Albuquerque Schools Bans Rosaries At High School

An Albuquerque high school is requiring students who wear rosaries to conceal them in an effort to curb gang activity.

The revised school dress code at Atrisco Heritage Academy high school prompted rumors among students who thought the school was banning rosaries outright.

Albuquerque Public Schools spokeswoman Monica Armenta says students wearing visible rosaries are being asked to conceal them under their clothes. She says the policy is intended to limit students from identifying themselves from specific groups.

Peter Simonson of the American Civil Liberties Union tells the Albuquerque Journal (http://bit.ly/XBbk7aO ) that if a rosary is being worn for strictly personal or religious reasons, then confiscating it would violate a student's freedom speech and of religion.

Students and parents interviewed by the Journal were split on the policy.