Texas Teacher Protests Fingerprinting

(Dallardsville, Texas) A 22-year veteran teacher with the Big Sandy Independent School District, Pam McLaurin, has filed suit against the Texas Education Agency claiming that mandated fingerprinting violates her First Amendment right to practice her religion. McLaurin considers fingerprinting the "Mark of the Beast."

The latest case is the first in which a teacher is refusing fingerprinting on religious grounds, the woman’s lawyer said. The U.S. Supreme Court has yet to decide whether the First Amendment is implicated in fingerprinting, especially at a time when states, local governments and civic organizations are increasingly making them mandatory for anyone wanting to drive a car or coach a youth basketball team.

The Texas Education Agency indicated that McLaurin's teaching certification will be deactivated if she fails to comply with the fingerprinting requirement by November 7.

The fingerprinting requirement was enacted in 2007 by Texas lawmakers seeking to ensnare teachers who have a history of preying on children.