District Reiterates Position on Peloza

It is with some interest that we follow the publicity concerning the case pending between John Peloza, a teacher at Capistrano Valley High School, and the Capistrano Unified School District. It is clear that the issues raised by that lawsuit create division and animosity among people of good will. Letters to the Editor printed on the editorial pages of The Times over recent weeks represent one manifestation of this problem.

While it is difficult in correspondence to effectively present or summarize the district’s position on all of the issues raised by the litigation, the district wishes to reiterate its commitment to the separation of church and state. It is the district’s position that in accepting employment to teach, a teacher agrees to follow the assigned curriculum. In this case, the curriculum adopted by the district is based on guidelines developed by the State Board of Education for the State of California after extensive input, including public hearings.

In effect, Mr. Peloza was hired and agreed to teach biology, anatomy and physiology, and not a course in comparative religion or social science. The district expects him to honor this commitment by following the curriculum that has been designated by the appropriate state and local officials.

JAMES A. FLEMING, Superintendent, Capistrano Unified School District