

different viewpoint: "To censor or dis-

Georgia

criminate against this teacher because her

Intelligent Design

· Cobb County--In fall 2002, the Cobb

viewpoint is objectionable to some is, in

my view, unconstitutional."90

County school board ordered that all high

school biology textbooks bear a sticker

stating that "this textbook contains mate-

Religion

· Sarasota County--Thanks to a web filter

rial on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not

a fact, regarding the origin of living things.

that blocked students' access to "nontra-

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