Georgia —
A district parent reported to FFRF that a P.E. teacher at Bethune Middle School was playing Christian gospel music every class during warm-up exercises. FFRF was informed that this had been going on since at least the start of the 2024-2025 school year. The complainant stated that they are not raising children to believe in any particular religion, and the overtly religious music in gym class was making their child uncomfortable.
“[The teacher] should strive to ensure his gym class is welcoming and inclusive of all students, not just those who practice Christianity,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote.
FFRF received a response to the letter from Brian C. Smith, from the law firm Pereira, Kirby, Kinsinger & Nguyen. “School district administration is meeting with the P.E. teacher to remind them of the requirements of the First Amendment as it relates to the Establishment and Free Exercise clauses,” Smith wrote. “Every effort is made at the school level to ensure that the rights of all stakeholders are protected.”
