Governor Signs Repeal On Teachers' Religious Dress; Ban Will Lift In July 2011

April 1, 2010

Author: Betsy Hammond

Source: The Oregonian

http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2010/04/governor_signs_repeal_on_teach.html

With supporters of religious freedom looking on, Gov. Ted Kulongoski signed a bill this morning that will end Oregon's ban on teachers wearing head scarves and other religious attire. 

The ban won't lift until after the 2010-11 school year. The rationale for the delay is to give leaders of the state's labor and education agencies plenty of time to write detailed regulations for carrying out the new law.

The governor, who declined to comment on the issue while it was before lawmakers in February, called changing the law "The right thing to do." Some lawmakers in both parties opposed the bill on the grounds that schoolchildren might feel oppressed or proselytized by their teacher's religious headcovering or other similar attire.