Florida —
FFRF made sure that the St. Johns County School District in St. Augustine, Fla., put a stop to the district’s practice of having a school football coach lead students in prayer and other Christian rituals.
A district parent reported that Alan D. Nease High School had a pattern and practice of entangling religion with the school’s athletics programs. The parent stated that organized prayer had become a regular part of the school’s athletics, particularly within the football team. FFRF learned that student football players were participating in school-sponsored prayer sessions before school, as well as at practices and games.
FFRF wrote to the district in order to put a stop to these troubling patterns.
“Even if students and parents know about the school-sponsored athletics program prayer and are able to opt-out – though the parent who contacted us does not allege that an opt-out exists – voluntariness is still no excuse for violating students’ rights,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote to the district’s legal representative, Frank D. Upchurch, III.
After receiving the letter, Upchurch confirmed that the district investigated the FFRF’s report. As a result of this, the district noted that it did appear that the coach was leading the team in saying grace before team meals.
“The administration counseled the coach and provided appropriate guidance,” Upchurch wrote. “I am told the coach understands and will refrain from leading students in prayer in the future.” Upchurch added that if more reports came in, he and the district would look into them accordingly and respond appropriately in the future.
