1. The first paragraph of a news article should answer the questions who, what, where and when. List the who, what, where and when of this news item. (NOTE: The remainder of a news article provides details on the why and/or how.)

2. What new policy did the Philadelphia school district implement in October 2010?

3. Why did veteran school security officer Siddiq Abu-Bakr tell his supervisor he was unable to comply with the new policy?

4. How did the school district respond to Mr. Abu-Bakr's request for an exemption to the regulation?

5. a) For what reason is the U.S. Department of Justice suing the school district?
b) What does the Justice Department and EEOC want the school district to do?

6. The Department of Justice's lawsuit says the school district is in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (specifically Title VII, which prohibits discrimination by covered employers on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin) and has a pattern of religious discrimination. The lawsuit states that Siddiq Abu-Bakr, and other individuals, could not comply with the district’s 2010 policy maintaining school police and security officers cannot have a beard longer than one-quarter inch. Abu-Bakr has had a long beard the entire 27 years he has worked in the district, the lawsuit said, and it has not interfered with his job performance. The lawsuit states his religious beliefs should exempt him from the grooming policy.

a) The Justice Department's lawsuit says Mr. Abu-Bakr's beard has not interfered with his job performance. The lawsuit claims the district failed to consider Abu-Bakr’s request for “reasonable accommodation” to its grooming policy. The school district did not ban beards, just long beards. Is that a reasonable accommodation? Explain your answer.

b) None of the articles reporting on this lawsuit explained the school district's reason for implementing the grooming policy. For what reason might the district have implemented such a policy?

c) Do you think the Philadelphia school district implemented the policy to prohibit religious expression?

d) Do you think the policy is discrimination?  Are there any dress codes or grooming codes that should be followed for a school safety officer? Explain your answer.