Teacher On Leave Over Wiccan Altar

An Iowa high school teacher has been placed on paid leave after telling a student he couldn’t build a Wiccan altar in shop class. Guthrie Center High School industrial arts teacher Dale Halferty says he wouldn’t allow the student to practice his religion during class time. Halferty says he previously told another student he couldn’t build a cross in shop class because he believes in separation of church and state. District officials placed Halferty on leave while they confer with the school’s attorney.