Indiana —
The Mooresville Schools District has agreed to put a stop to a religiously motivated study program after FFRF brought its unconstitutional nature to the district’s attention.
A member of the Mooresville High School community informed FFRF that the school’s choir director started a “BetterMan study” for MHS students.
According to its website, BetterMan is “a Christian organization” that provides “an 11-week group study on the essentials of biblical manhood and how men can live it out at home, at work, with friends and with God.” The group’s guide for leaders makes clear the program is intended to convert participants to Christianity: “True transformation will come from God working in men’s lives. The Gospel will be clearly shared after Session 6 and that is a great opportunity to make sure you know where each guy in your group is with Jesus. Call any man who lacks faith to believe in Him!”
FFRF wrote to the district asking for an investigation and to ensure that nobody on its staff was unconstitutionally sponsoring religious activities in its schools.
“To avoid encouraging or coercing students into participating in a religious club, the district may not allow staff to be involved in student religious clubs beyond a supervisory capacity,” FFRF Staff Attorney Madeline Ziegler wrote.
Superintendent Jake Allen emailed FFRF after the district conducted a review of the matter.
“As part of that review, district administration met with the staff member referenced in your correspondence and provided clear direction regarding the constitutional and legal limitations applicable to employee involvement in student religious activities,” Allen wrote. “Specifically, staff members were reminded that any student religious organizations or gatherings on school grounds must be student-initiated and student-led, and that employees may only be present in a supervisory capacity consistent with federal law and district expectations.”
