School board says no diploma for class president

My brother is the Senior Class President at his high school. He carries a GPA that's over 4.0 (his high school has weighted classes) and is a starter on the football, basketball, and baseball team. He's been in show choir and vocal competitions. If you want to see the model of a an involved, well-educated 18-year-old, look at him.

However, the school board recently told him they won't allow him a diploma...because he won't take Sociology.

Sociology is not a class that is required by the state of Wisconsin. It is required by his high school; however, just last year the requirement was waived for our cousin, who is in the same grade as my brother. The precedent established by the school board is that the class could be waived if the student did not agree with the premise of the class.

So, what's wrong with sociology? My brother has no problem with the first 11 chapters of the book. It's scientific in nature, covering how the brain works and how we function in society. It's after Chapter 11 that he begins to have problems. Humanism takes over, and my brother happens to be a Christian. He doesn't agree with the worldview presented in the textbook and in the class. He's read through the textbook and doesn't want to be subjected to that teaching.

He appealed the requirement to the school board, who - as I mentioned earlier - waived the requirement for our cousin. However, this time, they rejected his request. In order to graduate, they're mandating that he has to take Sociology.

My brother is a person of conviction. He won't back down. At this point, he has a few options that he's investigating, and graduation day hasn't come yet. A whole number of things could happen, especially once the local newspaper runs the story next week.

A diploma from the high school isn't his biggest concern. Serving Christ is his biggest concern. He can get an HSED if he needs to. He's already accepted a scholarship offer to play football at a Division II school. His ACT scores alone are probably enough to get him in to any college. He was recruited by the likes of Columbia University for football thanks to his academic performance.

Would it hurt to not be able to graduate with his peers? Of course! He's the class president; he's supposed to give a speech. Of course it's a big deal!

But, he has priorities. It's just too bad the hypocritical school board's priorities take precedent over parents' and students' priorities.

UPDATE: A few corrections from my mother. The requirement is either Sociology OR Psychology. He is opposed to the ENTIRE sociology book--very humanistic, to the point of replacing BC and AD to "non-offensive" terms. It was the first eleven chapter of Psych that were OK.

Update on the situation. A guidance counselor is working with the Psych teacher to establish a way for him to research the main themes of the class and write up on it. This is an option that the superintendent and Board said was not available but if the teacher and principal OK it he's taking it to the super. for final approval.