Thursday, September 15, 2005 11:02 AM
THE ANTHROPOSOPHICAL SOCIETY IN AMERICA
1923 Geddes Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48104
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information Contact:
Jean W. Yeager
Administrative Director
The Anthroposophical Society in America
TEL (734) 662-9355
EMAIL jwyeager@anthroposophy.org
PLAINTIFFS FAIL TO PROVE ANTHROPOSOPHY A RELIGION
IN WALDORF-METHODS PUBLIC SCHOOLS TRIAL
SACRAMENTO —
PLANS (People for Legal and Non-Sectarian Schools) failed
to prove that anthroposophy is a religion for establishment clause
purposes in Federal District Court (Eastern District, California) giving
victory to the Sacramento Unified and Twin Ridges schools districts in a
case first filed in 1998. The school districts operate Waldorf-methods
public schools which PLANS contended were based on anthroposophy which
PLANS further alleged was a religion.
The
Court first addressed the "threshhold" issue of whether
anthroposophy is a religion. PLANS failed to define a single,
unequivocal set of beliefs or practices which could be definitively
labeled anthroposophy. The trial was concluded in 30 minutes.
Post-trial motions are to be filed by September 16, 2005, with a final
order of the Court to follow.
In
learning of the verdict, Jean Yeager, Administrative Director
of the Anthroposophical Society said, "Despite the fact that PLANS has
had more than seven years to find witnesses and produce acceptable
evidence, PLANS presented neither. We were not surprised by the outcome.
This totally discredits PLANS and their assertions about anthroposophy."
The
Anthroposophical Society in America filed an Amicus Curiae
brief which was accepted by the Court in July 2004. The legal brief is
available at:
http://www.anthroposophy.org/NewsEvents/.
In that brief
the Society asserted that anthroposophy is a method of philosophical or
spiritual inquiry resulting in deeper insights into everyday life.
Anthroposophy was originated by Rudolf Steiner who also founded Waldorf
education. The Anthroposophical Society in America is the legal
representative of anthroposophy in the U.S. The Society has neither had
involvement in the development nor the advancement of Waldorf-method
public schools.
CONTACTS
FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS
GIRARD & VINSON, Attorneys for the School Districts
CHRISTIAN M. KEINER, Esq. keiner@gandv.com
MICHELLE L. CANNON, Esq.
1006 Fourth Street
Eighth Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814-3326
TEL(916) 446-9292 FAX (916) 446-5711
OTHER CONTACTS:
THE ANTHROPOSOPHICAL SOCIETY IN AMERICA
www.anthroposophy.org"
Jean W. Yeager, Administrative Director
jwyeager@anthroposophy.org
1923 Geddes Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
TEL (888) 757-2742 FAX (734) 662-1727
For verification of quotations or allegations
concerning Rudolf Steiner and anthroposophy.
ASSOCIATION FOR WALDORF SCHOOLS
OF NORTH AMERICA (AWSNA)
www.awsna.org
Patrice Maynard pmaynard@awsna.org
AWSNA
337 Oak Grove Street
Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 870-8310
For information about the private Waldorf Schools.
WALDORF ANSWERS
www.waldorfanswers.org
A website set up to answer questions from the
general public about Waldorf Education.
Documentation about the lawsuit at:
http://www.waldorfanswers.org/Lawsuit.html
Jean W. Yeager
Administrative Director
EMAIL jwyeager@anthroposophy.org
The Anthroposophical Society in America
1923 Geddes Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48104
TEL (734) 662-9355 FAX (734) 662-1727
www.anthroposophy.org
www.spiritworking.org
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