FFRF has extracted a pledge from an Illinois school district to curb creationism-promoting events in its schools.
A concerned district parent contacted FFRF after discovering that a fourth-grade math assignment at Central Grade School in Effingham included unconstitutional overt religious instruction.
The assignment consisted of counting the total number of gifts given in the lyrics of the song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” Completely superfluous to the task, students were given religious metaphors for each lyric in the song. The assignment stated that “the ‘true love’ of the song refers to God,” “The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ,” etc.
FFRF Staff Attorney Ryan Jayne wrote to Effingham CUSD #40 Superintendent Mark Doan, citing the unconstitutionality of the math exercise.
The district responded to FFRF’s complaint on Jan. 28, acknowledging that the religious material was inappropriate and assuring that no similar violation will occur in the future.
