"Primarily, we felt it was important to establish that neutrality is required under the [First Amendment] Establishment Clause," Monk says. "And Dr. Corbett's actions were unconstitutional. . . . If Christian teachers are required to keep their faith out of the classroom because of an incorrect interpretation of the Establishment Clause requiring separation of church and state, then at the very minimum, teachers should also be prohibited from espousing anti-Christian viewpoints on a daily basis because that is not neutral either." Chad was subject to these sentiments repeatedly, Monk says. "Dr. Corbett should know better. He cannot, as an actor for the government, stand up in the classroom and espouse anti-Christian viewpoints on a daily basis."
Corbett maintains that his comments in class were and are not hostile to Christianity. "Honestly, I think that most people who hear what I have to say are going to realize that I would never do what they have accused me of doing," he says. "I don't care what other people's religion is. I will admit that I'm intolerant of religious-based racism, misogyny, homophobia and a variety of other religious-based excuses for discrimination."
Keith May
Corbett: what kind of glasses are those?
Christoffer Heckman
Current and former students rallied to support Corbett outside Capo Valley High after the suit was filed last December
One of Corbett's former students, a staunch Christian who plans to earn a master's of divinity, recently sent a statement to Corbett about his years as a pupil: "Dr. Corbett does not hate religion or religious people," Taylor Ishii wrote. "As an educated person, he understands a lot about Christianity and has no problems with pointing out if things that Christians do don't line up with their core beliefs. Never did I feel like he hated me or persecuted me in class for my beliefs. If anything, he challenged me to think more critically from my given Christian perspective."
Monk's clients are asking that Corbett be removed from teaching this particular class at Capo Valley. If he is removed, apologizes and takes sensitivity-training classes, Monk says, the suit will be dropped.
Corbett says he rejects these terms and is preparing himself for what may come, either a summary judgment from the court or a jury trial. The next court date is April 28, a hearing on a motion by the California Teachers Association, of which Corbett is a member, to "intervene as defendants" in the case.
"It's stressful, but I still see it as a teaching moment," Corbett says. "The kids have to see now, because I've talked about this my whole life, that you have to have the courage to stand up to people who would try and beat you down through intimidation.
"It is unsettling. But hey, they're only shooting at me intellectually," he says. "I've been shot at with real bullets. So, this I can handle."
daltan@ocweekly.com, garellano@ocweekly.com
RELATED LINKS
• Chad Farnan on Bill O'Reilly
• Fox News Report
• The Orange County Register Coverage
• LA Times Coverage
