The Michigan Association of Civil Rights Activists (MACRA), founded by Mitch Kahle and Holly Huber, FFRF Life Members, had another success in April when a substitute teacher at Hart High School in Hart was ousted as a sub for distributing religious materials. MACRA alerted the district April 6 about the violations.
The teacher was supplied as a substitute by Professional Education Services Group (PSEG), a staffing company. “The substitute had, in fact, done some things and passed out materials with religious information and some specific references to entries in the bible,” Superintendent Mark Platt told the Ludington Daily News on April 14.
“As a result of the investigation, the substitute will no longer be allowed sub for Hart Public Schools. We followed the formal complaint process that PESG provides and we communicated clearly with PESG that Mr. Meersma is not allowed to substitute at Hart Public Schools,” Platt said in a press release.
A demonstration planned in support of the teacher never took place, Platt said.
“[W]e will be reminding staff of the importance of honoring the issue of the separation of church and state,” Platt said. The district will also add the topic to “start of the school term” staff discussions in the fall and consider putting together a “do’s and don’ts” handout for subs.
