FFRF is pleased to report that the Carroll County School District, Carrollton, Ga., has issued a statement admitting that Villa Rica High School “failed to follow district facility usages procedures for outside groups using school facilities” by letting a coach invite First Baptist Church to perform mass baptisms in a utility tub on the football field before practice.
Staff Attorney Elizabeth Cavell sent a letter Sept. 1 to the district, addressing the egregious nature of this proselytizing event. FFRF Legal Fellow Madeline Ziegler sent a letter earlier over promotion of a religious baccalaureate at Mount Zion High School, and a student informed FFRF that the school had made appropriate changes.
“We are pleased that the school district has publicly affirmed its commitment to keep religion out of public school events, and concurs that the bizarre baptisms crossed the line,” said FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor.
“We would hope that the staff members who participated would be reprimanded and carefully monitored and that the district would send out a memo reminding employees that they may not engage in devotional events with students in public schools,” said Gaylor.
