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High School Denies Students' Request to Start Pro-life Club

  • Veronica Neffinger

    Veronica Neffinger wrote her first poem at age seven and went on to study English in college, focusing on 18th century literature. When she is not listening to baseball games, enjoying the…

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  • Updated May 18, 2017

A Pennsylvania high school has denied the request of some students who wanted to form a pro-life school group.

LifeNews.com reports that attorneys from the Thomas More Society have sent a letter to the administrators of Parkland High School in Allentown, alleging that the school is discriminating against the students and demanding the pro-life group be granted permission to meet.

The controversy began last fall when a group of students approached school officials about starting a Students for Life group. School officials told the students they needed to submit a club proposal and obtain an adviser, which the students did.

Despite this, the application for the pro-life club was denied because it was deemed too “political” and “controversial.” When one of the students emailed the assistant principal asking what the group could do to become approved, she received no response.

LifeNews also notes that, although the school denied the pro-life group’s request, it allows groups such as the Gay Straight Alliance, the Political Science Club, and the Fashion Club.

Parkland senior Elizabeth Castro had this to say about the school’s refusal to allow the formation of the club: “As a club, our purpose is to create a life-affirming culture at our school, educate our peers on the issue of life, hold diaper drives to support pregnant and parenting students, and become a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. The school is not only denying our right to start a group but also denying the opportunity for others at our school to learn about the greatest human rights social injustice of our time.”

Jocelyn Floyd, Thomas More Society Special Counsel, stated, “There is absolutely no question that the law protects the right of these students to form this club at their high school.”

The Thomas More Society told Parkland officials that their denial of the pro-life club violates the First Amendment rights of the students. The Society is calling on the school to immediately reverse its decision and allow the club to be created.

 

Publication date: May 18, 2017