The Freedom From Religion Foundation has successfully persuaded an Arkansas public elementary school to replace a divisive Christian display with a far more welcoming message.
What began as a display featuring a large Latin cross and the words “One Nation Under GOD” inside a silhouette of the United States now features inclusive messages such as “United,” “Common Ground,” “Opportunity,” “Kindness,” “We the People” and “Belonging.”
The change came after a concerned community member contacted FFRF about the original display, which had been featured on the school’s official Facebook page. “Seeing [this display] made my heart hurt for the students that are not Christian,” the complainant explained.
FFRF wrote to Bergman Public Schools on Aug. 31, explaining that public schools cannot promote Christianity or favor religious students over their nonreligious classmates.
“By prominently displaying a cross along with the Pledge of Allegiance’s reference to a god, the school sends a message that it favors religion over nonreligion, and Christianity over all other faiths,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote to Superintendent Sarah Alexander.
The “One Nation Under GOD” cross display crossed the constitutional line. The cross, an undeniably Christian symbol, paired with the single line from the Pledge of Allegiance, leaves no reasonable way to interpret the display other than as a school-sponsored promotion of Christianity. Students would inevitably be forced to view and reflect upon the religious imagery and messaging while at school. Bergman Elementary School’s display needlessly marginalized students who are a part of the 18 percent of religiously unaffiliated Arkansas residents.
The district initially reacted on Oct. 12 with a photograph showing that it had covered the cross with an American flag. However, the words “One Nation Under GOD” remained prominently displayed.
FFRF explained that simply covering the cross wasn’t enough.
In a follow-up letter on Oct. 21, Lawrence pointed out that the display still singled out a religious phrase from the Pledge of Allegiance and emphasized “GOD” in capital letters, sending a message of favoritism toward religion over nonreligion.
The district subsequently responded with a photograph showing a completely redesigned display that removed the religious messaging altogether.
The result is a dramatic improvement. FFRF praises the change, which celebrates the constitutional ideals of equality and unity rather than tying American identity to religious belief.
FFRF commends Bergman Public Schools for ultimately taking corrective action and thanks the concerned community member who spoke up.
“This is a wonderful example of how much better our public schools can be when they embrace inclusion instead of religious favoritism,” says FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. “The original display sent the message that Christianity was part of being a good American; the final display tells every child, regardless of whether they believe in a god, that they belong.”
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to defending the constitutional principle of separation between state and church and educating the public on matters relating to nontheism. With more than 40,000 members and several chapters across the country, including hundreds of members and a chapter in Arkansas, FFRF is the largest association of freethinkers (atheists, agnostics and humanists) in North America. For more information, visit ffrf.org.
