[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 11198]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             BRENDA NICHOL

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, Brenda Nichol has taught for the Armstrong-
Indiana Intermediate Unit in western Pennsylvania for 8 years now. But 
on April 4, Brenda was notified that the small cross necklace she was 
wearing around her neck would have to be concealed by clothing or 
removed when she was in school. School officials claim that wearing the 
necklace in school violates the unit's policy as well as Pennsylvania 
school code regulations that prohibit school employees from wearing 
religious clothing or symbols in school. When asked to remove the 
necklace, Brenda refused. On April 8 she was suspended. On April 16 she 
was notified that the suspension would be for a year without pay.
  Mr. Speaker, this is outrageous. School personnel, just like 
students, do not check their constitutional liberties at the 
schoolhouse door. Brenda is a dedicated teacher who has a 
constitutional right to wear her little cross pendant around her neck 
at school. I hope the court will overturn the intermediate unit's harsh 
punishment for their ridiculous decision.

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