High School Faces Fight Over Satan Reference

Attorney General Reviewing Policy

POSTED: 9:36 am HST February 6, 2002
UPDATED: 12:12 pm HST February 6, 2002

HONOLULU -- Kaimuki High School's dress code came under fire Tuesday from a member of the Church of Satan.

The dress code singles out clothing and accessories that promote Satanism.

The head of Citizens for the Separation of State and Church said the school's policy violates free speech provisions in the Constitution.

KITV 4 News saw piercings, dyed hair and bare midriffs. However, the school's written policy states the following are not allowed in classrooms: gang-related clothing, or clothing promoting alcohol, tobacco, profanity, or Satanism.

"Just simply labeling it as Satanist is inappropriate. It singles out one religion over others and you can't do that under the Constitution," Mitchell Kahle of CSSC said.

The head of Citizens for Separation of State and Church said the complaint came from a member of the Church of Satan who works at the school. The person was offended by the policy but wants to remain anonymous.

Most students KITV 4 News talked to said they don't know any Satanists at the school but support the right of religious expression.

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"Satanism, believe it or not, it is a religion. People actually believe it. It's a way of life so if you can wear a shirt that says Jesus loves you, you should be able to wear a shirt that has a pentagram on it," Kahle said.

"If people are allowed to wear bracelets that say: 'What Would Jesus Do,' they should be allowed to say: 'What would Satan do,'" 10th grader Ashley Williams said.

But not all agreed with questioning the policy, saying some clothing is disruptive.

"We go to school to learn, not to, like, it's not like a fashion show," senior Alice Kim said.

Department of Education spokesman Greg Knudsen said the attorney general's office is reviewing the policy.

As a result of Tuesday's complaint, the reference to Satanism in the dress code policy will be taken out.

It's already been deleted from the school's Web site. However, it's unclear how many hard copies of the policy exist with the Satanism reference and how those will be deleted.