Michigan School Offers “Special Consideration’ To Teachers Of Non-Christian Faith

CAPCON reports this morning that a teachers union contract in Ferndale Public Schools gives ‘special consideration’ to teachers from ethnic minorities and who are of a Non-Christian faith.

This is in direct violation of both state and federal discrimination laws. The Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act states:

 “It shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting.”

The Federal Civil Rights Act forbids discrimination of any kind that is based on religion. The Ferndale contract is a clear violation of both these laws. The contract itself has a no discrimination clause that says clearly that no person can be discriminated against because of their religion but then further on, on page 22 of the contract it states:

Should there be two (2) or more of these applicants with equal qualifications for the position and one (1) or more of these applicants with equal qualifications is a current employee, the current employee with the greatest seniority shall be assigned. Special consideration shall be given to women and/or minority defined as: Native American, Asian American, Latino, African American and those of the non-Christian faith. However, in all appointments to vacant positions, the Board’s decision shall be final.

To my way of thinking this raises several important issues:

• Is there an under-represented clause somewhere in the Federal Civil Rights Act that allows recruitment from unrepresented groups based on the ethnic mix of the area?
• Is there a clause in either Act that allows preferential treatment for women due to an imbalance in the sexes?
• If Ferndale Schools have no religious affiliation, why would religion be considered when applying for a job/promotion?
• Why, in a non-religious school, would having Christian teachers be less preferable than having Muslim, Buddist, Hindu or any other religion?
• In a non-religious school why is religion even mentioned?
• Who wrote the contract? Could this have a bearing on the wording?
• Why has it taken three years for someone to notice?
• Have sexual discrimination laws been broken?
• Have racial Discrimination laws been broken?

Richard Thompson, president of the Thomas More Law Center in Ann Arbor said:

“Why would they be discriminating against Christians? They are not supposed to be discriminating against people for their religious beliefs. It’s outrageous. And I believe it’s unconstitutional.”

Thompson is right, it is outrageous. If a contract came to light bluntly stating that preference would be given to Christian male teachers all hell would break loose. There is enough persecution of Christians in foreign lands without faith discrimination becoming an issue on home soil.