Wisconsin Graduate Alleges Religious Discrimination Over Barred Bible Verse in Graduation Slideshow

A recent graduate from Arrowhead High School in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, is contending that school officials engaged in religious discrimination when they prevented her from featuring a Bible verse in a graduation ceremony slideshow. The school district cited its neutrality policy as the reason for the exclusion.

Sarianne Beronja, a member of the Class of 2026, had submitted the passage Proverbs 3:6 to accompany her photograph in a slideshow intended for display during the commencement event. The chosen verse states: "In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path."

Beronja reported that less than 24 hours before the ceremony, an associate principal informed her that the verse could not be used because religious messages were prohibited. According to the student, school administrators also rejected an alternative message she proposed, which expressed gratitude to God for being "beside me through these last four years."

School Justification and Policy

A school official, identified as Farner, explained the district's position, stating that the slideshow's parameters were defined in advance, strictly limiting content to family acknowledgements and future academic or career plans. Farner elaborated that the expectations and boundaries were clearly established and that the slideshow was never intended to be a platform for "ANY religious or political viewpoints."

"It is an extremely brief picture of each graduate that allows for an extremely brief thank you or future plans," Farner added. "Again, the slideshow is district-sponsored speech, NOT a public forum."

The school official referenced the 1988 Supreme Court decision in Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier. This ruling grants school administrators the authority to restrict school-sponsored expression if such restrictions are "reasonably related to legitimate educational concerns."

Farner further articulated that permitting political or religious expressions could foster a disruptive atmosphere at graduation. The school aimed to prevent a scenario where students and parents might feel compelled to bring "signs and buttons and flags" to convey their personal views.

Moving forward, Farner indicated that the school would no longer feature a slideshow during future graduation ceremonies.

Legal Challenge and Student Advocacy

Beronja and her mother are actively challenging the school district's policy, seeking to safeguard the expressive rights of future students. They have enlisted the support of the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL), a legal advocacy organization.

Sarianne Beronja voiced her perspective on the issue, stating, "We are celebrating our country’s 250th birthday, and, after all, the United States was founded on being a nation of religious freedom." She emphasized her belief that the school district should ensure that students of faith are not treated differently because their expression is religious, asserting that students should not fear rejection of a Bible verse when other personal messages are permitted.

WILL has formally accused the Arrowhead Union High School District of infringing upon the student's First Amendment rights.

Once a school creates an opportunity for students to express their own views, it cannot exclude religious viewpoints while permitting comparable non-religious speech. The actions by Arrowhead appear to have done exactly that.

The organization is urging the Arrowhead Union High School District to promptly revise its policy to ensure that students of faith are granted "the same constitutional protections afforded to every other student."

Cory Brewer, deputy counsel for WILL, underscored the group's stance, stating, "‘Separation of Church and State’ is not an excuse to erase the viewpoints of students of faith. Arrowhead invited students to express themselves and approved countless secular messages, but when Sarianne shared a Bible verse that reflected her faith, school officials censored it. That’s unconstitutional."

Brewer confirmed that WILL is prepared to initiate legal action if the district does not comply with their demands.