Religion & Expression: Has Columbia High School Gone too Far?

By Romilda Perfidio


“We all believe in God at this school - there’s no room for someone like you here.” Words allegedly spoken by Jan Gorlin, principal of Columbia High School in Mapelwood, South Orange, when reprimanding a junior for wearing a t-shirt stating, “Proud to be an Atheist.” Susan Taylor, the junior in question, wore the shirt on June 2, 2000, exercising her First Amendment rights to free expression. Citing Tinker v. Des Moines School District, Taylor claims her t-shirt did not disrupt her classes and caused only a few comments from other students during her time at school.

She says: “I couldn’t believe he said that. I was just trying to express a different point of view.” Gorlin denied making the comment in a telephone interview by claiming: “I never said that to Susan. I’ve been an educator for 30 years. I would never hurt a student like that.”

David Kasper, history teacher at Columbia, a public school, for 22 years, confronted Taylor about the t-shirt before her third period class and sent her to the principal’s office. According to Taylor, Kasper told her she was “going straight to hell.” Principal Gorlin demanded Taylor change her shirt, however she refused and claims she was pushed and shoved from the building by a security guard. Taylor was later suspended for three weeks.

In response to the School District upholding her suspension by claiming that school officials have a right to run the school and to maintain order, Taylor filed suit against the School District of Maplewood/South Orange for violating her First Amendment right to freedom of expression. She is suing to overturn her suspension.

The suit was filed in Newark, NJ federal court on June 26, 2000. Taylor is seeking $1 million in compensatory damages and $2.5 million in punitive damages from the School District.

Eileen Bauer, the District attorney claims, “The courts have no authority to manage the day-to-day operations of a school.” However Taylor’s attorney, Nicholas Sullivan, says the parties are trying to work out a settlement. The District insists Taylor serve the entire suspension and that she never wear the t-shirt at issue to school again. Sullivan said he rejected the offer.