Georgia —
A district parent reported concerns with a religious message on display as part of the Bryan County Schools’ Community Education Program. FFRF’s complainant reported that the gymnastics director for the program had a plaque on the wall reading: “Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.” The complainant’s child felt uncomfortable seeing this religious message as part of a public school program. An article published about the director discussed her plaque, which appeared to have been moved from the gym to her office. FFRF asked the district to investigate the complaint and to remove any offensive displays being used as part of programming in order to protect students’ First Amendment rights.
“As you are aware, the district violates the Constitution when it allows its schools to display religious symbols or messages,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to the district’s legal representation.
After FFRF’s letter, district attorney Cory O. Kirby confirmed that action had been taken to ensure that students’ rights were being observed and protected.
“School administration has reached out to the director of the gymnastics program and explained to her the federal law regarding public schools promoting a particular religious belief,” Kirby wrote. “The gymnastics instructor has removed the religious display.”
