PHOTO BY CARON SHAPIRO
Christian books in the Stuy Seekers’ display case.
Stuy H.S. Christian case
irked students, parents
BY CARON SHAPIRO
At Stuyvesant High School, a display
case of Christian evangelical
materials doesn’t seem quite
kosher to some parents and students.
It’s located near the auditorium
where you might expect to fi nd school
football or debating trophies.
The outfacing books in the exhibit,
such as “The Case for Christ” and
“Why Become a Christian,” are fl anked
by a cute photo of fuzzy baby ducklings
with a quote from the New Testament,
and a cuddly teddy bear wearing a
cross.
“I think this must be pressuring
the younger students who are new to
the school, especially,” said Virginia
Moore, the parent of a freshman girl.
“I am surprised that such a Christian
display is allowed in a public school.
With the lighting and the positioning
of the display, it almost seems that it is
sanctifi ed.”
Further muddying the holy waters
is the fact that the missionary presentation
is in the middle of the Muslim
students’ longtime worship circle, as
marked by a sheet of paper reading,
“This Area Reserved for Prayer, Eighth
Period” and a photo of Muslim prayer.
“There are many kids during the
month of Ramadan and generally during
Friday prayers,” said Syeda Jarrath,
a new graduate. “Praying together is
always nice.”
Rashid Rafi t, another recent Stuy
graduate, said some Muslim students
claim the display is an attempt to interest
them in Christianity. He personally
prefers to give the Christian group the
benefi t of the doubt, though.
“I think placing the books was done
because they thought the location there
was for religious expression,” Rafi t
said, adding, “but I sometimes have an
optimistic view of Stuy.”
The exhibit is run by the Stuy Seekers,
a student Christian group whose
stated Facebook purpose includes outreach
to “nonbelievers.” They also hold
an annual “Jesus Day” in the school
cafeteria, giving out Bibles, along with
free food, to students who are “stressed
about the SAT’s.”
New York City education attorney
Shelley Stangler said these practices
are problematic.
“Students are allowed to have religious
clubs,” Stangler said, “but reasonable
restrictions, in terms of seeking
out adherents, can be imposed if they
are making students uncomfortable.
It’s like the banner rule. You can picket
an abortion clinic across the street, but
you can’t picket right outside the front
door and upset patients. So the display
doesn’t have to be in a public hallway
if other students walking by fi nd this
disturbing.”
Stuy parent Moore said the display
case displayed a case of poor judgment
and interfered with her family’s Catholic
practice.
“Is someone else proselytizing to my
child on school grounds?” she asked.
“Why wasn’t I, and the other parents,
consulted about this?”
As a direct result of this reporter’s
investigation, Danielle Filson, the deputy
secretary of the New York City Department
of Education, said the display
would be dismantled.
Filson gave a D.O.E. statement on
the issue, saying, “We respect and
value students’ freedom of expression.
We will store materials for all student
clubs in a closed area at the start of this
school year.”
The Stuy Seekers, and the adult regional
organization that supervises
them, did not return calls or e-mails
requesting comment.
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