CHS student says pentagram wrongly disallowed

A student identifying herself as Amber told the Carson City School Board Tuesday night that a "couple of teachers" at Carson High School have told her that the pentagram she wears to school is a symbol of witchcraft and not allowed.

The girl, who wore a pentagram to the board meeting, said she was familiar with school policy, and that what it disallowed was gang symbols.

"(Teachers) shouldn't say stuff like that if they don't know what they're talking about," she said.

A pentagram is a five-pointed star within a circle. To pagans, it represents the elements of earth, fire, air, water and spirit, with the circle representing unity.

"It's not against the policy," Amber said.

She addressed the board after a speaker from the Pagan Alliance of Nevada named Susanna Grows told trustees during public comment she was concerned that "children are being written up and sent to the office for wearing items that represent their spirituality."

She said that pagans are often misrepresented as "baby-puppy-kitten killers," when in fact they do charitable work, even helping out after Hurricane Katrina.

"Why aren't the pagan students being afforded the same rights under the Constitution as students who wear crosses?" she asked.

She called it a case of discrimination.

Board President Bob Crowell asked her how the board could help.

Grows said she wanted to make sure anyone with questions about paganism received correct information.

Dr. Mary Pierczynski, superintendent for the Carson City School District, told the woman she would look into the matter if she would call her with information about a specific case.

In other business, the board also decided to put an advertisement in the paper, as required by law, to publicize for a replacement for Sheila Ward, who recently stepped down as a trustee after she moved out of the boundaries defined by her district. Her resignation is required by law.

An advertisement must run in the paper for at least two weeks prior to a replacement being chosen.

"I would like to give the community as much time as possible to think about it, and give as many people the opportunity to apply," said Trustee John McKenna.

Board Member Joanna Wilson said that Ward had "proved herself as a dutiful officer of (the) board."

A decision for a replacement should be made in March. Ward's replacement will serve until the end of the year, when her term would have expired.

-- Contact reporter Maggie O'Neill at moneill@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.