Florida —
In the Orange County Public Schools system in Orlando, a parent reported that a Stone Lakes Elementary School teacher had been reciting prayers every morning in front of her first-grade students during the school’s “moment of silence.” The parent stated that the teacher prayed out loud, often beginning with “Dear Jesus,” and prayed for students “to avoid ‘wounds and sins.’” Students were not allowed to begin speaking until she had finished her daily prayer, thereby forcing her students to sit and listen to an overtly Christian prayer every morning during what was supposed to be a moment of silence.
The parent expressed concern because their child had begun asking them questions at home, such as whether they are Christian. The parents are raising their child in a nonreligious home and were disturbed by the classroom prayers. Additionally, the first-grade class reportedly included at least a few students who have Muslim families, as well, and the parent was concerned about how these prayers were impacting minority faith students, as well.
FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote to the school system’s legal counsel with FFRF’s constitutional concerns.
FFRF learned via an open records request that the school had taken action, providing the teacher with a written correction and verbal coaching to stop the prayers.
