Teacher faces suspension for refusing to remove crucifix from classroom

Marisol Arroyo-Castro, a dedicated teacher from Connecticut with over three decades of experience, has found herself in a controversial situation. Recently placed on administrative leave, Arroyo-Castro is facing the potential loss of her job for her refusal to take down a crucifix from her workspace—a symbol that she holds dear and has displayed for the past ten years.

The incident began last December when Arroyo-Castro received an unexpected email from her supervisor, summoning her to the vice principal’s office. “It was a regular day,” she recalled, detailing the shock of being called in for a meeting about her cross. During this encounter, she was instructed to remove the crucifix, which her superiors deemed inappropriate for a school setting.

According to Arroyo-Castro’s legal team at First Liberty Institute, her refusal to comply was followed by a two-day suspension without pay. In an effort to adhere to the directive, she briefly relocated the crucifix to a drawer—a decision that left her in tears. The emotional weight of hiding her faith was overwhelming, prompting her to return the crucifix to its rightful place.

As someone raised with strong Catholic values, the cross represented more than just a religious symbol for Arroyo-Castro. “It was my comfort zone,” she expressed, explaining how it brought her solace during her teaching career.

In defense of Arroyo-Castro, Keisha Russell, senior counsel at First Liberty Institute, passionately argued that teachers, like Arroyo-Castro, have the right to display personal items that reflect their values and interests in their workspaces. “What you would expect someone — a teacher — to have in their personal desk space — pictures of family, etc., and that means that that space is that teacher’s private expression,” she stated. The legal team believes that the school district’s actions infringe upon the teacher’s constitutional rights.

Russell also highlighted parallels between Arroyo-Castro’s case and that of former football coach Joe Kennedy, who achieved a significant Supreme Court victory over similar issues of religious expression in schools. While expressing outrage at the current situation, Russell emphasized that the school district is violating multiple laws and that they refuse to back down in their pursuit of justice for Arroyo-Castro.

Fellow teachers have rallied around Arroyo-Castro, expressing support amid the backlash. She insists that giving in to the demands to remove the crucifix would compromise her integrity. “I knew that I wasn’t doing anything wrong,” she said, firm in her beliefs regarding religious expression.

The situation remains tense as Arroyo-Castro’s attorneys have formally requested that the New Britain School District reverse their decision concerning the cross. So far, the district has resisted these efforts, leaving the door open for a possible federal lawsuit if their stance doesn’t change. “If they don’t, we will sue them in federal court,” Russell affirmed, standing firm in their commitment to protect Arroyo-Castro’s rights.

Meanwhile, Arroyo-Castro is determined to shed light on what she believes is an unjust interpretation of the Constitution regarding religious freedom. “The Constitution was meant to protect religious liberty, not to hinder it,” she emphasized, pushing back against what she sees as misuse of constitutional principles to stifle personal expression.

A request for comments from the New Britain School District has yet to be answered, leaving many questions unanswered in this unfolding story.

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