Attorney general backs CSUEB on firing of math teacher

HAYWARD -- The state attorney general's office has sided with California State University, East Bay's decision last week to fire a math teacher who modified her state-required Oath of Allegiance to conform with her Quaker beliefs.

Citing the 1968 case Smith v. County Engineer of San Diego County, the attorney general's office said the university was right to let go of Marianne Kearney-Brown, a graduate student who began teaching remedial math in January.

In the case, the court rejected an attempt by a government employee to add language to the oath declaring a religious allegiance, according to a letter sent today from Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. to the university.

Kristofer Noceda can be reached at 510-293-2479 or knoceda@bayareanewsgroup.com.

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