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Oregon ending ban on religious dress?

SALEM, Ore., Feb. 24 (UPI) -- The Oregon Legislature has approved a bill allowing public school teachers to wear Muslim headscarves and other religious garb at work.

The measure was given final approval Tuesday by both houses, The Portland Oregonian reported. Gov. Ted Kulongoski has not said if he intends to sign it but has given no hint that he has problems with it.

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Oregon first banned teachers from wearing religious dress in 1923, when the rule was aimed at Roman Catholic nuns. Only two other states, Pennsylvania and Nebraska, have similar bans.

Under current Oregon law, Christian teachers can wear crosses, but Muslim headgear or Sikh turbans are banned.

State Sen. Diane Rosenbaum, a Democrat who represents Portland, dismissed concerns that teachers would turn up in everything from Nazi uniforms to animal skins. She said teachers must still be qualified to get into the classroom.

"They should not be prohibited from doing so because of their religion and the requirement that they wear religious clothes," she said.

If the governor signs the bill, state agencies will have a year to draw up regulations.

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