A teacher in Connecticut has stated that she went into a “rubber chamber” rather than remove a cross from her desk.
The case of Marisol Arroyo Castro is being closely observed by both religious freedom advocates and those advocating for a strict separation of church and state.
On Wednesday, the educator, along with her attorney, engaged in a three-hour mediation session in New Britain, involving lawyers, supervisors, and judges, but no agreement was reached.
Castro’s future now rests with the judges, and she is concerned that when the school year starts on August 19th, she might either be dismissed or remain in this administrative limbo.
“It’s a bit nerve-wracking, especially with the new school year approaching,” the 62-year-old teacher shared on Thursday.
The 33-year veteran of Diloreto Elementary and Middle School was removed from her seventh-grade classes last December after refusing to take down a wooden cross displayed on her desk.
A devout Catholic, Castro has kept the cross there for ten years without issue.
“I’ve had it for 10 years and it was never a problem. Then, suddenly, I received a message from the vice principal,” Castro recounted.
She was informed that the cross was considered unconstitutional, following complaints from unnamed individuals.
Initially, she complied and moved the cross under her desk for a day.
“I went home and cried about it. The next morning, I repositioned it,” she remembered.
The principal gave her until the end of that day to relocate it back under the desk, but she refused to comply.
“When I returned the next day, someone had taken it down and put it in a box, telling me not to return to the classroom,” she said. “A union representative then escorted me out.”
After two months on paid administrative leave in March, she was assigned to administrative duties labeled as “Curriculum Information Teacher,” though she felt unqualified for the role.
“They assigned me some tasks related to curriculum development, but I’m not trained for that. They just set me up with a computer and cubicle, and I hardly interacted with anyone.”
Castro has worked at Diloreto Elementary and Middle Schools since 2003, showing not just memorabilia like family photos and faith artifacts, but also displays representing various identities throughout the school.
“People have pictures of their families, and for me, Jesus is my father,” she reflected. “There are all sorts of things—pet photos, patriotic signs, even Christmas trees and some pop culture references.”
Keisha Russell, her lawyer from the Fast Liberty Institute, cited a relevant Supreme Court case regarding religious expression in schools, which supports Castro’s stance.
Castro felt emotional discussing the support she’s received from colleagues and former students.
“I’ve received many secret messages from colleagues who were instructed not to contact me; they just said they were praying for me. Former students also reached out at church, offering their prayers,” she said.
Even if she is reinstated, Castro admits she would have mixed emotions about returning to work. “There’s part of me that’s excited to be back with my students, but another part feels sad about what’s happened,” she noted.
She expressed a hope that political figures would take notice of her situation.
“It’s encouraging to know that there are leaders committed to religious freedom,” Russell remarked.
The New Britain School District claims it is simply adhering to laws regarding church-state separation.
“Since last fall, the district has sought a balance with Castro, respecting her personal beliefs while considering the diverse views of our middle school students and constitutional guidelines,” Dr. Tony Gasper, the district chief, stated.
“We regret the issues this has caused and anticipate the court’s ruling. In the meantime, we will focus on maintaining a respectful and effective learning environment for all students and staff.”
