After an egregious violation of the Constitution, FFRF took action that would keep the Oklahoma school children safe from a proselytizing public official.
On Feb. 28, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters visited Riverside Elementary School to observe, meet with students, and to read to a second-grade class. Before reading to the class, Walters led the students in prayer delivered explicitly to God.
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to the district about the unconstitutional prayer.
Legal representative Bryan K. Drummond wrote back to FFRF about the prayer, informing it that the district was unaware that this would happen. “The administration and I have spoken about ensuring that this does not happen in the future and the administration is committed to ensuring that the law is followed,” Drummond wrote.
FFRF has ensured that students at a California school will no longer be exposed to a Latin cross during class sessions.
A Chino Valley community member reported a Latin cross on display in the Chino Valley Adult School next to a poster of the Pledge of Allegiance.
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to legal representation for the district regarding the violation. William A. Diedrich, an attorney from Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo, responded on behalf of the district. “Without addressing the legality of the display, nor acknowledging that a constitutional violation has occurred, the district has requested the Latin cross to be removed and the employee has complied,” he wrote.
FFRF brought the Hardin Independent School District back in line with the Constitution after an inherently religious event was promoted through social media.
A parent reported that the district promoted the religious event, See You At the Pole, on the district’s official social media and allowed adults to organize and participate in the event. SYATP is a “global day of student prayer,” wherein students are encouraged to meet at their school’s flagpole and pray before school. It is an explicitly Christian event and organization. On Sept. 27, 2023, a post from the official Hardin ISD Facebook page stated:
“We love seeing students participating in SYATP! What a beautiful morning! Thank you to our volunteers organizing these events!”
FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to the district. “It is well settled that public schools may not allow employees or outside adults to lead, direct, or encourage students to engage in prayer.”
Legal representative for the district Melody Carrier reached out to FFRF, responding that the situation has been resolved. “The district has conferenced with the independent contractor who was involved in the incident,” Carrier wrote. “The district will ensure that proper training on the separation of church and immediately addressed with all substitutes and the district will continue to stress with all employees the duties and responsibilities under the law.”
After a prayer was delivered in Weiser School District #431 in Idaho at a Veteran’s Day assembly, FFRF worked to keep the district from infringing on district members’ First Amendment rights.
A parent reported that on Nov. 9, 2023, the district held an all-school Veterans Day program that included religious messaging and prayer. The complainant reported that the event’s speaker led students in prayer and repeatedly quoted the bible and that their children were deeply uncomfortable with the school-sponsored prayer and religious promotion.
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to Superintendent Kenneth Dewlen, who responded to FFRF, noting that an investigation had taken place, and said that even though the local chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars sponsored the event, action was still needed to be taken to prevent prayer in the future. “The Superintendent or their designee will ensure that they preview the Veterans Day Program agenda before the event,” Dewlen wrote.
FFRF got the Neenah, Wis., Police Department to remove references to faith and God from its official mission statement.
A complainant reported that the Neenah Police Department’s website indicated that the department operated under the “Pillars of P.R.I.D.E.” The first pillar is labeled “priorities,” which lists three values: “Faith, family, work.” The website states that “Our personal convictions about faith define all that we do. Family is valued above work.” Similarly, in 2019, the report included the same pillar, with values listed as “God, Family, Work.” In 2021, the Neenah PD Policy Manual described the “Priorities” pillar as “our personal convictions about faith define all that we do.”
FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Chief Aaron L. Olson about the constitutional issue.
City Attorney David C. Rashid wrote back to FFRF, informing it that the pillar had been changed, noting that they “modified the purportedly offensive language on the police department’s website concerning the use of the word ‘God’ as well as any other verbiage in the ‘P’ box of the Pillars (part of the Mission Statement) after the first sentence thereof.”
The Laurens County Schools in Georgia will no longer allow science teachers to spread their personal doctrine over Darwinism, thanks to FFRF’s efforts.
A concerned district parent reported that a science teacher at West Laurens High School told students that she didn’t believe in evolution while teaching about it, undermining the scientific fact of evolution and promoting her personal religious beliefs. FFRF’s complainant reported that the teacher explained Christian creationist beliefs to students and told them that they shouldn’t trust the theory of evolution because Darwin rushed to publish his findings to be the first to publish the theory. The complainant reported that other science teachers in the district similarly promoted Christianity and denigrated the theory of evolution while teaching the subject.
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to Superintendent Clifford Garnto, who responded that the situation had been managed. “We have addressed the concern with the employee and staff. Our employee’s job is to teach the Georgia Standards of Excellence. This has been clarified and reinforced,” he wrote.
FFRF stepped in to keep Depew, Okla., school students from having prayer imposed on them at a Christmas play by school staff in the future.
A concerned Depew Elementary School parent reported that on Dec. 14, a local preacher was allowed to lead students and parents in a Christian prayer both before and after the school’s Christmas play.
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to Superintendent Leon Hiett pointing out the constitutional violation.
FFRF received an email from the district’s legal counsel, Ryan K. Drummond. “After receiving your letter, the district investigated this matter and discovered that a preacher did give a prayer at the beginning and end of this year’s Christmas program,” Drummond wrote.
Hiett informed the legal counsel that he spoke with administrators about the situation. Hiett had assured Drummond that such an offense would not happen again.
FFRF successfully fought to keep a Michigan 4-H Club awards banquet, which is a part of the Michigan State University Extension program, free from planned prayers.
A concerned parent reported that the Nov. 5, 2023, Berrien County 4-H Award Banquet included an apparently pre-planned prayer that was not listed on the event’s official program. Toward the end of the banquet, a 4-H leader was called to the stage, and led the attendees in a prayer that explicitly referenced God and Jesus Christ. FFRF’s complainant reported that past award banquets did not include prayer. The complainant reported that the prayer appeared to be planned, but for reasons unbeknown to them, the plan to include the prayer was not disclosed to attendees or those involved in planning the event.
FFRF Legal fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Kelly Stelter, Berrien County 4-H Program Coordinator, who then informed FFRF that an internal investigation took place. “This issue was addressed with the parties involved,” Stelter wrote.
A complaint by FFRF has resulted in an Ohio school district prohibiting outside groups, including religious organizations, from recruiting elementary school children during school lunch hours.
A concerned parent informed FFRF that last September, for the second year in a row, Lake Cable Elementary School had allowed adult representatives of the Good News Club to access over 400 students during the lunch period while on school property. Child Evangelism Fellowship, the club’s parent organization, “is a bible-centered organization composed of born-again believers whose purpose is to evangelize boys and girls with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and to establish (disciple) them in the Word of God and in a local church for Christian living.” Good News Club representatives spoke to students and promised kids that they would be given “candy and ice cream” if they joined the club. And Lake Cable Elementary sent a Good News Club permission slip home to be completed and returned to the school office.
FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Jackson Local Schools Superintendent Christopher DiLoreto, insisting that Jackson Local Schools commence an immediate investigation into this matter and make certain that Lake Cable Elementary cease allowing Good News Club representatives to recruit and proselytize students.
FFRF’s decisive action was successful.
“The district has put an end to allowing access to outside groups at the elementary buildings during the school day (as is already the case in all other buildings),” the legal counsel for Jackson Local Schools recently replied in an email.
The Illinois Department of Transportation removed a Christian Little Free Library that was unlawfully placed on government property after the Freedom From Religion Foundation alerted it.
A concerned community member informed the state/church watchdog of a religious “Little Free Library” at the intersection of Old Route 66 and Livingston County East. A Little Free Library is essentially a small kiosk filled with books where community members can take and leave a book for free. This library, however, was stocked entirely with Christian books, and there was a Latin cross painted on the side of the library. The Illinois Department of Transportation manages the right-of-way to that strip of land. Therefore, the library could easily have been perceived as being owned and controlled by the Illinois government.
FFRF Anne Nicol Gaylor Legal Fellow Samantha Lawrence wrote to the Illinois Department of Transportation and asked the Illinois Department of Transportation to investigate the situation.
FFRF’s letter moved the Illinois Department of Transportation to take action.
“The Illinois Department of Transportation has not posted or has no record of a permit issued to install this small kiosk within the state-maintained highway rights-of-way in that location,” a department official recently responded. “Last week, our local IDOT field maintenance yard crew inspected the area and removed the ‘Little Free Library’ kiosk in accordance with our policy regarding signs, billboards or advertising on IDOT property and Illinois highways right-of-way.”
The Independence School District in Missouri had to be reminded by the FFRF that prayer during school assemblies is a constitutional violation. A district parent reported that the Nov. 12, 2022, Truman High School Veteran’s Day assembly included a prayer led by an ROTC student who began the invocation with “Let us pray.” The complainant stated that they spoke with the high school’s principal and were assured that a prayer would not happen at future Veterans Day assemblies. Unfortunately, the Truman High School’s 2023 assembly again included a prayer led by an ROTC student. “Students have the First Amendment right to be free from religious indoctrination in their public schools, including when participating in school-sponsored events,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote. In response, J. Drew Marriott, legal counsel for the school, wrote to FFRF, confirming the district would not violate student rights any longer. “The district has taken steps to remind district staff of the district’s policies, including the requirement that staff avoid the promotion of religious views at school and that, to the extent that student speeches may include religious conduct, district staff are required by policy to state, orally, in writing, or both, that the student’s public speech does not reflect the endorsement, sponsorship, position or expression of the district,” Marriott wrote.
FFRF coached the Ohio-based Oak Hill Union Local School District on acceptable holiday choir programming for students after it learned of a school’s Christian-heavy program. A concerned district parent reported that the holiday program on Dec. 13 at Oak Hill Elementary School featured primarily Christian songs. Per the concert’s program, the first-grade concert featured six songs, five of which were Christian-based. The program additionally featured an image of the biblical manger scene, depicting the Christian story of the birth of Jesus Christ. The fourth-grade concert featured exclusively Christian songs, with the program also featuring a nativity scene. “Teaching public school students Christian worship music in a devotional manner violates the First Amendment,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote. After receiving the state/church watchdog’s letter, Superintendent Susan L. Oppenheimer contacted FFRF to inform it that teachers would be instructed on the school policy more closely. “It is apparent to the district, after review of this matter, that certain staff could benefit from a reminder about board policies and guidelines,” Oppenheimer wrote. As part of these guidelines, principals have been instructed to review and approve programs for holiday concerts, and elementary music teachers will be instructed specifically to plan holiday concerts with a mix of secular songs and songs from various religious traditions instead of overtly Christian traditions.
FFRF fought successfully to keep baptisms out of the Missouri-based Dixon R-1 School District girls basketball program. FFRF received a report that the Dixon High School and Middle School girls basketball coach baptized a student-athlete at the end of a team practice. An accompanying Facebook post by an account named “Dixon Lady Bulldogs Basketball” confirmed the baptism took place. FFRF wrote to the district to ensure that students weren’t being coerced into baptisms. “Student baptisms are not an appropriate event to include in student basketball practices, which are school-sponsored events,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to the district. Margaret A. Hesse, legal representative for the district, informed FFRF that, while the event did take place, the baptism was performed by a former coach of the district, not the present coach. “Nevertheless, the district superintendent has discussed your concerns with both [coaches] and cautioned them against religious coercion when acting as district employees,” Hesse wrote. Additionally, the Dixon Lady Bulldogs Basketball Facebook page now contains a disclaimer informing the public that it is not officially affiliated with the district.
FFRF has kept the District School Board of Collier County in Florida from violating the Constitution by preventing them from opening board meetings with prayer. A concerned district parent reported that at the board’s meeting on Sept. 11, 2023, board member Jerry Rutherford presented a proposal to open meetings with a religious prayer, which would replace an existing measure that opens meetings with a moment of silence. FFRF was informed that Rutherford had a history of pushing his personal religious beliefs onto others, and that he had been trying to impose prayer on the school board students and parents since at least 2016. “The board’s current practice of holding a moment of silence allows those who wish to pray to do so without coercing students, staff, and community members into participating,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to Chair Kelly Lichter. FFRF kept in contact with the complainant, who reported in early January that there was good news to the situation. “The school board voted 3-2 against the invocation,” they wrote in an email.
FFRF wrote to Texas State University when it came to its attention that an instructor was using their position to force students to pray. A student reported to FFRF that during the fall 2023 semester, students were required to observe and participate in a Christian prayer as part of the course “Leadership Development: Business As Unusual.” The complainant explained that due to the time of the class, students were provided a meal on-site during class. Prior to each meal, the instructor led students in a Christian prayer before students were allowed to eat and that women were told to line up for dinner prior to men. An audio recording from the class held on Nov. 6, 2023, showed that the pre-meal prayer was given as “thanks to the Lord.” Furthermore, the class primarily used course materials from the Relational Values Association, an affiliate of the evangelical Christian organization, the Great Commandment Network. “It is constitutionally problematic for a public university to utilize course materials created by an evangelical Christian organization,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Dr. Sanjay Ramchander, dean of the McCoy College of Business. After receiving FFRF’s letter, Ramchander responded, informing it of changes to the course going forward. The five-point bulleted list included, “Class prayer or religious activities will not be part of the course curriculum and class discussions and learning activities will leverage multiple perspectives that are considered to be germane and appropriate for the course subject matter and curriculum.” Additionally, Ramchander stated that faculty would be conducting a comprehensive review of the course content.
FFRF reached out to Crothersville Community Schools in Indiana to warn against the district scheduling pregame prayers before girls basketball games. A community member reported that Crothersville Jr./Sr. High School regularly scheduled prayers at athletic events. Reportedly, at the Jan. 9 Crothersville Jr./Sr. High School Girls’ basketball game, the official announcer delivered a Christian prayer over the PA system immediately following the national anthem. The complainant additionally stated that school-sponsored prayers have regularly been a part of athletic events since at least 2020. “The district must investigate this situation and ensure that Crothersville Jr./ Sr. High School ceases scheduling prayer at school-sponsored events,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Superintendent Chrystal Street. In response, Street emailed FFRF, writing, “We have received your letter. We are no longer doing prayer at school events.”
FFRF took action to ensure that the Paso Robles Post Office would no longer be host to religious proselytizers on official state ground. A concerned patron contacted FFRF to report that the Jehovah’s Witnesses have been setting up their pamphlet stand outside the entrance to the post office nearly every day and had been proselytizing patrons. The complainant reported that their presence made visits to the post office very uncomfortable. “Giving a religious organization special permission to set up a stand and distribute literature on post office grounds violates the First Amendment to the United States Constitution,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to Postmaster Shelly Larsen. Promptly after FFRF brought attention to the issue, Larsen sent back an email notifying the state/church watchdog about a change in practice. “This will cease and desist as of today. This was grandfathered in as past practice from previous Postmasters,” Larsen wrote.
FFRF successfully stopped a Clark County School District teacher in Las Vegas from using the official school email to promote their personal religious beliefs. A community member contacted FFRF to report that a district employee included religious messages in their official Clark County School District email signature. FFRF’s complainant reported that they received an email including the religious message: “God’s love is like an ocean; you can see its beginning but not its end. — Rick Warren.” “We understand, of course, that the district cannot monitor every email sent by employees,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to the district. “But we do ask that it take the appropriate steps to ensure that employees are made aware of their constitutional obligation to remain neutral toward religion while acting in their official capacity.” After FFRF sent the letter of complaint, legal representation for the district reached out to FFRF to inform it of its remedying actions. “We have completed our investigation and updated our Acceptable Use Policy regarding taglines and email signatures,” the district’s Assistant General Counsel Alexandre M. Fayad wrote. The school’s updated policy prohibits usage of email signatures completely.
A North Carolina senior center has replaced its lunchtime prayer with a moment of silence after FFRF contacted it about its unconstitutional practice. A community member informed the state/church watchdog that a Currituck County Senior Center employee was leading an explicitly Christian prayer before every lunch served at the public-supported center. The seniors were reportedly not allowed to eat lunch until an employee finished blessing the food. The center’s lunchtime prayer practice made FFRF’s complainant feel pressured to participate in prayer. Federal regulations prohibit senior centers receiving federal funding to engage in religious activities at government-sponsored functions, FFRF informed the senior center. “The Code of Federal Regulations is explicit and unequivocal in its prohibition on religious activities as part of any program funded through the Department of Health and Human Services,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Currituck County Aging/Senior Services Director Stacy Joseph. “Requiring seniors to observe and participate in a coercive prayer practice at government-subsidized activities places your agency in direct violation of the federal mandate.” Currituck County immediately modified its lunch practice in response to FFRF’s objection (after disputing some of the details). “Even though the Senior Center is not condoning an unconstitutional prayer practice alleged in your letter, there will be an immediate shift from a voluntary prayer to a moment of silence prior to lunch,” the county attorney wrote back.
The Mobile County Public School District in Alabama has painted over a divisive religious display on Theodore High School’s baseball dugout after FFRF cautioned it about the constitutional violation. A Mobile County Public Schools community member informed FFRF that Theodore High School displayed a bible verse on the dugout of its baseball field: “Whatever you do, do it for the Glory of GOD. I Corinthians 10:31.” “To protect students’ First Amendment rights, the district must remove this religious display from its baseball field immediately, as well as any other religious displays it becomes aware of in its schools,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line advised the district’s legal representative. In response, the district’s legal counsel promptly responded, “The bible verse has been painted over.”
FFRF has successfully gotten an unconstitutional Ten Commandments display inside a Kentucky county courthouse taken down. A Kentucky resident contacted FFRF to complain after encountering the Ten Commandments on display inside the Spencer County Courthouse during a visit there. FFRF requested that the county cease displaying the bible edicts, since such a display in the county courthouse was not only an unconstitutional show of government favoritism toward religion, but needlessly alienated and excluded county residents who do not share the religious beliefs of the Ten Commandments. “A Ten Commandments display in a county courthouse violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Spencer County Judge-Executive Scott Travis. “In McCreary County v. ACLU (2005), the Supreme Court ruled that displays of the Ten Commandments in two Kentucky courthouses violated the Constitution.” FFRF asked that the religious display be removed from the Spencer County Courthouse out of respect for the Constitution and the rights of conscience of the county’s residents. FFRF’s reasoning prevailed. “This email is intended to notify you that the display referenced in the letter has been taken down,” the county attorney recently replied.
After FFRF intervened, the Texas-based Tomball ISD will no longer allow staff members to run overtly religious extracurricular clubs. A concerned district parent reported that Oakcrest Intermediate School was allowing a staff member to organize, lead and run a religious club for students called “Cats for Christ.” The staff member additionally organized the religious event “See You At the Pole” at the school, as well, an event that brings students to their school’s flagpole in prayer. “We ask that the district ensure that ‘Cats for Christ’ is disbanded,” FFRF Anne Nicol Gaylor Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to the district. “Going forward, all religious clubs and events must be genuinely student-initiated, and organized, led and run by students.” Upon receiving FFRF’s letter, General Counsel Holly Sherman reached out, informing FFRF that staff members in the future would respect the First Amendment by taking a monitoring role rather than an active one. “TISD will take steps to ensure that all non-curricular student organizations, regardless of any religious affiliation, are supervised by a staff member who serves in a monitoring role in accordance with Board Policy FNAB (Local) and applicable law.”
FFRF has persuaded a California school district to no longer permit religious fundraising in its schools.
A concerned Castaic Union School District parent reported to FFRF that Castaic Middle School was holding a fundraiser for “Three Angels Haiti,” a Christian ministry, organized and promoted by administrators and teachers at Castaic Middle School. Three Angels Haiti’s mission is “to help children in Haiti escape poverty so that they may experience God’s love.” It also describes its goals as “to help [children] escape poverty, encounter Jesus and become part of a healthy home.” Students in the Christian school supported by the ministry “line up by class every school day and recite Psalm 23 and the Lord’s Prayer and then sing the national anthem and some worship songs before heading to their classrooms.”
Organizing a fundraiser that employs school staff and resources to proselytize children in Haiti violates basic constitutional principles, FFRF attorney Chris Line wrote to Castaic Union School District Superintendent Bob Brauneisen.
FFRF requested that the school district end the religious fundraiser, redirect its charitable efforts to a secular organization, and refrain from all future promotion and coordination of fundraisers for religious ministries such as Three Angels Haiti.
The Castaic Union School District superintendent recently sent the following response: “The district has looked into the concerns raised in your correspondence and will be taking the following corrective actions. The district will immediately end the fundraising initiative related to ThreeAngelsHaiti.org. No such further efforts will be made. No further requests for donating to this charity will be made. Moreover, any funds collected will not be distributed to the Three Angels organization.”
School District U-46 in Elgin, Ill., has taken action to ensure students will no longer be proselytized through events held during school hours.
A community member reported that Elgin High School (EHS) Bible Club was hosting a religious event in the EHS auditorium on Nov. 15, 16 and 17, including events on the 15th and 16th that were held during school hours. At least one district teacher was promoting the event and invited students to attend while acting in official capacity.
“District promotion of a religious event sends an official message that excludes all nonreligious district students and community members,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Superintendent Suzanne Johnson.
After receiving the letter, Johnson wrote to FFRF, stating that “the district intends to ensure that employees will not compel, coerce, persuade or encourage students to join in any prayer or religious activity. The district intends to take reasonable measures to ensure that students are not pressured or encouraged to join in any private prayer that may be occurring.”
A Menahga (Minn.) Public Schools teacher will no longer use her position to participate and organize a Christian event.
A community member reported that a teacher at Menahga High School helped promote and run a religious student event, See You at the Pole, on Sept. 27, 2023. The event was described as a “global day of student prayer,” in which students are encouraged to meet at their school’s flagpole and pray before school. The event is run by a Christian organization and is explicitly Christian in nature. The teacher posted on their personal Facebook page promoting the event and implied that other school staff would be participating.
“While MPS cannot prohibit students from organizing or participating in a prayer event, the Supreme Court has stated that public school staff members must refrain from participating in the religious activities of students while acting within their governmental jobs,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Superintendent Jason Kjos.
In response, Kjos conducted an investigation into the event. “I have interviewed and met with the staff member who posted about the “See You at the Pole” event and we have reviewed policy requirements together,” he wrote.
Students in the Reagan County ISD in Big Lake, Texas, are free from a teacher’s frequent attempts to indoctrinate them into Christianity, thanks to FFRF’s diligent work.
A fourth-grade social studies teacher was promoting personal religious beliefs in the classroom and teaching the Christian bible to students. FFRF’s complainant reported that on Oct. 20, 2023, the teacher explained in a Facebook post that they checked out two Christian bibles and permitted students to read them during class time rather than teaching students actual social studies lessons. The teacher had a history of promoting religion on their Facebook page, including referring to being a public school teacher as a “ministry outside of church,” having their students write about Jesus because “they know who their teacher serves,” and sharing a graphic that implied homosexuality is an “abomination.”
“The district has a duty to ensure that its teachers are not using their positions to indoctrinate students,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Superintendent Eric Hallmark.
Upon receiving the letter, the Underwood Law Firm, serving as general counsel to the district, responded to FFRF. Attorney Fred A. Stormer informed that Hallmark conducted an investigation into the matter and discovered that the teacher claimed that they had no intention of promoting or endorsing religion in the classroom, and requests to read the bible were initiated by the students and occurred during free time. Additionally, Hallmark directed the teacher to refrain from expressions of religious viewpoints in the future. “[The teacher] acknowledged these limitations for public schools and chose to tender [their] resignation, effective as of the end of school today, Dec. 1, 2023,” Stormer wrote.
The Kershaw County School District in Camden, S.C., will no longer be broadcasting prayers before football games.
A concerned community member reported that the district had been imposing prayer on students, parents and community members before its football games. Reportedly, on Oct. 6, 2023, a preacher from a local church delivered a Christian prayer over the loudspeaker before a football game at North Central High School. The prayer was delivered “in Jesus’ name” and made requests to “our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” The complainant was an atheist and felt alienated by this official school-sponsored Christian prayer.
“The Supreme Court has specifically struck down invocations given over the loudspeaker at public school athletic events, even when student-led,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to Superintendent J. Harrison Goodwin.
In response, FFRF received an email from legal representative for the district, John Reagle. “It appears that the prayer at issue was not consistent with the district policy regarding messages at athletic events,” Reagle wrote. Reagle thanked FFRF for the continued interest in the rights of students and families.
The Lewisville ISD in Texas will refrain from posting religiously motivated media to its Facebook page after FFRF called a religious post into question.
A concerned alumni and community member reported that on Oct. 24 the official Lewisville High School Facebook page shared a post that included a photograph of the football coach and players, with the bottom of the photograph reading: “When all is said and done, and you are standing before our creator, he’s not going to ask you how many state championship rings you have, but rather ‘How many lives have you impacted in a way that brings honor and glory to him?’”
“In order to protect students’ First Amendment rights, we ask that the district investigate this matter and ensure that Lewisville HS removes the post and refrains from promoting religion via its social media channels moving forward,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Legal Counsel D’Ann Lacey Bey.
Bey then informed FFRF that an investigation had taken place. “In the interest of resolving this matter, the above image has been removed from the Lewisville High School Facebook page and the campus has been reminded of its obligation to comply with district policies regarding religion,” Bey wrote.
The Pella CSD in Iowa has taken steps to ensure that the Pella High School football team will no longer be infused with Christianity.
A concerned parent reported that the Pella High School football team’s official motto was “TLCBF,” which stood for “Trust, Love, Commitment, Belief and Faith.” The official website included a description of “faith” as “What is the only thing in life that cannot be taken away from you? Take a look at Job’s life for the answer.” Additionally, during the Oct. 6 freshman football game’s halftime show, the school broadcasted overtly Christian music with numbers references to Jesus Christ.
“The district’s actions send an official message that excludes all nonreligious and non-Christian district students and community members,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to district legal counsel Danielle J. Haindfield.
After receiving the letter, FFRF was informed by Haindfield that district Superintendent Greg Ebeling investigated the situation, directly meeting with the coach to discuss these concerns. “Pella High School football team’s official motto has been modified to eliminate references to the biblical story of Job,” she wrote. Additionally, after reviewing the concern regarding halftime show music, the district will be more mindful of its music selections.
FFRF took action to ensure that student athletes at Omaha Westside High School in Nebraska would not be coerced into prayer before games.
Reportedly, the head football coach directed students to pray before the Nov. 21 Class A state championship game. A report and video from a local reporter confirmed the complaint. In the video, the coach ordered all the student athletes to kneel around him and participate in a sectarian prayer led by a student.
“Student athletes have the First Amendment right to be free from religious indoctrination when participating in their public school’s athletics program,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to the district.
After receiving the letter, Superintendent Mike Lucas emailed FFRF, informing of the coming change. “We will make sure that all coaches and sponsors understand this important issue and that requiring prayer is not appropriate,” he wrote.
Santo ISD in Santo, Texas, learned a valuable lesson about taking students to indoctrination museums, and will plan secular student outings in the future, after receiving a complaint from FFRF.
A concerned community member reported that on Nov. 8, 2023, Santo High School students took a field trip to the Enduring World Museum, a museum founded “to teach Christians the history of their bible and to teach the history of written communication.” Ostensibly, the purpose of the trip was for students to view a replica of the Gutenberg printing press. However, the museum featured primarily Christian messages, symbols and iconography on display throughout the museum. One complainant reported that one wall display inside the museum stated that “facts disputing Christianity have been proven wrong and Christianity is 100 percent proven and is the most accurate recounting ever.”
“Even if attendance on the field trip was voluntary — though our complainant states that students and parents were not given a chance to opt-out of attendance — voluntariness is not a safeguard against violating students’ First Amendment rights,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote.
Superintendent Greg Gilbert reached out to FFRF shortly after. “Your communication is received without opposition,” he wrote. “The intent of campus participation was believed to be historical and secular in nature.” Gilbert concluded that the district will aim to be more cognizant in the future of the principle of state/church separation.
FFRF successfully intervened to keep religion out of assemblies in South Dakota’s Miller School District.
A concerned district employee informed FFRF that a pastor opened and closed the district’s Veterans Day assembly on Nov. 9 with prayers. The assembly reportedly took place during the school day on district property and required compulsory attendance by the entire student body, grades pre-K through 12. The pastor asked the audience of students and staff to stand before he began the assembly with the following prayer:
“Father, we thank you that we were formed as one nation under God with liberty and justice for all. Thank you for those principles and Lord, we just ask you today that you just guide and direct the leaders of this country. Father, I pray for those in service that were disabled in one way or another that you would just bring peace to them, Lord. Just be with them and touch them, guide them and direct them in Jesus’ name Amen.”
The pastor also gave the second prayer in Jesus’ name. Additionally, the pastor made religious remarks throughout the assembly.
In a letter to Miller School District Superintendent Eric Norden, FFRF Anne Nicol Gaylor Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote, “In order to comply with the Constitution, the district must investigate this matter and ensure that no future school-sponsored events include prayer.”
Additionally, the district displayed clear favoritism toward religion over nonreligion and Christianity over all other faiths. The district serves a diverse population with diverse religious beliefs, including Jews, Muslims, atheists and agnostics.
Following FFRF’s letter, the district took action.
“I want to assure you that we have discussed this issue with our attorney, and we are committed to ensuring that there will be no future violations of the constitutional principle of separation between state and church in the Miller School District,” Norden wrote in reply.
After FFRF’s intervention, a West Virginia judge has modified the language used by his drug court to ensure it is clear that participants have secular options.
The state/church watchdog was contacted by someone required to attend Judge Jason Wharton’s Mid-Ohio Valley Adult Drug Court, who reported that the program mandated participation in Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous. The complainant provided paperwork from the court listing the requirements for each phase of the treatment program, which clearly indicated that participation in Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous was compulsory. The FFRF complainant requested an alternative secular recovery treatment (SMART Recovery) but this request was denied by Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Day Report Center Executive Director Hernando Escadon.
The central components of 12-step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous, are religious in nature, FFRF pointed out. These programs require recognition of a higher power and require participants to turn their lives over to a personified, gendered “god.” While requiring a religious addiction recovery support program as one of multiple options is permissible, the Mid-Ohio Valley Adult Drug Court violated the First Amendment when it requires participation in solely religious programs, FFRF Attorney Chris Line wrote to Wharton.
FFRF’s insistence yielded the desired results.
“I have reviewed the documents that you submitted and directed the drug court probation officer to modify the documents to reflect ‘a program such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Smart Recovery or other program approved by the court,’” Wharton responded. “I was not aware of the specific language on the form you included, but I believe that the modified language will make it much more clear to the participants from the onset that they have other options besides Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous.
The East Central Independent School District in Texas accepted constitutional counseling from FFRF after the district promoted a student-led prayer on official social media. A community member reported to FFRF that on Sept. 28, the official district Facebook page shared a post that could be construed as the district promoting and encouraging prayer. The post linked to a video of a sectarian Christian prayer, including statements directly invoking East Central ISD, such as “Jesus designed this building right here. He handpicked all of these teachers, all of these administrators.” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Superintendent Roland Toscano with FFRF’s concerns, and Toscano wrote an apologetic response back to FFRF, indicating that the district regretted the offense and had no intention of causing harm. In addition to the post being removed promptly, Toscano detailed future action to be taken to avoid similar situations. “In light of this incident, we will be conducting a comprehensive review of our social media governance and guidelines to ensure that such posts that promote prayers or any religious affiliations are not published in the future,” Toscano writes.
FFRF has successfully intervened to remove a display containing a bible from the Monroe County Courthouse in Ohio. FFRF received a report that a large display on the ground floor of the courthouse included a Christian bible laid open. The display had reportedly been up since at least 2022. The display was located inside the courthouse’s public entrance. FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Monroe County Board of Commissioners President Diane Burkhart, who then had the county attorney look into it. According to the original complainant, the letter and local reaction to the display made Monroe County headlines. The bible was removed from display while the county attorney investigates the matter.
For the second time, FFRF worked with the Guthrie Public Schools system in Oklahoma after being informed that the National Honor Society induction ceremony included an unconstitutional scheduled prayer. FFRF was informed by a district parent that the National Honor Society induction ceremony at Guthrie High School included a scheduled prayer. The complainant felt unwelcome and alienated by the inclusion of a scheduled Christian prayer at the school-sponsored event. “As you are aware, public school students have a constitutional right to be free from religious indoctrination in their public schools,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote in a letter to legal representation for the district John G. Moyer. Moyer wrote back, informing FFRF that the matter will be resolved. “Dr. Simpson, Superintendent, believed that the issue of including a prayer had been resolved in 2020 and was dismayed to learn that it was not removed from a form that was subsequently relied upon,” Moyer wrote. “Superintendent Simpson has directed me to assure you that this matter will be addressed at the district’s Administrative Council meeting this month and that everyone understands that this must not happen again.”
A North Carolina citizen found information on the Craven County website regarding running for office, including running and filing information from the North Carolina Constitution, that included a religious oath. The information provided included Article VI from the North Carolina Constitution, which says that concluding an oath of office with “So help me God” is required before anyone can take office. The next section, titled “Disqualifications for office,” states that “any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God” is disqualified from office. While the provisions are still included in the North Carolina Constitution, they are not reflected in practice, supported by the candidacy forms that the website links to from the North Carolina State Board of Elections. The forms allow for the candidate to simply “swear or affirm” to the truthfulness of the statements on the form. Additionally, the North Carolina Constitution requires members of the General Assembly to take “an oath or affirmation” to support the federal and state constitutions and faithfully discharge their duties without any reference to a god. FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to Craven County Board of Elections Director Susan R. Williams about the issue. In response to FFRF’s concern, Williams reported that, since taking office in February, she is currently still reviewing everything put on the website before she entered office. “I hope that you can let the citizen know that I will have the N.C. Constitution PDF removed, it is unnecessary as the fact sheet link directs the user to the N.C. State website and has everything that is needed,” she writes.
FFRF stood up for student rights in the Jacksonville ISD in Texas after a substitute teacher spent classroom time preaching about the end of days rather than teaching art. A concerned parent reported that on Oct. 17, a Jacksonville High School substitute teacher proselytized students during class time. The substitute preached to students about the biblical story of Revelation and told students that they need a personal relationship with Jesus Christ because “the end is coming.” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Superintendent Brad Stewart, writing: “We ask that the district cease working with this substitute teacher.” After the incident, legal representation John C. Hardy of Hardy Cook & Hardy wrote back to FFRF. “The district investigated the situation and concluded that the substitute teacher was inappropriate in his comments to the students,” Hardy wrote. In addition, the substitute teacher was removed from the list of acceptable substitutes.
The head football coach of Duval County Public Schools’ Andrew Jackson High School in Florida stepped down after FFRF urged the district to take action following reports of multiple religious injections into the football team. Reportedly, the coach leads the team in prayer, as well as allowing an outside individual to act as a team chaplain. Additionally, the former head coach and current athletic director gave a speech to students regarding a Latin cross he was given by a priest before asking students to wipe their sweat onto the cross. FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line contacted Superintendent Diane Greene, who then informed FFRF that the coach had received coaching/counseling. The district athletic director reviewed “School Board Policy 10.40 — Religious Expression in Public Schools” with all school-based athletic directors during their October meeting. Since the completion of the investigation, the coach has resigned.
After FFRF took issue, an elementary school in Ohio’s Greenfield School District removed a post that urged children to pray together for their school. A concerned district parent reported that on Sept. 27, Rainsboro Elementary School promoted a religious event entitled “See You at the Pole,” in which students were to meet around the school flagpole to “lift up their friends, families, teachers, school and the nation to God.” “In the context of elementary schools, religious events and activities like SYATP are prohibited by the Constitution,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to the district. Superintendent Quincey Gray wrote back to FFRF, informing it that the post had not been planned. “Neither the Board of Education nor I were aware of the post you identified until I received your letter. The post has since been removed from the Rainsboro Elementary Facebook page,” Gray wrote.
Thanks to FFRF’s intervention, the San Felipe Del Rio CISD in Del Rio, Texas, has removed the director of athletics from organizing and leading religious clubs and promoting religious events. FFRF received a report that the district’s director of athletics had been organizing, leading and running Fellowship of Christian Athletes clubs at Del Rio High School and Del Rio Middle School. The director promoted the Del Rio High School FCA club on his official Facebook page on multiple instances. Additionally, the director promoted and encouraged student attendance at a religious event, “See You at the Pole.” Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to the district regarding the situation. General counsel for the school district from Schulman, Lopex, Hoffer & Adelstein, LLP responded to FFRF’s letter. “The district has provided [the director] with directives to remind [them] that [they] cannot lead or promote the FCA or See You at the Pole events,” Ricardo R. Lopez wrote. Additionally, all future meetings of the FCA club will be student organized and led, a point that will additionally be reiterated with the students.
FFRF has brought the Calcasieu Parish School District back in line with the Constitution. A concerned parent reported that their child’s kindergarten teacher at Bell City High School in Lake Charles, La., had been leading the class in reciting the Lord’s Prayer every school day before lunch. FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence contacted Superintendent Shannon LaFargue, who then confirmed in an email that the teacher was instructed to cease leading the kindergarten students in prayer.
FFRF has ensured that the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy will no longer force prayer at future graduation ceremonies. An academy parent has reported that the school included Christian prayer and preaching as part of its graduation exercises on May 26. The complainant described the graduation ceremony as a Christian church service. They reported that there was a prayer at the beginning that quoted the New Testament, a guest speaker who spoke about God and included quotes from the New Testament and a prayer at the end. The complainant also reported that the “Law Enforcement Code of Ethics” included on the graduation program requires graduates to “dedicate [themselves] before God.” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line contacted Academy President Lewis J. Swindler Jr. regarding the situation. Swindler responded, indicating that future graduation ceremonies would be secular. “Please allow this to serve as written assurance that future graduation ceremonies will not include scheduled prayers or other religious exercises,” he wrote.
A religious poster in the San Bernardino County School District in California has been taken down after FFRF took action. A community member reported that a display at Colin L. Powell Preschool included multiple bible verses hanging in the school’s front office. The display contained 26 verses, one for each letter of the alphabet. FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to Superintendent Ted Alejandre asking him to take action. The district responded: “As of Sept. 27, 2023, the poster has been permanently removed,” the district stated. Additionally, the district is providing staff training to promote a more inclusive environment in the future.
The Newton County Jail in Missouri will not feature religious services without accommodations after FFRF took action.
A former inmate reported that on April 23 at Newton County Jail, two Christian clergy members were allowed to enter the block where the complainant was being held to deliver an explicitly Protestant Christian sermon. New inmates, such as the complainant, were not informed that the sermon would be happening nor were they given the option to opt-out of attending. The sermon occurred in the block’s common area and the complainant, who is an atheist, had no way of exiting the block.
The complainant also stated that there was only one intercom in the block that inmates could use to communicate with jail authorities, and that intercom was located in the block’s common area. The complainant felt that they could not safely use the intercom to ask to be held in a different location for the duration of the sermon because other inmates would inevitably overhear their request. Some of the inmates were known to be violent and had fundamentalist Christian iconography tattoos. The complainant reasonably feared that if they openly admitted to being an atheist in front of the other inmates they could be attacked.
FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Sheriff Chris Jennings, who informed FFRF that “religious services have been suspended until such time that accommodations can be made to separate them from anyone not wanting to attend.”
The Monroe County Schools district in Tennessee has been brought back into constitutional line after FFRF worked with legal counsel for the district.
In May 2023, the Sweetwater High School graduation ceremony included a student-led Christian invocation that began with “Let’s pray,” and made several references to “Lord,” “God” and “Jesus Christ.” Additionally, several MCS high schools promoted senior baccalaureate ceremonies alongside other events for graduating high school seniors.
FFRF Anne Nicol Gaylor Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Director of Schools Kristi Windsor, stating that “baccalaureate ceremonies are religious services with prayer and worship. Schools may not encourage attendance at or otherwise facilitate baccalaureate ceremonies.”
Chris McCarty, legal representative for the school, called Lawrence and discussed the violations in detail. McCarty assured FFRF that there will be no issues with prayers at graduation going forward, promising to address the matter with the superintendent and the school board. He also promised to bring up the baccalaureates issue, as well.
FFRF has made sure that the Alabaster City School District in Alabama is aware that public schools are unable to include prayers in mandatory assemblies.
A Thompson High School student reported to FFRF that the school held an official school prayer during a mandatory Veterans Day assembly that took place during the school day. The complainant reported that on Nov. 11, 2022, an administrator at the school introduced a student representative of First Priority to lead everyone in prayer.
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line, who wrote to the school district’s legal representatives, heard back from Melissa B. McKie of Bishop, Colvin, Johnson & Kent, LLC, who wrote, “Please be advised that the school system has never had a policy allowing or endorsing an ‘official school prayer’ at a school assembly and the school system has spoken with administrators at Thompson High School to remind them of that fact.”
FFRF has worked with Bolivar R-1 School District in Missouri to keep evangelical Christian ministry from imposing religion on students during student mixers.
A concerned district community member reported that a Christian youth group, K-Life, recently DJ’d at the Bolivar Middle School back-to-school student mixers. K-Life’s mission statement is “to point students to Jesus so they will know Him, Love Him, walk in surrender to Him and be equipped to point others to Him also.”
FFRF Anne Nicol Gaylor Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Superintendent Richard Asbill, who detailed for FFRF the steps the district is taking to ensure that students will be free from proselytization.
FFRF has made sure to keep Columbus County Schools in North Carolina free from constitutional violations.
FFRF heard from a district community member that the “Swap Keepers” and “East Columbus Education Foundation” was holding a “Night of Worship” at East Columbus Jr./Sr. High School in late September. The promotional flier included the school’s logo, giving the appearance of school promotion of the event.
FFRF sent an open records request to Superintendent Deanne Meadows to verify that the district was truly violating the law through sponsorship of a religious worship event.
In response, Meadows provided additional context, explaining that several parent groups in the area serve as “unofficial general support” for the school. “The publication referenced in your letter was created by a community member who did not receive permission to use the school name and logo,” Meadows wrote. FFRF has been informed that steps have been taken with the local groups to ensure that the school’s images and logos are not used in the printed materials.
The Wetzel County School Board in West Virginia has agreed to put a stop to opening meetings with prayers.
A community member reported to FFRF that the board opens each meeting with a Christian prayer, led by a board member. On Aug. 28, the meeting opened with a prayer delivered “in Jesus’ name.”
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line then contacted Board President Linda M. Fonner. In response to FFRF’s complaint, legal representative Richard S. Boothby responded, stating, “At this time, the board plans to cease the practice of offering a prayer/invocation at its official public meetings.”
FFRF successfully was able to get a Christian “devotional” removed from a school in the Jackson County School District in Vancleave, Miss.
A community member reported to FFRF that on Sept. 23 East Central High School’s football coach invited Assemblies of God pastor Robb D. Reiser to lead a Christian “religious devotional” for students at the school’s football stadium. According to the pastor, the purpose of the “devotional” was to discuss “spiritual fitness.”
FFRF Equal Justice Works Fellow Kat Grant wrote to then-Superintendent John Strycker about the unconstitutionality of the “devotional.” FFRF received a response from district legal representation Jack C. Pickett, who informed FFRF that each of the district’s attendance centers received updated instructions on religious ceremonies on school grounds.
FFRF also successfully persuaded the Jackson County School District to reprimand a teacher and update staff training after a middle school teacher placed “prayer cards” under students’ desks.
Pickett then detailed action that the district has taken since it received the letter from FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence.
“Upon confirmation that the conduct had occurred, the teacher in question was officially reprimanded on Sept. 13, 2023, by the principal of East Central Middle School,” Pickett wrote. “Among other things, the letter of reprimand stressed the seriousness of the teacher’s misconduct and expressly stated that teachers are prohibited from using their positions to promote personal religious beliefs. The letter also stated any expressions of religious viewpoints in the classroom and like settings is considered a constitutional violation and must cease immediately.”
The Enterprise Elementary School District in Redding, Calif., has taken action after hearing from FFRF about keeping Christian pop music out of mandatory assemblies.
A concerned district member reported that Parsons Junior High School held a mandatory assembly for students and staff where the principal played the Christian music video “Joy” by King and Country, a Christian pop band.
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to Superintendent Heather Armelino to point out the problem. Shortly thereafter, Armelino informed the state/church watchdog that the principal had chosen the song as a reminder of expectations for positive behaviors, but Armelino then reminded the principal to maintain religious neutrality at school.
FFRF has put a stop to unconstitutional promotion of a religious event from the Preston County Schools in West Virginia.
A district community member reported to FFRF that the district was organizing, promoting and encouraging attendance at a religious “prayer walk” event at Terra Alta East Preston School on Aug. 18. The school’s Facebook page posted that the event is school-sponsored and will be led by a local religious leader.
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line contacted Superintendent Bradley R. Martin, who responded to the state/church watchdog with the following: “I have advised the school to immediately remove any advertisements or promotion of the event on any school-sponsored websites or social media sites.”
The Enfield Public Schools system has removed the offensive practice of opening its board meetings with a prayer after FFRF objected.
A community member reported to FFRF that members of the Enfield Board of Education regularly open meetings with prayer.
“It is beyond the scope of a public school board to schedule or conduct prayer as part of its meetings,” FFRF Equal Justice Works Fellow Kat Grant wrote to Board Chair Tina LeBlanc.
In response to FFRF’s diligent efforts, LeBlanc informed it of a policy change that directly addresses the concerns outlined in the letter.
LeBlanc emailed, “The Board of Ed met and changed our policy on what was formerly called the Invocation/Moment of Silence with a clear definition of the meaning.” Now, a moment of silence will be held instead without endorsing any particular religion, LeBlanc told FFRF.
FFRF was recently informed that it successfully thwarted a planned North Carolina county religious outing for seniors.
Davie County Senior Services was organizing and sponsoring a trip to the Creation Museum, Ark Encounter and St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington in May. The Ark Encounter and Creation Museum are part of a Christian ministry run by the creationist Ken Ham.
The Davie County Senior Services program is funded by federal and state grants and county funding, FFRF pointed out. Some of this funding comes from the Older Americans Act. Under this act, programs that receive federal grants may not use the funds, including local matching funds, “to support inherently religious activities, such as worship, religious instruction, or proselytization.”
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to Davie County Senior Services Director Kim Shuskey. FFRF’s advocacy on behalf of the Constitution had the desired effect.
“Please be advised that the trip outlined in Mr. Line’s letter of Jan. 18, 2023, did not occur after the county received his letter,” the senior services’ legal counsel recently emailed FFRF.
Thanks to the work of the FFRF, New Riegel Local Schools in Ohio will no longer include prayer at graduation ceremonies.
FFRF was contacted by a community member who informed it that the New Riegel High School commencement ceremony included a student-led invocation. The student speaker asked attendees to stand and bow their heads before delivering a prayer.
“Students have the First Amendment right to be free from religious indoctrination in their public schools, including when participating in commencement ceremonies,” FFRF Anne Nicol Gaylor Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Superintendent David Rombach.
An email from Rombach informed FFRF that the violation has been corrected.
“The district does not intend to permit a prayer to be offered in upcoming graduation ceremonies,” Rombach wrote.
FFRF had California’s Victor Valley Union High School District remove religious messages from the girls bathroom at Adelanto High School.
A concerned student reported that the bathroom nearest to the high school’s front office contained a religious message on the wall. The complainant reported that the display said, “Wash your HANDS and say your PRAYERS because Jesus and GERMS ARE EVERYWHERE.” The complainant found the message to be bizarre, creepy and confusing.
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to Superintendent Carol J. Coles and received a message from Assistant Superintendent Ratmony Yee, writing “The content referenced in your communication has been removed as of Monday, August 28, 2023.”
A Christian foster care community will not be getting requested funds from the city of Northport, Ala., thanks to FFRF urging against it.
In June, representatives from the “Freedom Farm” asked the city to give taxpayer funds to the organization so that it could fulfill its Christian mission and construct a new compound, which would include a chapel. Freedom Farm describes itself as “a Christian home where children are introduced to God using the bible as a roadmap in hopes that each child will develop an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ.”
“While we certainly understand why the city would be interested in the noble cause of supporting kids in foster care, it cannot do so by providing funds to a religious organization that intends to indoctrinate children when they are at their most vulnerable or for the purposes of building a religious chapel,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to Northport City Council President Jeff Hogg.
Thankfully, the city made the right decision. “The Northport City Council has not funded either the foster care project or religious organization that are the subject of your communications,” Assistant City Attorney Chris Cunningham wrote.
The Alabaster City School District in Alabama has taken steps to keep religion out of its schools’ wrestling programs after FFRF intervened.
A parent reported to FFRF that the wrestling program for Thompson Middle School and Thompson High School used a religious mantra for the team which appeared on official team documents and on social media. The mantra was “#LiveRightPrayWorkHard.” Additionally, the team also participated in Operation Christmas Child, a charity project sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse. Samaritan’s Purse is a pervasively sectarian religious organization.
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to Superintendent Dr. Wayne Vickers. The school district’s legal representative Melissa B. McKie responded, explaining that the wrestling program had participated in various community service projects sponsored by both religious and nonreligious organizations over the years, though none was mandatory.
“Nevertheless, the school system has spoken with the coach to remind him that while students may independently participate in service projects sponsored by religious organizations, he should not select projects that require students to participate in or endorse religious activity in the future,” McKie wrote.
In regard to the hashtag, McKie reported that the school system had never officially approved the hashtag, but it had been widely adopted by coaches, parents and students in the wrestling program. Fortunately, “the school system is taking steps to ensure that the hashtag does not appear on the official social media accounts that it controls and that it is not used on official documents utilized by the wrestling program in the future.”
FFRF has worked to keep Florida’s Lake County Schools free from indoctrinating prayers during graduation ceremonies going forward.
FFRF was informed that East Ridge High School schedules and hosts prayer at graduation ceremonies each year. It was understood that the prayers were being delivered by a student, but the prayer is an official part of the ceremony planned by the school.
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to the district, and James A. Myers, general counsel for the district, wrote back informing FFRF that the superintendent had addressed the concerns with the school’s principal. “The prayer in question was apparently a tribute to an East Ridge student who passed away and was delivered as part of the speech given by the school’s student government association president.” Expectations have been set to prevent further prayer at graduation in the future.
FFRF was able to get the Alabama-based Dale County Schools to stop promoting events sponsored by local churches.
A concerned district community member reported that South Dale Middle school appeared to be organizing and sponsoring a prayer walk event on Aug. 6. It had previously promoted a similar event at a local high school on July 31. The school additionally promoted a religious event taking place at Free Will Baptist Church on its official Facebook page.
“The district must cease organizing, promoting and encouraging attendance at religious events,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to Superintendent Benjamin Baker.
Baker responded to FFRF with a letter describing the school system’s response to the request. He wrote that the school districts were not organizing these events, but assured that promotion of events held by outside organizations would be ending. “I have placed this topic on the administrative meeting agenda to make sure all building level administrators across the district are informed of proper procedures in using school social media to notify the public of events that are not school related,” he wrote.
FFRF is pleased to report that a member of the Peoria (Ariz.) Unified School District governing board has agreed to stop reciting bible verses during meetings — at least for now.
FFRF wrote to the school district in late May, pointing out that board member Heather Rooks quotes from the bible at every board meeting, and that another board member, Rebecca Hill, was starting to join in.
The board has heeded FFRF’s request and recently sent Rooks a letter directing her to stop quoting bible verses during meetings. At a recent board meeting, Rooks announced: “Based upon the district’s letter, I will refrain from reciting bible verses at this time and will have my attorneys at First Liberty Institute handle this matter.”
Rooks appears to openly embrace Christian nationalism and has invited her followers to attend board meetings en masse, who sometimes disrupt the gatherings.
Wrote FFRF Attorney Chris Line: “While board members are free to promote their personal religious beliefs however they wish in their personal capacities outside of the school board, as government officials they cannot be allowed to commandeer the board in order to impose their personal religious beliefs on district students, parents, and employees.”
Due to the FFRF’s efforts, Burnet Consolidated ISD will no longer promote a prayer marathon before the start of the fall semester.
A complainant reported that the district was encouraging community members to “pray for the first day” of classes by praying for a specific group of people each day from July 26 to the first day of classes on Aug. 16. The district promoted the daily prayers in a post on its official Facebook page.
“By promoting prayer, the district sends an official message that excludes all nonreligious district students and community members,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Superintendent Keith McBurnett.
McBurnett emailed FFRF back: “The Facebook post has been removed, and the district will refrain from posting anything similar in the future.”
FFRF was able to get the Grayson County Courthouse in Kentucky to remove a proselytizing sign from its walls.
A concerned Grayson County citizen reported that a large display reading “In God We Trust/Pray for America” was recently added to the outside of the courthouse. FFRF took action by writing a letter of complaint to the county judge-executive.
“Displaying a religious message on public property raises serious constitutional concerns,” FFRF Anne Nicol Gaylor Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote. “The Establishment Clause prohibits government sponsorship of religious messages.”
The complainant contacted FFRF and said the display had been removed.
A Michigan school district has deleted Christian prayer from its senior award ceremony after FFRF conveyed the objection of parents to officials.
A Vicksburg Community Schools parent had informed the state/church watchdog that the May 2023 Vicksburg High School senior awards banquet, held at the high school, included two Christian prayers — one before the ceremony and one before dinner. The prayers were led by a district employee and the opening prayer was listed on the banquet’s program. Both prayers explicitly mentioned Jesus Christ and were overtly Christian.
“The Supreme Court has specifically struck down prayers given at public school events. Including explicitly Christian prayers as part of a school-sponsored awards banquet held on school property clearly crosses the line,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Superintendent Keevin O’Neill.
The school district’s legal counsel wrote back: “The district appreciates you bringing district parent concerns about these invocations to its attention. Please be advised that, from this point forward, the district will not incorporate invocations or prayers into school-sponsored events, like this reception.”
Three books removed from a Colorado school system’s libraries at the request of a conservative group will be back on the shelves after FFRF and a local activist demanded that the district either put the books back or ban the bible.
In May, the Academy School District 20 yanked three books from school libraries after a parent group known as “Advocates for D20 Kids” insisted that they be removed for sexually explicit content. The supposed offensive content led the group to deem these books as “obscene.” In response to this call, Superintendent Tom Gregory permitted all schools in the district to remove the three books.
This led to a concerned district parent asking for the bible to be banned based on the same criteria. FFRF then reiterated this request in a letter to Gregory.
“The district cannot ban books because it disagrees with the viewpoint expressed while allowing other inappropriate books because it supports their viewpoint,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote.
FFRF is pleased to report that the district has rescinded its initial decision.
“After careful consideration, the district assures that the removal of library materials will be based on established policies and procedures,” writes the school system’s legal counsel Tonya Thompson. “Therefore, any books recently removed without following the district’s procedure shall be reinstated and subject to reconsideration upon formal request.
FFRF took action when a high school band teacher assigned mandatory homework that discussed sex from a religious perspective.
A concerned parent informed FFRF of the assignment, which included statements such as “virginity is a virtue” and “You must be mature enough to provide those boundaries or it will hurt you.” The complainant reported that the entire class was disturbed by this religious assignment and many students refused to do it. The teacher then made the assignment mandatory.
“This plainly religious lesson is inappropriate and unconstitutional in a public school, and your teachers should know better,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to Superintendent Daniel Hamada.
Hamada replied, “At the time that Principal [Mahina] Anguay was made aware of the assignment, only one class had been exposed to the lesson. Principal Anguay immediately pulled the teacher into her office to discuss the matter with him. The teacher admitted to providing the lesson and agreed that he should not have been teaching that content in class.” Anguay immediately put a stop to the assignment.
The city of Blakely, Ga., has taken action to not allow posts advertising religious programs on its official Facebook page after FFRF complained.
A resident reported to FFRF that the city of Blakely promoted two vacation bible schools on its official Facebook page. The city posted about the events at least 12 times from late May to early June. The posts explicitly directed residents to “join us” in attending the religious events and promoted the First Baptist Church hosting the programs.
“By officially promoting these Christian vacation bible schools, the city of Blakely signals a clear preference for religion over nonreligion and a specific brand of Christianity over all other faiths,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to Mayor Travis Whimbush.
Legal Representative Tommy Coleman responded to the letter, informing FFRF that these posts had not been presented to the mayor and council. Coleman assured that these posts would not continue. “It is my understanding that the city now better understands the parameters for community use of the city’s Facebook page. I do not expect any further postings of the nature and content you provided,” he wrote.
FFRF has worked with Pinellas County Schools in Largo, Fla., to keep religious texts out of school staff email signatures.
A community member reported that a district administrator included biblical scripture in her official Pinellas County Schools email signature. The complainant reported that they received an email from the principal of Bay Point Middle School that included the bible verse Jeremiah 29:11-13.
“It is inappropriate and unconstitutional for the district or its agents to promote a religious message because it conveys government preference for religion over nonreligion,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line.
FFRF received an email from School Board Attorney David Koperski, stating that the email signature “no longer contains the text that is the subject of your letter.” Additionally, the district is discussing reviewing the signature block practices to be used by all employees to prevent future offenses.
After FFRF got involved, board members from Tulsa Public Schools will no longer be allowed to deliver religious remarks, including prayers.
Concerned community members, including a school district staff member, have reported that a board member had misused their position to impose their personal religious beliefs on graduating students and families during the East Central High School graduation ceremony. Complainants report that the board member participated in the graduation in her official capacity and delivered an explicitly Christian prayer, invoking Jesus Christ by name.
“A school board member co-opting a public school graduation ceremony in order to promote their personal religious beliefs and ask students to engage in a religious ritual is inappropriate and unconstitutional,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote in a letter to school system’s General Counsel Jana Burk.
Burk responded to FFRF by including the text of a message from Superintendent Deborah Gist. “Our schools will provide a precise script for board members to use in their commencement remarks, with an expectation that board members do not deviate from the provided script,” the message reads.
FFRF has worked to ensure that teachers in the Willard Public Schools in Montana will no longer spread religious messages through their wardrobe.
A concerned district community member reported that a teacher at Willard Intermediate School wore a shirt with the religious message “Love Like Jesus” written on it at school during the day while acting in her official capacity. The faculty member posted a photo wearing the shirt that day on social media, and the classroom can be seen in the background.
“Students have the First Amendment right to be free from religious indoctrination in their public schools,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Superintendent Eric Wilken.
FFRF received an emailed response from school legal representative Emily A. Omohundro, writing, “The district has taken steps to remind district staff of the district’s policies, including the requirement that they refrain from wearing attire that interferes with the educational environment and avoid the promotion of sectarian religious views at school.”
The Alpine (Texas) police chief removed a Latin cross from the lobby of the police station, thanks to FFRF.
FFRF was notified of the cross by a concerned community member, who reported that the cross is located above the entrance of the department’s building. As a nonbeliever, the complainant expressed frustration due to the department’s apparent favoritism of religion over nonreligion.
“The Constitution’s Establishment Clause — which protects Americans’ religious freedom by ensuring the continued separation of religion and government — dictates that the government cannot in any way show favoritism toward religion,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Chief Darrell Losoya.
Losoya responded to FFRF, informing it that the violation had been corrected. “The cross was removed from the lobby. I appreciate you reaching out to me,” he wrote.
A Bedford County, Va., church has taken down signs on public property after FFRF took action.
A concerned Virginia resident reported that Impact Church had been frequently placing advertisements on Perrowville Road alongside Jefferson Forest High School. FFRF understood that the right-of-way was under control of the Department of Transportation and that advertisements were not allowed to be posted.
“By allowing church advertisements to be posted in its right-of-way, the DOT sends an exclusionary message that needlessly alienates Virginians and travelers who are non-Christians,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to District Engineer Ken King.
Residency Administrator Todd K. Daniel responded to FFRF on King’s behalf. “We have reviewed the area in question and communicated with the Impact Church leadership concerning Virginia Code related to advertising in the right of way,” he wrote. Daniel stated that the church communicated that they understood the code and would comply.
The Dickinson Independent School District in Texas will no longer include proselytizing remarks in future graduation ceremonies after hearing from FFRF.
A district parent reported that Principal Billye Smith delivered a speech in which she quoted scripture during the 2023 Dickinson High School graduation ceremony. FFRF was informed that graduating seniors, including the complainant’s child, were not aware that Smith would be delivering a religious speech during the ceremony.
“Public school students have a constitutional right to be free from religious indoctrination in their public schools, including while participating in graduation ceremonies,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote.
FFRF received an emailed response from Superintendent Carla Voelkel, promising action in regard to the violation. “Dickinson ISD will promptly address this concern, and we will ensure that all future school-sponsored events respect the First Amendment rights of students and their families,” she wrote.
The “Tiger Talk” podcast, the official podcast of Northeast Mississippi Community College, will be free from future references to religion after FFRF wrote a letter to the college president.
A member of the community reported that during the closing of the Dec. 7, 2022, episode, the president urged students and staff “not to forget the reason [for the season] and of course that’s the birth of our savior Jesus Christ. I want everybody to remember that.” The podcast is used to keep students and staff informed about new programming and partnerships at the college.
“We ask that in the future, you and other college employees refrain from engaging in religious promotion when acting in your official capacities,” FFRF Equal Justice Works Fellow Kat Grant wrote.
Legal Counsel Daniel K. Tucker responded with a letter, stating that after discussing the matter with the president, he was informed that the president merely got “caught up in the season” and apologized to any who were offended. He assured that the situation would not happen again.
The Oklahoma-based Keystone Public Schools has removed prayers from its graduation ceremonies after getting a letter from FFRF.
A Keystone Public Schools parent informed FFRF that the district’s eighth-grade graduation ceremony on May 4 included an opening and closing prayer. The complainant reported feeling uncomfortable with this religious ritual, and feared being ostracized if others noticed they were not participating.
“A public school may not violate the constitutional rights of graduating students and their families by subjecting them to prayer,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to Superintendent Rhett Bynum.
FFRF has received a penitent letter from Superintendent Bynum in response, reporting that the district will no longer include opening and closing prayers at any graduation ceremony. “I am truly sorry to anyone that was in a difficult position of deciding to stay or leave this eighth-grade graduation ceremony,” he writes.
FFRF has ensured that only secular music will be played at the Nadine Johnson Elementary School in Hutto, Texas.
FFRF was informed by a district parent that staff at the school regularly played Christian worship music during morning arrival time. Additionally, the front office staff consistently played Christian pop and worship music during the school day. The complainant reported feeling angry and concerned over the school faculty and staff’s custom and practice of playing overtly religious music during the school day, saying that it signals a clear lack of inclusivity.
“Playing Christian worship music carries with it the risk of ostracizing non-Christian students, which may lead to bullying — a risk not shared by most secular alternatives,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Superintendent Celina Estrada Thomas.
Thomas wrote a letter in response to FFRF, informing of an investigation that took place. “The campus principal responded immediately and has assured me that the front office staff will be more mindful about playing music that is inclusive and representative of the students who attend school,” she wrote.
FFRF was informed by a member of the Seminole County Public School District that administrators at Casselberry Elementary School invited representatives of Action Church to pray over the school. The church then posted about the event, thanking the school administrators for the opportunity to “pray over the building, students and staff.” The complainant also reported that Lake Howell High School’s football team attended a gathering at Action Church where student athletes were led in prayer and encouraged to convert to Christianity, which Action Church again posted on social media about. Action Church is a Protestant ministry with a mission of “reaching people where they are and connecting them to everything God has for their life.”
“It is inappropriate and unconstitutional for the district to offer religious leaders unique access to student athletes in order to indoctrinate them and lead them in prayer,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to the district’s legal counsel Stephanie K. Stewart.
In response, Stewart wrote an email to FFRF regarding discussions held with the offending principals. “Both principals have addressed the matter with Action Church. Additionally, the assistant superintendents of elementary schools, middle schools and high schools have been retrained on engagement with religious groups.”
A principal’s proselytizing remarks, including a prayer, will no longer be a part of Battle Creek Middle School’s eighth-grade awards ceremony.
A Maury County Public School parent reported that Battle Creek Middle School promotion and awards ceremony featured a speech from the principal which included several bible verses as part of his closing remarks. He stated that he regularly reads the bible to students and recommends that students read the bible as a good guide for their lives. The complainant further reports that the principal closed the ceremony with an explicitly Christian prayer, prefaced by stating that he was honored to be principal, but he was still going to pray. The complainant took this to mean that the principal was aware that it is unconstitutional for a public school district’s principal to deliver prayers at a school-sponsored event.
FFRF’s complainant reported feeling uncomfortable as part of a nonreligious family, and did not participate in the prayer or stand to applaud the principal. The religious remarks made them and their children uncomfortable, as the prayer and proselytizing remarks were unconstitutional, but they also felt singled out and excluded at a school-sponsored event.
“School officials, including principals, may not invite a student, teacher, faculty member, or clergy to give any type of prayer, invocation, or benediction at a public school graduation nor may they deliver one themselves,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Superintendent Lisa Ventura.
FFRF received a swift response from Ventura, notifying of actions taken. “I have investigated this incident and spoken with [the principal]. The actions of [the principal] violated the school district’s policies and procedures. I have issued a private letter of concern, and he has been instructed not to repeat this behavior going forward.” FFRF was additionally notified that in response to the incident, further training will be provided to the staff to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
A school bus will no longer carry an offensive religious sign after FFRF contacted the school district.
A Scott County Schools parent noticed that one of the district’s buses had a rear license plate reading “God Bless America,” as well as a sign on the back of the bus claiming, “Our government makes sin legal — Our God does not! Jesus is coming soon and boy is he mad!” The complainant noticed this bus while picking up their child from elementary school.
“By allowing an official SCS bus to display blatantly proselytizing messages, SCS fails to remain neutral toward religion and shows clear favoritism toward Christians who subscribe to this particular religious message,” FFRF Anne Nicol Gaylor Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote in her letter of complaint. “In recognition of SCS’s constitutional obligation to remain neutral toward religion and in order to respect the right of conscience of all students and their families, these religious messages must be removed immediately.”
FFRF received a response from Billy M. Hall, director of schools with the Board of Education Central Office, stating that the signage had been removed the following day.
A concerned Tomball ISD parent reported that on Nov. 11, 2022, Grand Lakes Junior High School in Texas held a mandatory Veterans Day assembly that included prayer. The assembly took place in the school gymnasium during the school day, and students were not allowed to opt out of attending the assembly or the portion that included prayer. FFRF was additionally informed that the school board vice president delivered a prayer at the district’s May 2023 A+ Award Ceremony for outstanding students.
“These multiple incidents are especially concerning as they suggest the District has a custom and practice of facilitating pre-planned prayers at its official events,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Superintendent Martha Salazar-Zamora.
In response, FFRF received a letter from TISD legal representative Holly A. Sherman, writing, “The district is aware of the parent’s concerns regarding these specific events. The district ensures that it will comply with applicable federal and state law and any applicable TISD board policies regarding prayer at school-sponsored events in the future.”
St. Martin East Elementary School in Mississippi has agreed to play secular music on outdoor speakers after FFRF took action.
A local parent reported that staff at St. Martin had begun playing Christian worship music outside of the school every morning during drop-off. The complainant reported hearing staff play the song “I Can Only Imagine” by MercyMe, which contains lyrics in reference to Jesus.
“If St. Martin East Elementary wants to play music during morning drop-off, there is a multitude of secular, school- appropriate songs to choose from,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Superintendent John Strycker.
FFRF received a written response from Jackson County School District Attorney Jack C. Pickett, detailing an extensive investigation performed by Assistant Superintendent Todd Boucher. “School staff have been directed that the music selections being played were to be non-Christian and/or non-religious based songs. The staff has since created a new playlist of music to ensure compliance with the aforementioned directive,” he wrote. He additionally assured that the most recent JCSD principals/administration meeting instructed all district leaders to follow the same guidelines at their respective schools.
FFRF was notified by a concerned community member that a clerk at the O’ahu Family Court Service Center in Hawaii prominently displayed countless Christian decorations, including multiple Latin crosses, figures of Christian saints, bible verses, prayers, and a rosary, in a public-facing workstation. The religious decorations and messages were unavoidable to any member of the public who would interact with the clerk and seek services from the center.
“We urge the O’ahu Family Court Service Center to recognize its obligation to provide the people it serves with an environment free from religious messaging by removing these exclusionary displays,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to Deputy Administrator Dwight Sakai.
FFRF has since been notified that the cubicle in question is no longer employee facing, and all the decorations have been removed.
A Texas elementary school in the Mineral Wells Independent School District has taken action to prevent teachers from discussing religion with students after a discriminatory lesson occurred.
A concerned Houston Elementary School parent contacted FFRF to report that on Nov. 7, 2022, the physical education teacher, as part of a lesson on diversity, asked third-grade students to raise their hands if they went to church. When a student did not raise their hand, the teacher reportedly directed sad looks at the student for the rest of the lesson, causing the student to feel uncomfortable and unwelcome. As a result of the lesson, fellow students asked throughout the rest of the day if the student really did not attend church or believe in God. Additionally, FFRF was informed that at least one other teacher promoted religion via options in their classroom prize box.
“Religion is often a divisive force in public schools, with minority religious and nonreligious students experiencing ostracization and even bullying for publicly identifying themselves as non-Christian,” FFRF Equal Justice Works Fellow Kat Grant wrote in a letter to Superintendent John Kuhn.
Kuhn replied to FFRF via email: “The principal informed the teacher that she should not inquire about students’ church attendance or religious beliefs. The teacher apologized for her error and said she did not mean to offend anyone.”
The Chino Valley Unified School District in California has taken action to prevent board members from making religious comments during meetings, after receiving a warning from FFRF.
On April 6, a board member engaged with a community member regarding a resolution requiring staff to inform parents within three days if they became aware that a student might be identifying as a gender other than their sex assigned at birth. The community member was gay, to which the board member implied that the community member had been confused about his sexuality while growing up, before stating, “I was reflecting on what you were saying. I do love one man. I really love this man and that is Jesus Christ. It’s in my head.”
“[The board member]’s inappropriate proselytizing alienated our complainant and may constitute a violation of the injunction against the board,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote in a letter to the Chino Valley legal representative.
Attorney William A. Diedrich wrote to FFRF, stating that he had met with the board, and said that, “we believe the board is aware of its rights and obligations concerning the Establishment Clause and expression of religious beliefs during meetings of the Governing Board.”
After months of silence, the Central Florida Freethought Community’s Twitter account is no longer being blocked by a high school football team from the Seminole County Public School district.
In September 2022, FFRF was alerted that the CFFC had been blocked by the official Oviedo High School football team’s Twitter account. Though the exact reason as to why the chapter’s account was blocked is unknown, it is suspected that the censorship was viewpoint discrimination based on the chapter’s representation of the non-religious.
“We ask that the Oviedo High School football team unblock “@cflfreethought” on Twitter as well as any other accounts that may have been inappropriately blocked,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote in a letter to the district’s legal counsel.
The counsel responded to the letter via email, informing FFRF that the Oviedo High School football account has unblocked the CFFC, an FFRF chapter.
A concerned FFRF member reported that members of the Crawford County (Ind.) Board of Education told those in attendance to stand during a prayer that immediately followed the Pledge of Allegiance.
FFRF Equal Justice Works Fellow Kat Grant wrote a letter to the district, requesting that the practice be immediately ceased. “The fact that the prayers are not on the meeting minutes or agenda do not make prayer at a public board meeting constitutional. Students and parents have the right — and often have reason — to participate in school board meetings,” Grant wrote.
FFRF heard back from Karen Sheller, president of the Crawford County Community Corp Board of Trustees. “I, too, have questioned this practice, but was assured that because prayer took place before the meeting started and not during the meeting, it was acceptable,” Sheller wrote. Sheller thanked FFRF for bringing the situation to her awareness and assured that the practice has been discontinued.
By Greg Fletcher
A VA facility in West Virginia got rid of a large cross from a screening room after FFRF objected on behalf of a veteran.
A disabled veteran informed the FFRF that on a March visit to the Louis Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg, W.Va., they observed a large wooden Latin cross affixed to a mirror hanging on a wall in the Covid-19 screening room. The person had to undergo a screening prior to undergoing surgery at the hospital and explained to FFRF that the religious display made them “very uncomfortable” due to past religious trauma and abuse. Further, the person stated: “I fought for my country so that I, and others, would not have to witness state/church entanglement as a captive audience.”
Our Constitution’s Establishment Clause dictates that the government cannot in any way show favoritism toward religion, FFRF reminded the VA medical center.
FFRF Anne Nicol Gaylor Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Louis A. Johnson Veterans’ Administration Medical Center Executive Director Barbara Forsha: “By displaying a Latin cross in a location that hospital patrons like our complainant will inevitably observe, the hospital signals blatant favoritism towards religion over nonreligion, and Christianity above all other faiths.”
FFRF asked that the medical center remove the cross from the Covid-19 screening room — and it graciously complied.
“The Latin cross has been removed, the employee has been counseled on the display of personal faith symbols, and the Executive Leadership Team is in the process of reemphasizing the importance of maintaining a professional atmosphere to all employees at Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center,” Forsha responded. “To the veteran patient who experienced the feelings of trauma caused by the Latin cross, we sincerely apologize. In addition, we are grateful for you bringing this to our attention, so that we were able to remedy this incident and ensure that future veteran patients find our hospital to be a safe and welcoming environment, regardless of faith or lack thereof.”
FFRF was notified by a concerned community member that a clerk at the O’ahu Family Court Service Center in Hawaii prominently displayed countless Christian decorations, including multiple Latin crosses, figures of Christian saints, bible verses, prayers, and a rosary, in a public-facing workstation. The religious decorations and messages were unavoidable to any member of the public who would interact with the clerk and seek services from the center.
“We urge the O’ahu Family Court Service Center to recognize its obligation to provide the people it serves with an environment free from religious messaging by removing these exclusionary displays,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to Deputy Administrator Dwight Sakai.
FFRF has since been notified that the cubicle in question is no longer employee facing, and all the decorations have been removed.
The Dickinson Independent School District in Texas will no longer include proselytizing remarks in future graduation ceremonies after hearing from FFRF.
A district parent reported that Principal Billye Smith delivered a speech in which she quoted scripture during the 2023 Dickinson High School graduation ceremony. FFRF was informed that graduating seniors, including the complainant’s child, were not aware that Smith would be delivering a religious speech during the ceremony.
“Public school students have a constitutional right to be free from religious indoctrination in their public schools, including while participating in graduation ceremonies,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote.
FFRF received an emailed response from Superintendent Carla Voelkel, promising action in regard to the violation. “Dickinson ISD will promptly address this concern, and we will ensure that all future school-sponsored events respect the First Amendment rights of students and their families,” she wrote.
The “Tiger Talk” podcast, the official podcast of Northeast Mississippi Community College, will be free from future references to religion after FFRF wrote a letter to the college president.
A member of the community reported that during the closing of the Dec. 7, 2022, episode, the president urged students and staff “not to forget the reason [for the season] and of course that’s the birth of our savior Jesus Christ. I want everybody to remember that.” The podcast is used to keep students and staff informed about new programming and partnerships at the college.
“We ask that in the future, you and other college employees refrain from engaging in religious promotion when acting in your official capacities,” FFRF Equal Justice Works Fellow Kat Grant wrote.
Legal Counsel Daniel K. Tucker responded with a letter, stating that after discussing the matter with the president, he was informed that the president merely got “caught up in the season” and apologized to any who were offended. He assured that the situation would not happen again.
A school bus will no longer carry an offensive religious sign after FFRF contacted the school district.
A Scott County Schools parent noticed that one of the district’s buses had a rear license plate reading “God Bless America,” as well as a sign on the back of the bus claiming, “Our government makes sin legal — Our God does not! Jesus is coming soon and boy is he mad!” The complainant noticed this bus while picking up their child from elementary school.
“By allowing an official SCS bus to display blatantly proselytizing messages, SCS fails to remain neutral toward religion and shows clear favoritism toward Christians who subscribe to this particular religious message,” FFRF Anne Nicol Gaylor Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote in her letter of complaint. “In recognition of SCS’s constitutional obligation to remain neutral toward religion and in order to respect the right of conscience of all students and their families, these religious messages must be removed immediately.”
FFRF received a response from Billy M. Hall, director of schools with the Board of Education Central Office, stating that the signage had been removed the following day.
A principal’s proselytizing remarks, including a prayer, will no longer be a part of Battle Creek Middle School’s eighth-grade awards ceremony.
A Maury County Public School parent reported that Battle Creek Middle School promotion and awards ceremony featured a speech from the principal which included several bible verses as part of his closing remarks. He stated that he regularly reads the bible to students and recommends that students read the bible as a good guide for their lives. The complainant further reports that the principal closed the ceremony with an explicitly Christian prayer, prefaced by stating that he was honored to be principal, but he was still going to pray. The complainant took this to mean that the principal was aware that it is unconstitutional for a public school district’s principal to deliver prayers at a school-sponsored event.
FFRF’s complainant reported feeling uncomfortable as part of a nonreligious family, and did not participate in the prayer or stand to applaud the principal. The religious remarks made them and their children uncomfortable, as the prayer and proselytizing remarks were unconstitutional, but they also felt singled out and excluded at a school-sponsored event.
“School officials, including principals, may not invite a student, teacher, faculty member, or clergy to give any type of prayer, invocation, or benediction at a public school graduation nor may they deliver one themselves,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Superintendent Lisa Ventura.
FFRF received a swift response from Ventura, notifying of actions taken. “I have investigated this incident and spoken with [the principal]. The actions of [the principal] violated the school district’s policies and procedures. I have issued a private letter of concern, and he has been instructed not to repeat this behavior going forward.” FFRF was additionally notified that in response to the incident, further training will be provided to the staff to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The Oklahoma-based Keystone Public Schools has removed prayers from its graduation ceremonies after getting a letter from FFRF.
A Keystone Public Schools parent informed FFRF that the district’s eighth-grade graduation ceremony on May 4 included an opening and closing prayer. The complainant reported feeling uncomfortable with this religious ritual, and feared being ostracized if others noticed they were not participating.
“A public school may not violate the constitutional rights of graduating students and their families by subjecting them to prayer,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to Superintendent Rhett Bynum.
FFRF has received a penitent letter from Superintendent Bynum in response, reporting that the district will no longer include opening and closing prayers at any graduation ceremony. “I am truly sorry to anyone that was in a difficult position of deciding to stay or leave this eighth-grade graduation ceremony,” he writes.
A concerned Tomball ISD parent reported that on Nov. 11, 2022, Grand Lakes Junior High School in Texas held a mandatory Veterans Day assembly that included prayer. The assembly took place in the school gymnasium during the school day, and students were not allowed to opt out of attending the assembly or the portion that included prayer. FFRF was additionally informed that the school board vice president delivered a prayer at the district’s May 2023 A+ Award Ceremony for outstanding students.
“These multiple incidents are especially concerning as they suggest the District has a custom and practice of facilitating pre-planned prayers at its official events,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Superintendent Martha Salazar-Zamora.
In response, FFRF received a letter from TISD legal representative Holly A. Sherman, writing, “The district is aware of the parent’s concerns regarding these specific events. The district ensures that it will comply with applicable federal and state law and any applicable TISD board policies regarding prayer at school-sponsored events in the future.”
The Chino Valley Unified School District in California has taken action to prevent board members from making religious comments during meetings, after receiving a warning from FFRF.
On April 6, a board member engaged with a community member regarding a resolution requiring staff to inform parents within three days if they became aware that a student might be identifying as a gender other than their sex assigned at birth. The community member was gay, to which the board member implied that the community member had been confused about his sexuality while growing up, before stating, “I was reflecting on what you were saying. I do love one man. I really love this man and that is Jesus Christ. It’s in my head.”
“[The board member]’s inappropriate proselytizing alienated our complainant and may constitute a violation of the injunction against the board,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote in a letter to the Chino Valley legal representative.
Attorney William A. Diedrich wrote to FFRF, stating that he had met with the board, and said that, “we believe the board is aware of its rights and obligations concerning the Establishment Clause and expression of religious beliefs during meetings of the Governing Board.”
After FFRF got involved, a middle school in the Corcoran Unified School District in California has moved to ensure that teachers will have no part in the student religious club.
An employee of John Muir Middle School reached out to FFRF in regard to a staff-wide email from one of the teachers encouraging staff to donate and help send students to the Christian youth ministry’s Young Life Wyldlife summer camp. Two other teachers cosigned this document.
“We write to request that the district immediately investigate this situation and ensure that all religious clubs are run by students and not adults in accordance with the Equal Access Act and the United States Constitution,” FFRF Equal Justice Fellow Kat Grant wrote in a letter to Superintendent Eduardo Ochoa.
Ochoa responded to FFRF via email, stating that he has spoken with the principal of the middle school. “He is addressing the situation so that a repeat action of what took place does not happen again. He is speaking with all three of the adult staff members listed on the email as to why the adults need to be in a nonparticipatory capacity and what that translates to in real action.”
Ochoa assured FFRF that all religious clubs on campuses will be completely student-run in the future.
FFRF has ensured that only secular music will be played at the Nadine Johnson Elementary School in Hutto, Texas.
FFRF was informed by a district parent that staff at the school regularly played Christian worship music during morning arrival time. Additionally, the front office staff consistently played Christian pop and worship music during the school day. The complainant reported feeling angry and concerned over the school faculty and staff’s custom and practice of playing overtly religious music during the school day, saying that it signals a clear lack of inclusivity.
“Playing Christian worship music carries with it the risk of ostracizing non-Christian students, which may lead to bullying — a risk not shared by most secular alternatives,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Superintendent Celina Estrada Thomas.
Thomas wrote a letter in response to FFRF, informing of an investigation that took place. “The campus principal responded immediately and has assured me that the front office staff will be more mindful about playing music that is inclusive and representative of the students who attend school,” she wrote.
FFRF’s letter of complaint has been heard by the Ohio-based Norwalk City Schools, leading to the Board of Education ending the practice of opening meetings with a prayer.
A community member reported to FFRF that the board opened the March 14 meeting, held at Norwalk High School, with a prayer prior to reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. The complainant reported that this was the first instance of prayer being included in the meeting, and as such, it made them feel very uncomfortable.
“The fact that the prayers are not on the meeting minutes or agenda do not make prayer at a public BOE meeting constitutional. Students and parents have the right — and often have reason — to participate in school board meetings,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Board President Lisa Wick.
In response, Wick made comments to the media indicating that the letter was received and the message was heard. “It was not the intention for us to make anyone feel uncomfortable.” Wick has confirmed that they will no longer open meetings with prayer.
St. Martin East Elementary School in Mississippi has agreed to play secular music on outdoor speakers after FFRF took action.
A local parent reported that staff at St. Martin had begun playing Christian worship music outside of the school every morning during drop-off. The complainant reported hearing staff play the song “I Can Only Imagine” by MercyMe, which contains lyrics in reference to Jesus.
“If St. Martin East Elementary wants to play music during morning drop-off, there is a multitude of secular, school- appropriate songs to choose from,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Superintendent John Strycker.
FFRF received a written response from Jackson County School District Attorney Jack C. Pickett, detailing an extensive investigation performed by Assistant Superintendent Todd Boucher. “School staff have been directed that the music selections being played were to be non-Christian and/or non-religious based songs. The staff has since created a new playlist of music to ensure compliance with the aforementioned directive,” he wrote. He additionally assured that the most recent JCSD principals/administration meeting instructed all district leaders to follow the same guidelines at their respective schools.
A Texas elementary school in the Mineral Wells Independent School District has taken action to prevent teachers from discussing religion with students after a discriminatory lesson occurred.
A concerned Houston Elementary School parent contacted FFRF to report that on Nov. 7, 2022, the physical education teacher, as part of a lesson on diversity, asked third-grade students to raise their hands if they went to church. When a student did not raise their hand, the teacher reportedly directed sad looks at the student for the rest of the lesson, causing the student to feel uncomfortable and unwelcome. As a result of the lesson, fellow students asked throughout the rest of the day if the student really did not attend church or believe in God. Additionally, FFRF was informed that at least one other teacher promoted religion via options in their classroom prize box.
“Religion is often a divisive force in public schools, with minority religious and nonreligious students experiencing ostracization and even bullying for publicly identifying themselves as non-Christian,” FFRF Equal Justice Works Fellow Kat Grant wrote in a letter to Superintendent John Kuhn.
Kuhn replied to FFRF via email: “The principal informed the teacher that she should not inquire about students’ church attendance or religious beliefs. The teacher apologized for her error and said she did not mean to offend anyone.”
A VA facility in West Virginia got rid of a large cross from a screening room after FFRF objected on behalf of a veteran.
A disabled veteran informed the FFRF that on a March visit to the Louis Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg, W.Va., they observed a large wooden Latin cross affixed to a mirror hanging on a wall in the Covid-19 screening room. The person had to undergo a screening prior to undergoing surgery at the hospital and explained to FFRF that the religious display made them “very uncomfortable” due to past religious trauma and abuse. Further, the person stated: “I fought for my country so that I, and others, would not have to witness state/church entanglement as a captive audience.”
Our Constitution’s Establishment Clause dictates that the government cannot in any way show favoritism toward religion, FFRF reminded the VA medical center.
FFRF Anne Nicol Gaylor Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Louis A. Johnson Veterans’ Administration Medical Center Executive Director Barbara Forsha: “By displaying a Latin cross in a location that hospital patrons like our complainant will inevitably observe, the hospital signals blatant favoritism towards religion over nonreligion, and Christianity above all other faiths.”
FFRF asked that the medical center remove the cross from the Covid-19 screening room — and it graciously complied.
“The Latin cross has been removed, the employee has been counseled on the display of personal faith symbols, and the Executive Leadership Team is in the process of reemphasizing the importance of maintaining a professional atmosphere to all employees at Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center,” Forsha responded. “To the veteran patient who experienced the feelings of trauma caused by the Latin cross, we sincerely apologize. In addition, we are grateful for you bringing this to our attention, so that we were able to remedy this incident and ensure that future veteran patients find our hospital to be a safe and welcoming environment, regardless of faith or lack thereof.”
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation removed two sectarian religious displays from a local rest stop after the Freedom From Religion Foundation demanded action.
The state/church watchdog was informed by a concerned Wisconsin resident that a Latin cross and a sign displaying the bible verse “Blessed are the peacemakers” were displayed on a bulletin board in the Coloma Rest Stop. The rest stop is located in the town of Coloma in Waushara County and is owned and run by the DOT, making it state property.
FFRF wrote to Wisconsin DOT Secretary Craig Thompson requesting that the signage be removed immediately.
“It is a basic constitutional principle that the government cannot show favoritism towards religion,” FFRF Anne Nicol Gaylor Fellow Sammi Lawrence stated in the letter. “The First Amendment’s Establishment Clause requires that the government remain neutral between religion and religion, and between religion and nonreligion.”
The displays signaled unconstitutional favoritism toward religion, and specifically Christianity over minority religions and nonreligious individuals. They were needlessly alienating to all non-Christians in a secular nation where nearly 30 percent of individuals identify as religiously unaffiliated.
FFRF received a letter from DOT Legal Counsel Eileen Miller Carter stating that department officials “have determined the current signs as described should be removed and we have accordingly directed our regional staff to remove the signs.”
FFRF extends appreciation to the Wisconsin DOT for correcting the issue and respecting the secular Constitution.
“Rest stops clearly should not be used to push a religious message. People deserve to travel freely without being proselytized by the state of Wisconsin,” says FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. “We are hopeful that the Department of Transportation will monitor its buildings going forward to ensure that the freedom of conscience of Wisconsin citizens and tourists is respected.”
After months of silence, the Central Florida Freethought Community’s Twitter account is no longer being blocked by a high school football team from the Seminole County Public School district.
In September 2022, FFRF was alerted that the CFFC had been blocked by the official Oviedo High School football team’s Twitter account. Though the exact reason as to why the chapter’s account was blocked is unknown, it is suspected that the censorship was viewpoint discrimination based on the chapter’s representation of the non-religious.
“We ask that the Oviedo High School football team unblock “@cflfreethought” on Twitter as well as any other accounts that may have been inappropriately blocked,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote in a letter to the district’s legal counsel.
The counsel responded to the letter via email, informing FFRF that the Oviedo High School football account has unblocked the CFFC, an FFRF chapter.
FFRF was informed by a member of the Seminole County Public School District that administrators at Casselberry Elementary School invited representatives of Action Church to pray over the school. The church then posted about the event, thanking the school administrators for the opportunity to “pray over the building, students and staff.” The complainant also reported that Lake Howell High School’s football team attended a gathering at Action Church where student athletes were led in prayer and encouraged to convert to Christianity, which Action Church again posted on social media about. Action Church is a Protestant ministry with a mission of “reaching people where they are and connecting them to everything God has for their life.”
“It is inappropriate and unconstitutional for the district to offer religious leaders unique access to student athletes in order to indoctrinate them and lead them in prayer,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to the district’s legal counsel Stephanie K. Stewart.
In response, Stewart wrote an email to FFRF regarding discussions held with the offending principals. “Both principals have addressed the matter with Action Church. Additionally, the assistant superintendents of elementary schools, middle schools and high schools have been retrained on engagement with religious groups.”
A concerned FFRF member reported that members of the Crawford County (Ind.) Board of Education told those in attendance to stand during a prayer that immediately followed the Pledge of Allegiance.
FFRF Equal Justice Works Fellow Kat Grant wrote a letter to the district, requesting that the practice be immediately ceased. “The fact that the prayers are not on the meeting minutes or agenda do not make prayer at a public board meeting constitutional. Students and parents have the right — and often have reason — to participate in school board meetings,” Grant wrote.
FFRF heard back from Karen Sheller, president of the Crawford County Community Corp Board of Trustees. “I, too, have questioned this practice, but was assured that because prayer took place before the meeting started and not during the meeting, it was acceptable,” Sheller wrote. Sheller thanked FFRF for bringing the situation to her awareness and assured that the practice has been discontinued.
FFRF successfully persuaded Lawton, Okla., to remove several disrespectful religious displays from city property.
A local atheist veteran notified FFRF of the unconstitutional displays, which included a sign on the information desk of City Hall that read “One died for your soul and the other died for your freedom” picturing a soldier and a Latin cross.
FFRF asked for the displays to be removed, noting they violate the constitutional separation between state and church, as well as to respect the religious and nonreligious diversity of Lawton’s residents, including its veterans.
FFRF received a positive reply from City Attorney John Ratliff shortly after it expressed concern.
“Upon receipt of your letter, the religious signage was immediately removed from City Hall and city property,” Ratliff wrote. “The city of Lawton greatly respects the religious diversity of its residents, including its veterans.”
The Clayton County Public Schools in Jonesboro, Ga., properly addressed concerns raised by FFRF regarding a religious speaker proselytizing high school students.
FFRF was informed that, on Jan. 5, “social media influencer” Victoria Rose Waldrip, known online as “Woah Vicky,” was invited to speak to the Jonesboro High School girls basketball team. Reportedly, Waldrip’s speech included promotion of her church, disparaging remarks about the LGBTQ+ community and urging the students to save themselves for marriage. Additionally, Waldrip reportedly spread misinformation involving gay preachers and that molestation caused individuals to “turn gay.”
“We don’t know who was involved in bringing in this religious speaker, but we understand that several of the students involved in this incident have expressed their outrage that it was allowed to occur,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to Interim Superintendent Anthony Smith.
FFRF received a response from Smith in late February indicating an investigation was conducted, and Waldrip’s comments were verified to violate the Clayton County Board Policy. “Accordingly, appropriate disciplinary and/or remedial action(s) have been identified,” Smith responded.
A legal complaint by FFRF has halted an unconstitutional sectarian Christian class at an elementary school in Leipsic (Ohio) Local School District.
Leipsic Elementary School had reportedly been holding a weekly sectarian Christian class since at least 2018, in which Christian beliefs were taught and promoted. Although it was titled a “Christian History Class,” it was similar to bible study. These classes were held on school grounds during school hours, as well as publicized on the school’s official Facebook page. FFRF was notified about these classes by a concerned parent, who reportedly had to personally request their child not be included, which led to bullying, isolation and even physical assault of the child.
Public schools may not provide religious instruction, FFRF emphasized. A seminal Supreme Court case in 1948 specifically held that religious instruction classes in public schools are unconstitutional. More than 70 years of Supreme Court precedent protects the secular character of public education, as well as the rights of conscience of a captive audience of young students.
“It does not matter that Leipsic Elementary School allows parents to opt their children out of the religious class,” FFRF Anne Nicol Gaylor Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Superintendent Greg Williamson. “Voluntariness does not excuse the constitutional violation.”
Williamson recently reported back to FFRF that “The Leipsic Local School District will no longer offer the Christian history class on campus during the school day.
“A public elementary school is no place for bible study or any other religious evangelism,” says FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. “Schools exist to educate, not indoctrinate. We’re glad the district is now ensuring a captive audience of small children will no longer be proselytized.”
A Washington police department will no longer distribute coins with Christian iconography and bible verses on them after FFRF got involved.
A concerned resident of West Richland, Wash., informed FFRF of a coin that had been minted by the West Richland Police Department. The coin featured a Latin cross on one side, as well as a list of several bible verses on the other side underneath “Chief Tom Grego.”
“While you are certainly entitled to hold whatever religious beliefs you want, you cannot use your position as police chief to advance those beliefs using the resources of the police department,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote in a letter to Police Chief Tom Grego.
In early February 2023, FFRF received a letter from Bronson Brown, legal counsel representing the West Richland Police Department. Brown assured FFRF that the city took steps to ensure that no city funding was spent to produce the coins, as well as assuring that distribution of the coins had ceased. “The city and Chief Grego never intended to create any divisive message or alienate any portion of city residents,” Brown wrote.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation commends the Chino Valley school district in California for acknowledging a recent First Amendment violation by a board member — and working to correct it.
Two concerned Chino Valley USD employees reported to FFRF that school board member James Na distributed Christmas cards with a religious message to employees, which were printed and delivered to teachers’ boxes using school resources. The card included a poem advancing Christianity: “May peace be before you at every meal /And faith ring through every song /For Christ is alive the light of the world /May he bless you all season long.”
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote a letter to the school district’s legal counsel. “As the Supreme Court has put it, ‘The First Amendment mandates governmental neutrality between religion and religion, and between religion and nonreligion.’”
As the cards were produced and distributed using school funds, and created by a school board member, FFRF was concerned that the Chino Valley USD was actively promoting Christianity.
The district’s legal counsel has responded to FFRF’s concern in a sincerely remedying way.
According to a letter from the legal counsel, the district conducted a direct investigation, and concluded that the card should not have been distributed using district resources. Additionally, FFRF was assured that the district has taken steps to prevent future such incidents.
The Summers County School Board in W.Va. will no longer open school board meetings with prayer after FFRF responded to a district resident’s complaint.
FFRF was notified that the board had been opening meetings with prayer. The prayers were reportedly undeniably Christian in nature, and being delivered by members of the school board.
“We write to request that the Board immediately cease opening its meetings with prayer in violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to Summers County Board of Education President Greg Angell.
FFRF received a letter from Angell in late January, stating that, “The Summers County Board of Education does not institute or schedule prayer during its meetings.”
When a Christian organization began promoting a local church at Davis High School in California, FFRF successfully stepped in and prevented it from occurring again.
On Sept. 21, 2022, the LLC K9 Comfort Ministry reportedly brought a comfort dog to Davis High School. Along with the dog, the ministry handed out materials to students listing the address and website of the church. The use of a comfort dog was justified as “a bridge for compassionate ministry, opening doors for conversation about faith and creating opportunities to share the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ.”
“It is inappropriate and unconstitutional for the district to offer religious leaders unique access to students,” wrote FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line in a letter to Superintendent Matt Best. “While schools can certainly bring in comfort dogs for students, they must not be used as a means for church recruitment and to advance a religious mission.”
FFRF received a response from Associate Superintendent Laura Juanitas, stating that, “in recognition of your concerns, I have asked the school to stop this activity and the dog will no longer be coming on campus.”
FFRF successfully stopped Opelika City Schools in Alabama from distributing bibles at future graduations.
FFRF received a complaint from a concerned parent that large envelopes had been handed to graduates after the last graduation ceremony. Reportedly, the envelopes contained Gideon bibles among the contents.
“When a public school distributes religious literature to its students, it entangles itself with that religious message,” wrote FFRF Anne Nicol Gaylor Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence to Superintendent Farrell Seymore. “Distributing bibles needlessly alienates students who are non-Christians, including those belonging to the almost 30 percent of Americans who are not religious.”
FFRF received a letter in response from school district legal counsel Robert T. Meadows, stating that, “Gideons has been advised that no bibles will be accepted for distribution from this point forward.”
After a parent-led bible club and a discriminatory apparel policy were brought to FFRF’s attention, action was taken to bring the Alabaster (Ala.) City School District in line.
Concerned parents in the district reported a “First Priority” bible club at Thompson Intermediate School run by a parent.
Additionally, the dress code guidelines were also brought into question. The code bans students “from wearing any sign, symbol, logo or garment which has become synonymous with . . . Satanism.”
“Schools should not allow non-school persons to treat schools as a recruiting ground for their religious mission,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote in a letter to Superintendent Wayne Vickers.
FFRF received a letter from Melissa B. McKie, legal counsel representing the Alabaster City Board of Education. McKie wrote, “The school system has spoken with each of the adults who supervise the First Priority groups that meet on its campuses and has reminded them that the groups must be student-led.” Additionally, the letter stated that the references to Satanism in the dress code have been removed.
FFRF successfully worked to keep religion out of Shelby County Schools in Birmingham on two separate matters.
The first situation was brought to FFRF’s attention from a parent of an Oak Mountain Middle School student. The parent reported that its child was required to participate in a prayer led by the coach before their first cross country meet of the year.
Additionally, FFRF was alerted to a policy in Columbiana Middle School that students were not allowed to promote Satanism through their attire. FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to Anne Knox Averitt, the legal representative of Shelby County Schools.
Averitt emailed FFRF back stating that, “This and the coach issue have been addressed.”
Proselytization of students in Rogersville, Tenn., was put to an end, thanks to FFRF.
A community member of the district reported that Hawkins County Schools allowed an evangelical Christian group to speak to students at various schools in the district throughout the day to encourage attendance at a religious event — the Upper East Tennessee Go Tell Crusade. The group posted about it on Facebook, thanking principals and superintendents of the county for allowing them to speak at HCS schools.
FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Director of Schools Matt Hixson, who emailed explaining that, as the group met all requirements on the facility use form, they were allowed to use school buildings for events. However, he wrote, “I have ceased any and all relations with this group (Go Tell), as well as any other religious group (no other group previously sought such use and access, nor have any other organizations sought such access since.”
A Land O’ Lakes, Fla., high school parking lot will have a painted bible verse removed after FFRF sent a letter to the district.
A Pasco County resident saw a parking space at Wiregrass Ranch High School with the bible verse Philippians 4:13 painted on the ground, reading “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.”
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line contacted Superintendent Kurt S. Browning regarding the situation.
FFRF received a letter from Dennis J. Alfonso, legal counsel to the School Board, who reported that the bible vers had been removed. “The display depicted is not one created by or at the direction of the School Board,” Alfonso wrote.
After hearing from FFRF, religious invocations at mandatory teacher appreciation events will no longer happen in the Springdale Public School District in Arkansas.
A district employee reported that a mandatory teacher appreciation event featured an invocation in Jesus’ name, given by a reverend. According to the employee, all district employees are required to attend the event and their presence is verified by sign-in sheets passed around by school principals. Despite being hosted by the Arkansas Chamber of Commerce, the event took place on school grounds during contract hours.
“It’s unlawful for a school district to include prayer at a school-sponsored event,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Superintendent Jared Cleveland.
FFRF received an email response from Cleveland, stating that the situation had been addressed. “I have sent notification to the Springdale Chamber of Commerce asking for them to refrain from the practice in the future,” he wrote.
In the West Sabine Independent School District in Texas, a display featuring religious quotes was removed, thanks to FFRF.
Superintendent Carnelius D. Gilder prominently displayed a plaque on his desk with the words “Trust in the Lord” facing outwards. The sign also quoted Proverbs 3:5-6.
“We write to remind you that you cannot use your position as superintendent to advance your personal religious beliefs and to ask that this, and any other prominent, publicly displayed religious messages be removed from your office immediately,” wrote FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line in a letter to Gilder.
FFRF received a message back from Gilder, stating that the sign had been removed. “I appreciate the enlightenment. Action taken and now you may consider the request met,” he wrote.
FFRF successfully intervened to halt religious invocations prior to council meetings in Columbia Borough, Pa.
A concerned resident of the town contacted FFRF to report the Columbia Borough Ad Hoc Committee meetings repeatedly opened with an invocation, led by a council member. The practice began in November 2021, wherein the council member would request all attendees stand before being led in a recitation of the Lord’s Prayer.
“Prayer at government meetings is unnecessary, inappropriate, and divisive,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to the Columbia Borough Council President Heather Zink. “We write to request that the Ad Hoc Committee and Borough Council refrain from opening meetings with prayer and instead solemnize meetings with the much more inclusive practice of observing a moment of silence.”
FFRF received an email response from Zink addressing the situation. “The Columbia Borough Council discussed this and we agree the leader of the ad-hoc committee should not have led a meeting with the Lord’s Prayer. All committee chairs have been advised they (or any member of their board) cannot lead any invocation at their meetings.” Additionally, Zink confirmed that meetings are now opened by asking if any attendees would like to deliver an invocation. There are no restrictions on who can deliver an invocation, except that it may not be by a member of the board.
An assignment questioning students’ religious beliefs in regard to Christianity was removed from a West Virginia district, thanks to FFRF’s intervention.
A concerned district community member reported that an English teacher at Jackson Middle School in the Wood County School District provided an assignment to students that would “determine the degree to which [they] agree with Puritan beliefs.” Questions heavily relied on Christian ideology, such as “Do you believe strongly in the existence of God?” and “Do you believe it’s more important to glorify God than to express yourself?”
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote a letter to Superintendent Christie Willis, who responded to FFRF in an email, stating that steps have been taken to prevent further distribution of the assignment.
FFRF was successfully able to stop a Fellowship of Christian Athletes club from being promoted and practiced at a public elementary school in South Carolina.
On Feb. 28, 2022, a concerned parent from South Carolina Public Charter School District reportedly received an email inviting them to “Please join” the school’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes Club. The complainant also reported that teachers at the school were encouraging elementary students to attend the club.
“The district may not allow teachers to use public schools to proselytize,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote in a letter to Superintendent Chris Neeley. “Given the school’s promotion of this club and the fact that it is run by teachers, a reasonable student or parent will perceive this religious club as ‘stamped with [their] school’s seal of approval.’”
FFRF received a response from the district stating the issue has been resolved. “The district has confirmed with the school that FCA for elementary students no longer meets at the school or is promoted by the school.”
FFRF was able to end repeated school prayers by a wrestling coach in Burbank, Wash.
On Dec. 1, 2022, a wrestling event at Columbia High School was reportedly opened by the coach informing the audience that a prayer was scheduled to take place prior to the match. Attendees were told they could opt out before the microphone was handed to a student, who led everyone in a Christian prayer delivered “In Jesus’ name.”
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote a letter to Superintendent Todd Hilberg, who responded to FFRF in a formal email, outlining a full action plan for the coach. “The CSD Athletic Director has taken immediate action and met with [the coach] over two occasions to review expectations moving forward that would eliminate religious activities within the wrestling program,” he wrote.
FFRF intervened after a high school in West Virginia started a high school football game with a prayer.
A concerned parent notified FFRF that a football game at Wayne High School on Oct. 21, 2022, broadcast a prayer over loudspeakers before the game started. The parent brought their child to their first football game, but did not want or expect to expose their child to religious ideology at a school- sponsored event.
“We write to ask that the district immediately cease opening its football games with school-sponsored prayer in order to uphold the rights of its students,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote in a letter to Superintendent Todd Alexander.
Alexander responded to FFRF in a formal email, informing it of a policy review in regard to religious ceremonies. “It is the district’s intent to comply with the policy which is based upon the case law outlined in your letter,” he wrote.
FFRF put a stop to opening prayers at the school district board meetings in Sutton, W. Va.
A concerned district parent informed FFRF that the Braxton County School District had been opening School Board meetings with a prayer led by board members. The report was then confirmed by official meeting agendas from the school board, listing “Opening Prayer” at the beginning of each meeting.
“The Supreme Court has consistently struck down prayers offered at school-sponsored events,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote in a letter to Board of Education President DeAnna Whipkey in April. “It is beyond the scope of a public school board to schedule or conduct prayer as part of its meetings.”
After following up with the school district in early December, FFRF received a reply from the new Board President Evelyn Post. Post confirmed that three new members were admitted to the board in July, as well as the inclusion of a new superintendent. Additionally, “[a]fter receipt of your communication last spring, our Board of Education never placed our nondenominational prayer on our meeting agendas.”
FFRF was able to ensure that guest speakers will no longer conduct public prayers at an Ohio middle school.
FFRF was informed by a concerned school district member that on Nov. 10, 2022, Wilson Middle School students attended a mandatory assembly in which a guest speaker instructed students and staff to bow their heads in prayer. The incident occurred at two separate assemblies to the 7th and 8th grade students.
“If guest speakers engage in inappropriate conduct at a school event, then school administrators must intervene,” FFRF Anne Nicol Gaylor Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote in a letter to Superintendent Mike Holbrook.
FFRF received a written response from Bricker and Eckler Attorneys at Law, representing the Hamilton City School District. The letter stated that administration had not pre-approved nor were they aware of the guest speaker’s plan. “In addition, the School District plans to review the events of Nov. 10 with district-wide building administration as part of regularly occurring professional development. This will include conveying administration’s expectation that guest speakers refrain from leading students in prayer at future school- sponsored events.”
FFRF stopped a teacher from punishing a student based on private religious beliefs.
On Nov. 9, a student at Lakewood Middle School in Salina, Kan., reportedly said “god damn” in front of their teacher. The teacher responded harshly by demanding the student to come forward. When the student explained that they did not believe in God, the teacher carried out a discussion about religious beliefs, before singling out the student by removing them from class.
“While teachers can, of course, enforce rules related to cursing or inappropriate language, they cannot impose the rules of their personal religion onto students or argue with students regarding their personal religious beliefs,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to Salina USD 305 Superintendent Linn M. Exline.
A response from Exline stated that “I can assure you that the parent’s concerns were taken seriously, were investigated, and that the teacher was reminded that she must refrain from engaging in the business of the district in a way that could be construed as an attempt to impose her own personal religious beliefs on her students.”
Additionally, the district took the position that any discussion of religion is to be strictly limited to serving an academic purpose and must be consistent with approved school curriculum.
A mandatory assembly containing a prayer will not occur again, thanks to FFRF.
On Nov. 11, students at Knox High School in Knox, Ind., were reportedly required to attend an assembly in which a pastor quoted scripture and led the audience in prayer toward the beginning and end of the assembly. The prayers were reportedly overtly religious and delivered in Jesus’ name, leading secular students and family members of the community to feel uncomfortable.
“It is well settled that public schools may not violate the First Amendment rights of students by showing favoritism toward or coercing belief or participation in religion,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote in a letter to Superintendent William Reichhart.”
The district responded to FFRF, writing, “After careful consideration, we will abandon the past practice and tradition of having a prayer and benediction as part of our Community Veteran’s Day Program at Knox High School.”
FFRF commends the Chico Unified School District in Chico, Calif., for painting over an inappropriate religious text on a mural at a public school.
A concerned parent reported seeing a mural with the words, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow” in Pleasant Valley High School. The parent became aware of the mural through their child’s information, as well as through a first-hand account on back-to-school night.
FFRF received a written response through Kingsley Bogard Attorneys, representing Chico Unified School District. The reply stated that, “The district has determined that it is able to remove the reference to a deity from the display without altering the art piece,” as well as confirming that work on the piece would be conducted shortly after the response was sent.
FFRF took action against frequent unconstitutional religious proselytization at Richards Middle School in Suwanee, Ga.
A concerned resident of Gwinnett County contacted FFRF in regard to a teacher abusing their position to attempt to convert students to their personal religion.
“[The teacher] cannot be allowed to lead or participate in any religious clubs in the district, and must immediately cease [their] efforts to convert students,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote in a letter to Superintendent Calvin Watts.
FFRF received a written response from the law offices of Thompson, Sweeny, Kinsinger & Pereira P.C., representing the Gwinnett County Board of Education and Gwinnett County School District. The law offices confirmed that action had been taken, stating, “My client investigated the allegations and took corrective action to ensure compliance with Gwinnett County Board of Education policy, applicable federal statutes, and constitutional principles.”
FFRF was able to put an end to a prayer during the commencement ceremony at an Ohio school.
A parent contacted FFRF in regard to a prayer delivered at the 2022 Amanda-Clearcreek High School graduation ceremony. Although the program listed “Words of Inspiration” to be delivered by a student, it was reported that it was well-known to the school that this was a prayer. Reportedly, the prayer had been planned and rehearsed at the graduation practice. Additionally, it was reported that a school staff member handed out a congratulatory message to students at the graduation practice, which included three bible quotes and references to God and praying.
“The Supreme Court has settled this matter — public school graduations must be secular to protect the freedom of conscience of all students,” FFRF Legal Fellow Karen Heineman wrote to Amanda-Clearcreek Local Schools Superintendent J.B. Dick. “Additionally, public school employees may not urge religious points of view on students. The district has a duty to regulate religious proselytizing and messaging during school-sponsored activities, such as graduation practices.”
A response from the district’s legal counsel assured FFRF that appropriate steps will be taken to prevent these violations from recurring at future ceremonies. Attorney Susan L. Oppenheimer stated the district administration will “instruct students selected to give remarks at a graduation ceremony that they may not invite the audience to join in prayer.” Additionally, the district will require administrators to attend future graduation ceremony rehearsals to prevent speakers from invoking prayer.
FFRF’s complaint to a Jackson, Miss., judge resulted in corrective action.
On July 5, 2022, a judge reportedly invited a chaplain to give a prayer before the court in regard to Mississippi’s controversial abortion “trigger” laws. The prayer asked the court to “seek [God’s] truth, not our own,” and encouraged members of the court to be “blessed and inspired” by the Christian God’s wisdom. The prayer itself is highly unusual, and appears to have violated sections 2A and 3B of the Mississippi Code of Judicial Conduct, stating that a judge should act in a way that promotes public confidence in integrity and impartiality as well as performing duties without bias, respectively.
“The prayer calls for God’s ‘truth,’ not the secular truth of a neutral arbiter,” wrote FFRF Staff Attorney Ryan Jayne in a letter to the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance. “It calls on lawyers to address the court ‘with a sense of [God’s] presence,’ implying that God will look disfavorably on those who advocate for abortion.”
In a response to FFRF from Rachel L. Wilson, executive director of the commission, the judge has reportedly been informed of the potential violations, and a corrective resolution occurred. She stated, “As a result of your complaint, the commission has communicated with the respondent judge and has resolved the complaint through informal action.”
FFRF persuaded a high school to change a Christian themed display in Harlingen, Texas.
On Aug. 24, 2022, FFRF received information about Harlingen High School, where a room displayed the word “Commitment” painted on the wall with the first “t” represented by the Christian cross. Photographic evidence was provided, showing staff members and students in front of the display.
“The district violates the Constitution when it allows its schools to display religious symbols or messages,” FFRF Equal Justice Works Legal Fellow Kat Grant wrote in a letter to Superintendent Alicia Noyola. “It is well settled that public schools may not show favoritism towards or coerce belief or participation in religion.”
FFRF received an emailed response from Noyola: “In response to your letter dated Sept. 21, 2022, we have responded by adjusting the design of the letter “t” so that it does not resemble a Christian cross.”
After hearing from FFRF, an Alabama school district has stopped allowing school assemblies that feature religious speakers.
A concerned parent reported to FFRF that a teacher at Tallassee High School took students into the gym for a religious sermon delivered by a guest speaker. Reportedly, this guest speaker preached to students and attempted to convert them to Christianity, making statements such as, “The bible says you surrender your life. You throw yourself at the mercy of Jesus Christ with your life. Christ paid for my sins. I was on my way to hell. I owe him my life. Hands down.” The guest speaker ended his sermon by leading students in prayer.
“It is unconstitutional to take away instructional time from students to expose them to a Christian proselytizing preacher,” FFRF Staff Attorney Christopher Line wrote to Tallassee City Schools Superintendent Brock Nolin. “It is well settled that public schools may not show favoritism toward or coerce belief or participation in religion.”
A response from the superintendent assured FFRF that this violation will not recur. “This issue has been addressed with the faculty member and administration of the school,” Nolin wrote. “They fully understand the issue at hand and it has been resolved.”
After hearing from FFRF, a California school has removed a Latin cross and bible verse from the wall of a classroom.
A parent reported to FFRF that a teacher at Rocklin High School had been prominently displaying a cross and a bible verse — “Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.” Micah 6:8 — in the classroom.
FFRF Staff Attorney Christopher Line wrote to Rocklin Unified School District Superintendent Roger Stock to request the immediate removal of these religious displays. “The district violates the Constitution when it allows its schools to display religious symbols or messages. It is well settled that public schools may not show favoritism towards or coerce belief or participation in religion. . . This display violates this basic constitutional prohibition by creating the appearance that the district prefers religion over nonreligion and Christianity over all other faiths.”
A response from Rocklin USD’s legal counsel confirmed that the religious displays have been removed. “Thank you for bringing this matter to the attention of the district. The district has reviewed your letter and inspected the classroom displays. The district directed the items be removed and the teacher has complied.”
FFRF was able to get a North Carolina school district to recast and rename what had been referred to as a “prayer walk” into a secular event.
A district parent reported to FFRF that Booneville Elementary School had organized and promoted a religious “prayer walk.” Reportedly, the annual event had been promoted to parents and students through official school communication channels. In a “back to school” message, families and community members were invited to visit classrooms and “leave positive notes of support, prayer and good wishes for the school year.” It was also promoted on the school’s official Facebook page.
“Public schools have a constitutional obligation to remain neutral toward religion. . . Yadkin County Schools serves a diverse population that consists of not only Christians, but also atheists and agnostics who do not believe in prayer,” FFRF Staff Attorney Christopher Line wrote to Yadkin County Schools Superintendent Todd Martin. “Holding a district-sponsored religious event each year sends an official message that excludes the nearly 30 percent of the American population who are nonreligious.”
A response from the district’s legal counsel assured FFRF that the issue has been addressed.
“After discussing this matter with [the superintendent], we are advising the principal of Boonville Elementary School to change the name of this event to ‘Annual Community Walk’ and to exclude the word ‘prayer’ from any description or advertisement of the event.”
After FFRF contacted a Texas school district over the unconstitutional use of a Christian chaplain as a “mental health interventionist,” the chaplain was placed on leave before resigning.
It was reported to FFRF by multiple members of the Trinity Independent School District that the chaplain had been spreading his personal religious beliefs to students. He reportedly told students who were depressed or suicidal that it was because they do not have a good relationship with God. It was also reported that he told LGBT students that they were going to hell. In addition to these remarks, the chaplain reportedly distributed Christian literature to students that presented the “absolute truth” about issues that young people are confronted with, including “sexual purity,” “evolution,” “abortion,” and “homosexuality.”
“The district cannot employ an official chaplain, and it must make certain that none of its employees are unlawfully and inappropriately indoctrinating students in religious matters by handing out religious materials or promoting their personal religious beliefs,” FFRF Staff Attorney Christopher Line wrote to Superintendent John Kaufman. “We ask that the district immediately investigate this situation and ensure that [the chaplain] either fully complies with the Establishment Clause and stops violating the rights of students and their parents, or is removed from his position within the district.”
A response from Kaufman confirmed that the chaplain is no longer employed by the district. “[The chaplain] was placed on administrative leave effective Jan. 14 and remained on administrative leave until his resignation from the district on July 28,” Kaufman wrote.
FFRF was able to put an end to prayers at an Ohio high school graduation ceremony after being alerted to the constitutional violation by a concerned citizen.
During the 2021 graduation ceremony, the principal of Barnesville High School reportedly invited a student to the stage “to lead us in prayer.” The student, who identified himself as the class president, started the Christian prayer with “Let us pray. Dear Lord, thank you for this day.” The prayer ended with “May they always turn to you for direction. We ask this in your name. Amen.”
During the 2022 graduation ceremony, the principal reportedly asked the audience to “please rise” and to “remain standing for the invocation.” He then called up a student “who will lead us in prayer.” The prayer began with “Heavenly Father” and ended with the wish to “Please keep us safe . . . as we continue our destinies. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”
“Requiring nonreligious students and attendees to make a public showing of their nonbelief by not participating in a prayer or else to display deference toward a religious sentiment in which they do not believe is coercive, embarrassing, and intimidating,” FFRF Legal Fellow Karen Heineman wrote to Barnesville Schools Superintendent Angie Hannahs. “Barnesville Schools students and families have the right to a prayer-free celebration . . . The district has a duty to remain neutral toward religion. By scheduling prayers at graduation, the district abridges that duty and alienates non-Christians, including the almost 30 percent of the population who are not religious.”
A response from Hannahs assured FFRF that this issue has been addressed. “I have investigated the matter,” Hannahs wrote. “[T]he Barnesville School District will not schedule prayers at school graduations in the future.”
FFRF put a stop to a sectarian prayer in a Texas school district’s in-service training for faculty and staff.
A concerned Frenship Independent School District employee contacted FFRF about the religious invocation. Reportedly, a state legislator also spoke during the in-service training, who claimed that a history teacher in the district must “inform students that their rights come from God, their creator, not the government,” and that “the government serves only to uphold what God put in place.”
“Prayers and religious messages at employee meetings inappropriately alienate district faculty, staff and students who practice a minority religion, as well as those who are part of the almost thirty percent of the American population who are not religious,” FFRF Legal Fellow Samantha Lawrence wrote to Superintendent Michelle McCord. “Their participation in employee meetings is adversely affected by these prayers and religious messages, which turn them into outsiders in their workplace. Additionally, the mandatory nature of in-service training and many other District meetings means that District employees essentially have no choice but to subject themselves to a coercive and offensive religious exercise that violates their right of conscience.”
A response from the district’s legal counsel, David P. Backus, assured FFRF that this violation will not occur in the future.
“Although it was not the superintendent who introduced the invocation, she has reviewed its in-service practice of allowing an invocation during its in-service and determined to cease such activities in the future,” Backus wrote. “The congressman’s remarks were not previously reviewed or approved by the district or its administration. Consequently, the remarks that the congressman made to the teachers were not endorsed in any way by the district.”
A concerned parent reported to FFRF that a sixth-grade math teacher at Oakridge Elementary was regularly playing Christian music during the class period while students were working. Reportedly, this teacher also told students that “everyone needs a little Jesus in their life.”
“No public school employee may urge religious points of view on students. Elementary school children are especially susceptible to the coercive influence of religious messaging. When teachers promote their own religious beliefs to their students, they usurp parental authority,” FFRF Legal Fellow Samantha Lawrence wrote to Moore Public Schools’ legal counsel Phyllis L. Walta. “Students feel immense pressure to act like their instructors and peers and do as their teachers tell them. Public school staff and administrators should be aware of these concerns and ensure that all students are made to feel welcome in all classrooms.”
A response from Walta acknowledged the district’s violation and assured FFRF that it will not recur. “The teacher has reported that she did, in fact, let the students listen to a Christian station during class but that it will not continue in the future,” Walta wrote.
A concerned district parent contacted FFRF regarding prayer at the fifth-grade “promotion ceremony” at Ooltewah Elementary School in Tennessee. Reportedly, the school’s principal introduced a pastor to “lead us in our invocation.” The Christian prayer invoked “the Heavenly Father and God.” The pastor asked that God “be honored here tonight as we honor these graduates.”
“Scheduling prayer at Hamilton County School District graduations is unconstitutional and a violation of school policy,” FFRF Legal Fellow Karen Heineman wrote to the district’s legal counsel D. Scott Bennett. “Please take the necessary steps to ensure that the rights of conscience of all participants and attendees will be respected at future district events.”
A response from Bennett acknowledged the district’s violation and assured FFRF that prayer will not be a part of future ceremonies.
“We have discussed your concerns with the principal, and we have confirmed that someone did offer a prayer,” Bennett responded. “The principal understands that federal law and board policy prohibit these prayers, and she has assured us that this same oversight will not recur.”
A concerned employee contacted FFRF regarding the religious nature of a graduation ceremony at Jellico High School in Tennessee. The employee reported that the commencement seemed to be a religious ceremony more than a graduation. In a video recording of the ceremony, the podium is shown emblazoned with a Latin cross. Reportedly, the program included a scheduled scripture reading, and the Christian god was referenced throughout the ceremony by many speakers, including the principal.
“The school district has a duty to remain neutral toward religion,” Legal Fellow Karen Heineman wrote to Campbell County Public Schools Director Jennifer Fields. “Commencements are for celebrating the accomplishments of all students, not for excluding some on the unconstitutional basis of religious belief and suggesting that their accomplishments and futures are actually the result of supernatural intervention, not hard work.”
A response from legal counsel assured FFRF that the issue has been addressed with the director of schools. Attorney Dail R. Cantrell responded, “We will make sure to correct for future graduations.”
A concerned Rutherford County (Tenn.) resident contacted FFRF regarding religious messaging on display in the county clerk’s office. The resident reported seeing the phrase “He is Risen” displayed on an employee’s glass partition. Additionally, behind the counter, there was a sign displayed on the wall facing customers that read, “The joy of the Lord is my strength.”
“By displaying religious messages in the County Clerk’s office, you send an exclusionary message to non-Christians, including the almost 30 percent of the population who are not religious,” FFRF Legal Fellow Karen Heineman wrote to Rutherford County Clerk Lisa Duke Crowell. “It is inappropriate and needlessly divisive to send a message that alienates a significant portion of your constituency, effectively turning them into political outsiders.”
A response from legal counsel notified FFRF that the issue has been resolved. Attorney Nick C. Christiansen wrote, “Please be advised that the items described in your letter have been removed.”
The Freedom From Religion Foundation has obtained a victory for free speech in Kansas.
Get rid of your discriminatory clothing policy, we urged a Kansas school district after a parent complained.
“I raise my children according to the seven tenets of Satanism, and while children of other faiths can wear clothing that declares their family’s religion, my family’s faith is specifically called out and banned in the school handbook dress code,” Mary Turner, a mother of three students in Hays USD 489 and a member of the Satanic Temple, appealed during the public comment period of a school board meeting on July 18. The school board disregarded her plea, however, and instead voted 5-2 on Aug. 5 to expand its prohibition of clothing promoting Satanism from elementary and middle schools to all schools in the district.
Such a dress code discriminated against minority religions, FFRF pointed out in a letter written to the board in support of Turner, her children and all nonreligious and minority religious students and families in Hays USD 489. “Satanism is a religion, and students cannot be singled out for punishment or ridicule for expressing religious or nonreligious viewpoints in their public schools,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to Hays USD 489 Board of Education President Craig Pallister.
The dress code’s ban on references to Satanism acted as a prior restraint on student speech, we added. Changing this policy would cost the district nothing, while continuing to have it on the books exposed the district to significant legal liability from any district student or parent who chose to take legal action, we advised the district.
FFRF’s communique worked its desired magic.
The school board has voted to revoke the dress code, as “Friendly Atheist” Hemant Mehta reports. “Perhaps the threat of legal action finally got to them,” he remarks in a piece headlined, “After legal threats, Kansas school board repeals ‘Satanism’ ban in dress code.”
The parent of a child in a Wood County School District elementary school in West Virginia reported to FFRF that tables with bibles were set up next to each teacher in every 5th-grade classroom across all of the district’s elementary schools. Another parent alleged that a group of teachers at Jefferson Elementary Center set up a box of Gideon bibles during an assembly involving multiple 5th-grade classes. It was also reported that the group of teachers presented and discussed the bibles prior to offering and distributing them to students. A parent also reported that the school has allowed other religious materials to be distributed, specifically flyers from a local church inviting students and their families to an Easter egg hunt.
“Advancing, preferring and promoting religion is exactly what a school does when it distributes bibles and other religious materials to students during the school day,” FFRF Staff Attorney Christopher Line wrote to Wood County Schools Superintendent Christie Willis. “The actions of the district are especially egregious, as teachers not only distributed bibles, but discussed and promoted them, as well.”
A response from the district assured FFRF that the issue will be addressed.
“It is apparent upon this investigation reacclimating our administrators and teachers to policies and procedures is imperative,” Willis responded. Willis assured FFRF that the issue will be addressed at a district seminar, stating, “The guidance regarding distribution of bibles will be on the agenda and presented to administrators.”
A concerned district parent reported to FFRF that a teacher had delivered a Christian prayer during Ottawa (Ohio) Elementary School’s eighth-grade graduation ceremony.
“Requiring nonreligious students and attendees to make a public showing of their nonbelief by not participating in a prayer or else to display deference toward a religious sentiment in which they do not believe is coercive, embarrassing and intimidating,” FFRF Legal Fellow Karen Heineman wrote to Ottawa-Glandorf Local Schools Superintendent Don Horstman.
A response from the district assured FFRF that the issue will be taken care of.
“I want to let you know that I have informed the Board of Education and our administrative team of your email, and I informed all of them that the district has clear guidance and policies against this type of activity,” Horstman responded. “I can assure you this will not be a part of the program at Ottawa Elementary going forward.”
A concerned Mansfield (Texas) ISD community member has reported that the “Serenity Prayer” is on display on a door in the main hallway of Glenn Harmon Elementary School. It says: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.”
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote Superintendent Kimberley Cantu to ask that the school immediately take it down. “Courts have continually held that school districts may not display religious messages or iconography in public schools.”
In a response from legal counsel for Glen Harmon Elementary, the district investigated FFRF’s complaint and removed the display.
A concerned resident contacted FFRF about a school employee in the Menomonie, Wis., district who included biblical scripture in the official district email signature. The resident reported that they recently received an email from the student service administrator with the biblical quote “Act Justly Love Mercy Walk Humbly — Micah 6:8” in the email signature.
FFRF Legal Fellow Karen Heineman wrote to District Administrator Joseph Zydowsky, who then responded by assuring that the signature was removed and staff members would be reminded of their duties for the new school year.
An Alabama school district has put a stop to a teacher’s blatant proselytizing after FFRF got involved.
A concerned Shelby County Schools parent had informed FFRF that their child’s teacher had been openly pushing Christianity onto his students. Alan Waring, a biology teacher at Calera High School, had sent home religious materials with students and signed a student’s yearbook with a religious message.
The handout Waring gave to students was titled, “God loves you and He has a plan for your life,” a religious screed meant to indoctrinate students into Christianity. And Waring put a similarly over-the-top religious inscription in a student’s yearbook: “…you are designed for a grand incredible purpose that has cosmic significance. The God of the Universe, your creator and mine, has made a way for men and women to commune with Him and to be found in Him. This purpose is tied up in His identity, who He is, God is triune, three persons one God.”
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to the school district’s counsel, stating that “The district must make certain that none of its employees are unlawfully and inappropriately indoctrinating students in religious matters by discussing their personal religious beliefs, preaching, handing out religious materials, or otherwise creating a religious environment in their classrooms.”
The school district initiated a probe after FFRF’s missive — and arrived at an appropriate course of action.
“Following the investigation, they have had repeated conversations with the teacher, required him to review materials emphasizing the importance of separation of church and state, and had him put together a written reflection confirming he understood the importance of the issue,” the attorney for the district recently emailed Line.
FFRF got involved in Oregon after a concerned West Linn-Wilsonville School District community member reported that West Linn High School organized a baccalaureate service in its auditorium on June 5th.
The school advertised the event in its weekly “Roar” newsletter and mentioned the ceremony in its weekly address to the students. The service was open to all West Linn seniors and was described as “a spiritual and inspirational interfaith ceremony honoring the WLHS graduating class of 2022.” The ceremony program listed religious prayers, songs and speeches, such as “Faith and Perseverance” and “Living in Faith.”
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to the district, stating that “The District’s role in promoting the baccalaureate ceremony would cause any reasonable graduating senior or parent to conclude that the West Linn-Wilsonville School District supported the religious messages espoused at these services.”
The district responded to FFRF to report that it would look into who is responsible for advertising the event, who was sponsoring it and make sure that it wouldn’t happen in the future.
FFRF has persuaded an Illinois school district to stop allowing proselytization events on campus during the school day.
A concerned community resident reported to FFRF that Ray McElroy, a former NFL player who is now a pastor, was speaking to students at Richards High School in Oak Lawn, Ill. The posters and announcements for the lunch event enticed students to come to hear an ex-NFL player’s story and receive free Chick-Fil-A sandwiches. Students who attended said that they were told they could not take a sandwich until they listened to the speaker and took his book. The book is titled How to Find God. Reportedly, the talk was essentially a sermon by McElroy.
The religious event was reportedly organized by Doug Groters, a Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps instructor at the high school. NJROTC instructors are “employees of the school.”
FFRF Legal Fellow Karen Heineman wrote to Community High School District 218 Superintendent Ty Harting. “The district cannot allow its schools to be used as recruiting grounds for religious missions,” Heineman wrote.
A response from the school assured FFRF that the issue was taken care of.
“We have investigated the matter and have addressed with our staff,” Assistant Superintendent Greg Walder responded. “We will refrain from allowing such events to occur in the future.”
The Scott County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia will no longer post religious messages on its social media pages or host churches after a concerned county resident reported that the Sheriff’s Office hosted a religious Easter event, “Eggs-stravaganza 2022,” with Calvary Bible Church on April 9.
A post by the Calvary Bible Church on its Facebook page showed that the event was planned by the Sheriff’s Office and included “shar[ing] the gospel with . . . kids.” On Easter, the Sheriff’s Office also posted an image of a cross with the words “He Has Risen!” on its official Facebook page.
“The Scott County Sheriff’s Office’s explicit endorsement of religion is a serious constitutional violation,” wrote FFRF Legal Fellow Karen Heineman to Sheriff Jeff Edds. The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment prohibits the government from hosting or endorsing religious events or activities.
Edds responded to FFRF’s letter to say that he will be taking precautionary steps to prevent any future occurrences.
A local resident reported a state-church violation to FFRF after seeing a religious flyer in a post office with the Denver (Iowa) Community School District logo. The flier invited “the entire body of Christ” to a Mile Wide Worship Night to be held once a month in the Cyclone Center. According to the flyer, the worship night is to “lift up the name of Jesus in Denver.”
“Denver Community School District cannot sponsor a worship night.” FFRF Legal Fellow Karen Heinemann wrote to Brad Laures, superintendent of Denver Community School District. “The government must respect the rights of conscience of all people.”
The organizer of the event will no longer use the school’s logo in their flyers, Laures wrote to FFRF.
A concerned district parent contacted FFRF on June 2 to report that a public input session for the Madison (Wis.) Metropolitan School District was scheduled at Life Center, a Christian church.
Asking parents, who may be of varying faiths or none at all, to enter a Christian house of worship for a public session to discuss the MMSD’s “guiding document” alienates non-Christians, including the almost 50 percent of the Madison population who are not religious, insisted FFRF Legal Fellow Karen Heineman.
Heineman wrote to Superintendent of Schools Carlton D. Jenkins that to fulfill MMSD’s obligation for religious neutrality and to recognize Madison’s diverse range of religious and nonreligious citizens, he must provide a secular setting for the Strategic Framework Recalibration public input session so that all concerned district families can feel welcome and comfortable attending.
The special assistant to the superintendent responded swiftly to FFRF’s request and confirmed that the meeting location had been changed to an area high school.
FFRF intervened after a teacher at Metro West Learning Academy in Iowa was reported to have been playing Christian music in the background of classes. The music had lyrics such as “I put my faith in Jesus” and “my savior.”
“No public school employee may urge religious points of view on students. Students are especially susceptible to the coercive influence of messages from authority figures, such as teachers,” wrote FFRF Legal Fellow Karen Heineman to Mike Moran, director of Metro West Learning. “Parents, not teachers, have the right to direct the religious, or nonreligious, upbringing of their children.”
The Metro West Learning Academy reassured FFRF that action had been taken to make sure staff is aware of their constitutional obligations to religious neutrality and to refrain from promoting religion in the classroom.
“It has been resolved. [The teacher] now has local news as her background noise,” the school’s response stated.
A Colorado school district will not include religious songs in its concerts after a Thompson Valley High School parent reported that their child had participated in an event that contained overwhelmingly Christian language.
One song, performed on March 23, was “Worthy to Be Praised,” and is very clearly a Christian worship song:
Holy holy holy.
Praise our God, Almighty.
Worthy and holy.
Lord eternally.
Praise the Lord in the highest, praise His holy name.
Let all things that haveth the breath, just praise the Lord.
I believe in the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.
Performing Christian worship songs at public schools is wholly inappropriate, FFRF insisted. FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote a letter to the superintendent of Thompson School District, reminding him that “Teaching students Christian worship music in a public school violates the First Amendment. It is well settled that public schools may not advance or endorse religion.”
The district responded to inform FFRF that religious music will no longer be a part of the concert.
FFRF’s objection to daily intercom prayer in a Louisiana elementary school has quickly had the desired effect.
A concerned parent had informed FFRF that Riverbend Elementary School in West Monroe, La., required its students to recite a prayer each day following the Pledge of Allegiance. A different child was reportedly selected every morning to deliver the pledge and then the prayer over the intercom. The prayer was described as “Student Expression,” but was clearly a prayer and was delivered to “Father God.”
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to the legal counsel for Ouachita Parish Schools demanding that the school cease its daily prayer.
“Ouachita Parish Superintendent Don Coker said the situation has been addressed,” states a story in the local newspaper about FFRF’s intervention.
“The principal knows that we won’t be reading prayers over the intercom,” the article quotes Coker as saying. “It has actually been handled and dealt with. Now I think they do a moment of silence.”
A concerned parent in the Victor Valley Union High School District in California contacted FFRF to report that the head coach of the Silverado High School football team opened its awards dinner with a Christian prayer. The event was held at the school to honor members of the football team, and the prayer was delivered “in Jesus’ name.”
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line sent a letter to Ron Williams, superintendent of Victor Valley Union High School District, reminding him that it is illegal for athletic coaches to lead their teams in prayer.
“Coach Jones’ conduct at this event was unconstitutional because he endorsed and promoted his religion while acting in his official capacity as a school district employee,” Line insisted. “Certainly, he represents the school and the team when he acts in his official role as head coach of the Silverado High School football team. Therefore, he cannot lead prayer at school events, lead his team in prayer, or advocate for students to lead team prayer either.”
Assistant Superintendent Ramiro Rubalcaba responded to FFRF’s letter assuring that it was a mistake and would not happen again. “Having educated the coach concerning this issue, he has agreed that, moving forward, he will ensure that neither he nor any members of his staff will conduct prayer during any school activities or even engage in religiously related discussions at work so as to avoid any perceived endorsement of religious issues.”
FFRF was alerted by a concerned Coulee Hartline School District resident in Washington that the high school had displayed a photo of coaches praying with students at a football game on one of its walls.
FFRF wrote to Superintendent James Evans advising the district to remove the religious endorsement from its property and ensure that its coaches are not leading or participating in prayers with students.
“It is illegal for public school athletic coaches to lead their teams in prayer,” wrote FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line in a letter to the school district. “The Supreme Court has continually struck down school-sponsored prayer in public schools.”
In a response from the school district, FFRF was informed that the photos had been removed and the district spoke with the staff.
A Texas school district has stopped letting its staff endorse religion after a community member reported multiple instances of religious promotion by staff members.
Andrews Middle School football team was selling shirts that featured a bible quote on the back: “Trust in the Lord, Our God, forever, for He is our everlasting rock. — Isaiah 264:4.” The shirts had been promoted on the official Andrews ISD Facebook page.
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line, in a letter to the district, wrote that the staff “send a message on behalf of the district to non-Christian and nonreligious students that they are outsiders in their school community.” Superintendent Bobby Azam wrote back to reassure FFRF that he will work to ensure that the district will no longer allow its staff to promote or endorse religion by selling T-shirts with religious messages as part of school-sponsored activities, or by including religious messages on official calendars for school-sponsored events.
A local citizen contacted FFRF regarding the endorsement of religion on the Cookeville (Tenn.) Regional Medical Center’s official Facebook page.
The post included a prayer for frontline workers that said, “Heavenly and Almighty God, who has all power and might to heal and protect.”
“CRMC must refrain from endorsing religion,” wrote FFRF Legal Fellow Karen Heineman. “It cannot suggest that it cannot treat patients without God’s help or that patients must say prayers while in its facility.”
Chief legal counsel for the Cookeville Medical Center informed FFRF that both of the postings were removed shortly after the medical center received the letter.
A Georgia school will no longer allow employees to pray with students or force students to pray at events after it was reported that David Turpin, an employee at Stephens County High School, had been praying with students as part of the high school’s JROTC events. It was also reported that Turpin required multiple cadets to pray before a school-sponsored meet that took place at the school. Turpin is a district employee who is listed on the school’s website as part of the JROTC program.
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line insisted that the district must make certain that school programs and activities do not include prayer and that none of its employees are unlawfully and inappropriately indoctrinating students in religious matters by leading prayer, encouraging them to pray, or setting aside time for prayer.
Counsel for the Stephens County School system informed FFRF that the administration is convinced that “Mr. Turpin understands the issues concerning the First Amendment as it relates to the freedom of religion and the Establishment Clause.”
An Alabama public school district has stopped opening its football games with prayer after FFRF called a penalty.
Several high schools in Jefferson County School District, including Gardendale High School and Pinson Valley High School, had been starting their football games with prayers broadcast over the loudspeaker.
It is unconstitutional for a public school to sponsor religious messages at school athletic events, wrote FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line in a letter to the district.
FFRF’s advice fell on receptive ears. The legal counsel for the district sent a letter informing FFRF that “the superintendent met with school principals and the administration will not allow prayer at school-sponsored events.”
A North Carolina sheriff has listened to FFRF and made secular a summer camp that his department operates.
Several county residents had reported to FFRF that the Dare County Sheriff’s Office was planning to hold a “faith-based” camp (as the Sheriff’s Office’s official Facebook page had been declaring it) for children during the summer. The camp, which has been run by the Sheriff’s Office for many years, included religious worship.
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to Dare County Sheriff Doug Doughtie. “By hosting a ‘faith based’ camp that includes religious worship, the Sheriff’s Office creates the appearance that it endorses religion,” Line wrote.
The sheriff took heed of FFRF’s exhortation. “Friendly Atheist” Hemant Mehta writes that Doughtie posted a message on Facebook explaining why his camp would drop the faith aspect: “A statement from one of the people who posted on our Facebook account was ‘There are many in our community who are not Christian or not religious at all and the Sheriff’s Office should be well attuned to that. Why would these children be made to feel “other” at a county camp?’ When I read that statement, I realized that it shouldn’t make any child feel that way.”
The Kingsport (Tenn.) Police Department has taken down a post on its official Facebook page thanking the “Rock of Ages” prison ministry for providing the department with 160 bibles.
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to the police department saying that the Kingsport P.D. must refrain from endorsing religion on social media.
In a letter from Chief of Police Dave Phipps, FFRF was informed of the post being removed. “To my knowledge, no resident voiced any concern over the post; only 1 out of 56,000+. Regardless, we have removed the post,” Phipps wrote.
The city of Orlando, Fla., has reassured FFRF that it takes the separation of church and state seriously after it was reported that the city was officially sponsoring “40 Days of Prayer and Fasting” from March 6 to April 14.
The event invitations said, “The city of Orlando invites you to ‘40 Days of Prayer and Fasting.’” Invitations were sent out through official city communication channels and noted that the invitation for this religious event was on behalf of “Mayor Buddy Dyer and District Two City Commissioner Tony Ortiz.”
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote a letter to Dyer. Doug Richards, director of community engagement and outreach for Orlando, responded, saying that the invitation was sent in error, as the event was not being hosted or sponsored by the city.
An Alabama elementary school is no longer letting proselytization happen during music class.
A district parent reported to FFRF that their child, a first-grade student at Montevallo Elementary School in the Shelby County School District, came home singing a “Thanksgiving song” that they learned in music class. The lyrics to the song included: “Thank you God for the friends we keep, thank you God for the food we eat.”
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to the counsel for the school district. “This ‘Thanksgiving song’ is essentially a prayer and thus would be appropriate in a church setting, but not in a public school.”
After the school received FFRF’s letters, the district counseled staff about the importance of selecting programming that does not highlight a particular religion, and it is incorporating additional refresher training on those issues.
A concerned parent contacted FFRF to report that their child received a bag of toys and candy from Eugene Field Elementary School in Oklahoma City that also contained religious messages.
The gifts were accompanied by a note, which explained, “Have a wonderful Christmas! We pray that your weeks are filled with joy and love! And, we hope you enjoy these gifts.” The note included a bible verse.
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line requested that Superintendent Sean McDaniel take corrective action and train district staff on their constitutional duties as public school employees.
In response to the FFRF’s letter, the general counsel for Oklahoma City Public Schools wrote that it was determined that a volunteer family placed the note in the backpack “unbeknownst to the community partner and the school.” The principal was then counseled on the religious parameters and told that this could not happen again and such a message violates students’ religious freedoms.
FFRF was alerted by a Putnam County Schools parent that a first-grade teacher at the West Virginia school assigned students a “Jesus is Born!” informational booklet coloring assignment. The booklet recounted religious stories from the bible. FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to Superintendent John G. Hudson advising the district to take immediate action to stop teachers from giving religious assignments to students.
Hudson responded and said that Putnam County Schools is aware of its obligations and that the incident was an isolated one and will not recur.
FFRF was alerted that the Lebanon Community School Corporation Board in Indiana was beginning its meetings with a prayer. The agenda, found on the corporation’s website, showed that the Oct. 19, 2021, meeting listed the Pledge of Allegiance as the first item of business with no mention of prayer.
A video of the Oct. 19, 2021, meeting confirmed (even though any mention was missing from the agenda) that “as is our custom, we begin our time with a word of prayer.”
In a letter from FFRF Legal Fellow Karen Heineman to the school board president, it was emphasized that prayer alienates nonreligious Americans, who make up the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population by religious identification. Thirty-five percent of Americans are non-Christians, including more than one in four Americans who now identify as religiously unaffiliated.
“After consultation with its counsel, the board has decided to open the meeting with a moment of silence instead of a prayer,” the school district’s law firm wrote back. “That practice has been followed since receipt of your letter.”
A Pennsylvania resident reported to FFRF that a speaker with a history of talking about his faith would be putting on an event at Downington Area School District.
A letter from FFRF Staff Attorney Maddy Ziegler reminded the school district that it is well settled that schools may not advance or promote religion. “Please note that the fact that this event takes place after school and participation is voluntary is not a valid safeguard,” Ziegler wrote. “Courts have summarily rejected arguments that voluntariness excuses a constitutional violation.”
The solicitor for the Pennsylvania school district has reassured FFRF that its intention is and will not be to endorse any religion.
FFRF intervened after a report from a Palm Beach County, Fla., resident showed that the local post office contained a lengthy Christian prayer posted for public view. The resident also reported that when the issue was brought up to management, the response allegedly was, “No Jews have ever complained, so it’s OK.”
In a letter to West Palm Beach Tax Collector Anne Gannon, FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote, “We write to ask that the county remove this religious sign from county property in recognition that it represents an unconstitutional endorsement of religion over nonreligion.”
FFRF also noted that the Palm Beach County Tax Collector serves all citizens regardless of belief or nonbelief, and such a posted prayer turns non-Christians into outsiders.
The general counsel for Gannon let FFRF know that the posted prayer had been removed.
A concerned Hudsonville, Mich., resident reported to FFRF that the city had endorsed religion through its official mission statement.
“While the city of Hudsonville should work to strengthen family and community life, and should be committed to excellence in providing quality municipal services, it is inappropriate and unconstitutional for the City Commission and administration of the city of Hudsonville to officially ‘strive to serve God,’ and to proclaim this misuse of public office on the city’s official website,” wrote FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line in a letter to Mayor Mark Northrup. “This mission statement should be changed immediately.”
FFRF then received a response from Northrup in which he assured the state/church watchdog that the city would adopt a new mission statement.
An Ohio School district has ceased sending its high school students to a church to perform after FFRF got involved.
When a concerned community member reported that the Logan High School Chamber Singers performed during a religious worship service at First Presbyterian Church in Lancaster, FFRF Attorney Chris Line sent a letter to Superintendent Monte Bainter insisting that the school no longer hold school-sponsored events in churches and instead select public facilities for all future events.
“The use of churches for public school programming is inappropriate and unconstitutional. It is a fundamental principle of Establishment Clause jurisprudence that a public school may not advance, or appear to endorse religion,” Line explained. “Even if attendance and participation in this event were voluntary, church performances are still impermissible.”
Legal counsel responded by assuring FFRF that the district has no scheduled performances at any church venue and all future venue selections will be approved by the superintendent.
The city of Morris, Ill., has agreed to stop a discriminatory parking policy favoring churchgoers after the Freedom From Religion Foundation stepped in.
The presence of four “church parking only” signs prohibiting area residents from parking on a public street near a church created a discriminatory privilege for churchgoers, FFRF told Morris Mayor Chris Brown.
“This not only confers endorsement and advancement of religion but also fosters excessive entanglement between the city and a church,” FFRF Legal Fellow Karen Heineman wrote. “The Supreme Court has struck down such entanglements between government and religious actors.”
The subsidy for church parking is significant because the church, unlike a secular counterpart, does not pay taxes to contribute to public streets and public parking options. By providing church parking, the entire city is subsidizing free parking for churchgoers. If parking is limited immediately in front of a church, it is not for the city to resolve by granting special treatment.
These signs allowed a religious organization to control the enforcement of parking on a public street in Morris. The city’s treatment of parking was preferential toward churchgoers and exclusionary toward residents and neighbors who do not attend the church. The city’s bestowal of special parking benefits to a select church couldn’t be reconciled with the Constitution, FFRF insisted.
FFRF’s constitutional parking lessons fell on receptive ears.
In an email from the city of Morris’ counsel Garrett Wheeler, FFRF was reassured: “The city looked at the issue once it was brought to the city’s attention and determined the signs were erected without city council approval, so they were removed by the church.”
A school district in Georgia has stopped basketball coaches at Northwest Whitfield High School from letting outside adults proselytize students.
After a community member raised concerns with FFRF about this promotion of religion in the high school’s girls’ basketball program, FFRF Attorney Chris Line wrote a letter to Superintendent Mike Ewton, informing him that “This conduct raises serious concerns that Northwest Whitfield High School coaches are proselytizing and promoting their religion to students, both through outside religious leaders and directly to students.”
Newton was asked to investigate the complaint and take immediate action to ensure that its athletic programs are not being used to proselytize and promote religion in violation of students’ constitutional rights
Ewton responded to FFRF’s request and said the school has addressed the situation with the employees involved. The principal also met with all other coaches at the school as well as the FCA coordinator and reminded them of appropriate procedures.
FFRF and its members in Michigan have persuaded a county board to reverse its prayer policy and halt governmental prayer.
After multiple concerned area residents reported the Leelanau County Board was starting to implement prayers to open its meetings, FFRF contacted the board in September, urging it to honor the constitutional principle of separation between religion and government.
“Prayer at government meetings is unnecessary, inappropriate, and divisive,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote Leelanau County Board of Commission Chair William J. Bunek.
Although FFRF received an initially discouraging response from the county, local activists attended meetings to voice their objections and changed the board’s mind. On Jan 18, the county board voted 5 to 2 to change the prayer to a moment of silence.
Children at a Texas elementary school are no longer being proselytized by their music teacher after FFRF intervened.
A parent had reported that a music teacher at Frostwood Elementary in Spring Branch ISD taught a religious prayer song in sign language to first-grade students. The parent’s child signed and sung a prayer before dinner after which our complainant learned that she was taught the prayer at school by the school’s music teacher.
FFRF let Superintendent Jennifer Blaine know that “Thank You For The World So Sweet” is an incontrovertible prayer.
FFRF Attorney Chris Line wrote in a letter to the school district that “No public school employee may urge religious points of view on students.”
General counsel for the school district responded to Line by saying “Though the song is in a state-approved textbook, the textbook is outdated (from 2006), so the teacher agreed to discontinue the use of the outdated textbook.”
After a student contacted FFRF to report that an Oklahoma science teacher was showing students a Christian propaganda film during class, FFRF Attorney Chris Line sent a letter to Superintendent Brian Beagles of Sperry Public Schools.
Beagles was informed that playing Christian music in class and requiring students to watch a Christian film entangled the district with a religious message.
FFRF also informed Beagles that “Facing the Giants” is a Christian propaganda film about a struggling high school football coach who inspires his team to believe in the Christian god and to use religious faith to succeed.
Counsel for the school responded to FFRF and reassured it that the issue had been addressed and will not happen again.
The city of Port Aransas, Tex., has stopped having prayers during holiday parties.
FFRF was told that the city was holding mandatory holiday parties that all city employees were required to attend. At the events, David Parsons, the city manager, was leading employees in sectarian Christian prayers.
“Prayer and proselytizing as part of government-sponsored events is unnecessary, inappropriate, and divisive,” wrote FFRF Attorney Chris Line in a letter to Mayor Charles Bujan. The mayor was then asked to stop the prayer.
FFRF has since been informed that the prayers have ended.
A South Carolina school district has stopped teachers from leading prayers during school hours.
After a concerned parent reported to FFRF that multiple teachers within the Cherokee County School District had been leading their classes in prayer during lunch, including teachers at Northwest Elementary School, FFRF Attorney Chris Line wrote a letter to the district.
“Public school teachers may not promote religion by leading students in prayer, encouraging students to pray, participating in student-initiated prayer, or otherwise endorsing religion to students,” he wrote. “The district must make certain that none of its employees are unlawfully and inappropriately indoctrinating students in religious matters by leading prayer, encouraging them to pray, or setting aside time for prayer or religious instruction.”
The Cherokee County School District responded by stopping the offensive practice and reminded all of its administrators of the need to maintain a distance between state and church.
Georgia Southern University has agreed to stop promoting and endorsing Christianity at its football games.
An area resident previously reported that Georgia Southern University was promoting and endorsing Christianity and that GSU appeared to be sponsoring a religious event called “Sermon on the Court,” and that the university allows an outside religious leader to act as an official chaplain for its football team.
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to Kyle Marrero, president of GSU, regarding the matter.
In a response from the university’s legal counsel, FFRF was assured that “the institution has taken appropriate follow-up action . . . to ensure that this type of unauthorized activity does not take place again.”
A lunchtime proselytization has stopped after FFRF Legal Fellow Karen Heineman wrote a letter to the Racine School District in Wisconsin.
A concerned parent of a student at Starbuck Middle School contacted FFRF to report that an adult, believed to be a teacher, was recruiting for a school religious club during lunchtime in the school cafeteria.
The superintendent assured FFRF that appropriate follow-up steps will be taken to ensure that the volunteer has a clear understanding that he cannot continue proselytizing.
A concerned Midwood High School (N.Y.) community member reported that Principal Michael McDonnell had been using a religious email signature in his official communications. McDonell included a bible verse that read, “The truth shall set you free, John 8:32” in his official email signature.
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris line asked that the school take the appropriate steps to ensure that employees, including McDonnell, are aware of their constitutional obligation to remain neutral toward religion while acting in their official capacity.
McDonnell had immediately removed the quote from his signature upon receiving FFRF’s letter.
A Georgia Elementary school is no longer holding any “See You at the Pole” events after receiving a letter from FFRF educating them as to why it goes against the Establishment Clause.
A concerned Walker County District parent has reported that Cherokee Ridge Elementary School hosted and promoted a “See You at the Pole” event in September 2021.
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote in a letter to the district that it cannot organize, promote or endorse religious events like See You at the Pole and that any such events held at a public school must be entirely student-initiated and student-run with no participation from staff members or outside adults.
Superintendent Damon Raines said the situation was immediately addressed with the administration.
Church trailers have been removed from a Virginia public high school after FFRF intervened.
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote a letter to Loudoun County Public Schools legal counsel after a concerned community member reported that the district allows Terraforma Church, a church currently operating out of Independence High School, to store multiple trailers in the school’s parking lot at all times.
In a response from the school’s legal counsel, FFRF was informed that the trailers were planned to be removed from the Independence High School parking lot.
A concerned local community member reported to FFRF that cadets from the JROTC program at Sonora High School in California participated in a religious flag-folding ceremony as part of a Veterans Day event held in La Habra. The community member reported that as the cadets folded the flag, their JROTC instructor narrated using strong religious language: “The flag-folding ceremony represents the same religious principles on which our great country was originally founded.”
After FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to Superintendent Steve McLaughlin, the district agreed to inform staff members that religious rituals are not to be included as part of school activities.
A Willard (Mo.) High School choir director has stopped posting religious material on a Facebook group page he administers for Willard High School Choirs and can no longer use it.
“To avoid further Establishment Clause concerns, school employees must understand the limits of what they may post on social media when they do so in their official capacities,” wrote FFRF Legal Fellow Karen Heineman.
The choir director was instructed that school messages cannot be posted on his private social media account and that it should not be an issue going forward.
School district employees in Socorro, Texas, are no longer able to promote their religion through emails to staff, students and families after receiving a letter from FFRF Legal Fellow Joseph McDonald.
A concerned district employee informed FFRF that several district employees have promoted religion in emails that have been sent by representatives of the HR department.
Superintendent Marta Carmona responded by saying that the district will address the employees and direct that they refrain from using district-provided email systems to promote religion.
FFRF has stopped an Iowa public school coach from propagating a Christian message to his football players.
FFRF Legal Fellow Karen Heineman wrote to the school district informing Pella Community School District that religious promotion by the Pella Middle School football coach violates the school’s obligation to remain neutral while acting in official capacities.
In a response from the school district, FFRF was informed that the principal met with the coach to ensure that he will no longer be encouraging or promoting religion. The school district will also consider staff training, if needed, in the future.
An Ohio school district has stopped giving out religious materials after FFRF’s intervention.
The school had originally sent out emails to parents at Hazelwood Junior High School that turkey dinners were provided by Graceland Baptist Church. The email listed the items to be included in the giveaway, including “religious materials.”
FFRF Legal Fellow Karen Heineman wrote a letter to the distinct asking it to ensure that the turkey dinner giveaway is completely secular.
The school’s legal representative responded by ensuring FFRF that the religious materials would be removed before getting handed out in the giveaway.
A Tennessee school has stopped a Christian fellowship group from proselytizing its baseball players after receiving a letter from FFRF Legal Fellow Karen Heinema.
Upper Cumberland Fellowship of Christian Athletes was being given special access to Warren County Schools baseball team, handing out bibles and talking with the players.
In response from the legal counsel for the school district, FFRF was notified that the school had taken the necessary steps to stop all constitutional violations.
Ouachita Parish School District in Louisiana has stopped a head coach from giving a pregame devotional after a letter was sent by FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line.
A concerned district community member informed FFRF that Richwood High School’s head football coach had offered a “pregame devotional at Richwood High School,” and that “an invitation to know Jesus as Lord and Savior,” appeared on the Northeast Louisana’s FCA’s Facebook page.
In a response from the school’s legal counsel, the school board will seek to comply with its obligations under the First Amendment, while at the same time acknowledging the individual religious freedoms of its students.
A Texas school district is no longer employing a Christian pastor for its annual convocation after FFRF got involved.
In a letter to Venus (Texas) ISD, FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line explained to Superintendent James Hopper that while individuals are certainly free to pray privately or to worship on their own time in their way, calling upon district employees to participate in prayer is coercive and beyond the scope of a secular employer.
In a call from Hopper, he informed FFRF that the prayers from the Christian pastor will not happen again.
After receiving a letter from FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line, the Harrison County School District in West Virginia has stopped playing Christian worship music in its hallways.
A concerned district employee reported that Robert C. Byrd High School played Christian worship music in its main hallway at all times. The letter to Superintendent Dora Stutler reminded the district that allowing such a practice is a violation of the Establishment Clause.
In a response to FFRF’s letter, Stutler reported that radio has been removed and the issue had been resolved.
Athletic and staff meetings at Lafourche Parish School District in Louisiana will no longer include prayer after a parent reported that the district regularly opened school-sponsored events with Christian prayer, including athletic events and staff meetings.
On Aug. 4, the district invited a Catholic priest to pray over a staff meeting at Central Lafourche High School. The school then posted about this prayer on its official Facebook page.
In a letter to the district, FFRF explained that a prayer taking place at a “regularly scheduled school-sponsored function conducted on school property” would lead an objective observer to perceive it as state endorsement of religion.
Superintendent Jarod W. Martin responded and assured FFRF that the issue had been addressed and resolved.
Conroe Independent School District in Texas has stopped proselytizing students after FFRF wrote a letter to the school district. Teachers and staff members were participating in a “See You at the Pole” event at Birnham Woods Elementary School on Sept 22.
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line reminded the district that “it cannot organize, promote, or endorse religious events like See You at the Pole.”
In a response from the general counsel for the district, it was reported to FFRF that training has been provided to all new administrators regarding “See you at the Pole” and other similar situations in which they could encounter religious activities in the school setting.
An annual student-led prayer has ended in Roane County, W.Va., after the school received a letter from FFRF.
Roane County High School used to have student-led prayers each year at the graduation. The prayers were a planned part of graduation ceremonies and were included in the official graduation program.
Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to the district to let them know that by “scheduling prayers at graduation, the district abridges that duty and alienates the 38 percent of younger Americans who are not religious.”
The director of the school, LaDonna McFall, received the letter, had a conference with the principal and assured FFRF that the prayers would no longer be included in the graduation ceremonies.