Hawaii ACLU calls for end to release of students for religious education

By The Associated Press

03.18.01

Printer-friendly page

HONOLULU — The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii is calling for a Kauai school to end its practice of releasing a large group of children during school hours to receive religious education at nearby churches.

The ACLU said Hanalei School ends classes 45 minutes early every Wednesday so that students can attend religious education programs at Waioli Hui'ia Church and St. William Church.

Permission slips for the program are distributed and collected by the school's homeroom teachers.

Deputy Attorney General Russell Suzuki said Monday in response to a letter from the ACLU that the practice of school officials distributing permission slips will end. But he said the practice of releasing students will be allowed to continue.

The ACLU is considering its "next course of action," according to legal director Brent White. The organization believes the practice of releasing children for religious education is unconstitutional because it violates the establishment clause of the First Amendment which demands separation of church and state.

Department of Education spokesman Greg Knudsen said state law and Board of Education policy allows for the release of students for religious purposes up to 60 minutes each week. He said the law had been on the books for a long time.

About 90 of the 176 students at Hanalei School participate in the program. Knudsen said he knows of no other school where a large number of students are released at one time.