A Tomah High student claims he was the subject of religious discrimination by the school district. It centers on an art project of a landscape drawing with a cross in the background and a biblical reference to John 3:16. When the teacher and administrators told him to remove the reference and cross, the student refused and received a zero grade.
The Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal advocacy group, is representing the student in a federal lawsuit. Attorney Jeremy Tedesco says other religious symbols get a pass at the school.
"But here they're targeting just Christian religious beliefs for discriminatory treatment and that's one aspect of this case, where the constitutional rights have been violated."
A picture of a six-limbed Hindu god is in the school's hallway as well as demonic drawings done by students.
The school's policy prohibits depiction of "blood, violence, sexual connotations, (or) religious beliefs."