"to protect from the possibility of a dis-
that "the issue is not this organization.
ruption." The district apologized to
The issue is whether or not we are required
Warmack in January.146
to distribute literature from any organiza-
· Columbia--In the fall of the 200506 school
tion."144
year Fulton High School performed the
musical Grease, and at least one group--
Mississippi
members of the Callaway Christian
Intelligent Design
· Jackson--A state law signed by Governor
Church--complained that they were
offended by scenes showing students
Haley Barbour (R) in April says that
smoking, drinking, and kissing. For the
school officials cannot prohibit stu-
spring, drama teacher Wendy DeVore
dents or teachers from discussing how
chose to perform Arthur Miller's The
life began. In general, however, local
Crucible, which depicts the 17th-century
school officials have said they haven't
Salem witch trials. On the heels of the com-
had much trouble handling evolution,
plaints about Grease, however, district
and that they fear the new statute is so
Superintendent Mark Enderle told DeVore
vague that it invites lawsuits. The prob-
to choose something else. She changed her
lem, perhaps, is that an early version of
selection to A Midsummer Night's Dream,
the law was too specific--and too con-
but when administrators nonetheless told
troversial--stating that schools could
her that her contract might not be
not prohibit discussions about the
renewed, she announced her resignation.
"flaws or problems which may exist in
"It became too much to not be able to
Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution
speak my mind or defend my students
and the existence of other theories of
without fear or retribution," she said.147
evolution, including, but not limited to,
the Intelligent Design explanation of
the origin of life." That version was
Sex Education
· Jefferson City--In February, Rep. Cynthia
rejected in the House and the language
that was eventually enacted was a com-
Davis (R-O'Fallon) introduced legisla-
promise.145
tion that would have ended require-
ments that public schools in Missouri
teach about birth control and would
Missouri
have required districts to only tell stu-
Freedom of Expression
· Jackson--More than 1,600 people signed
dents that accurate information is avail-
able from their doctor. Davis said that
an Internet petition demanding an
the legislation was a good compromise
apology from a high school principal
between encouraging abstinence and
when he prohibited a student from
giving students information about con-
attending a school dance in a kilt. In
traception. Rep. Beth Low (D-Kansas
November, Jackson High School senior
City) argued, however, that the compro-
Nathan Warmack attempted to wear a
mise was bad because it would make
kilt to the school's "Silver Arrow" dance
"information about pregnancy and con-
in order, he said, to honor his Scottish
traception available only for those who
heritage. Principal Rick McClard, how-
can afford it."148
ever, told Warmack he had to go change
because "this is my dance, and I'm not
going to have students coming into it
Montana
looking like clowns." District superin-
Religion
· Missoula--In June, a group called Good
tendent Ron Anderson later explained
that McClard had the authority to judge
Schools Montana filed a lawsuit against
appropriate dress for the event in order
the Missoula school district for selling a
38