Missouri
FFRF ensured that the constitutional rights of students will be respected — this time in Missouri’s Steelville School District.
A community member informed FFRF that a sixth-grade teacher promoted to students a personal bible study taking place every morning before school. The teacher appeared to be orchestrating and teaching the meetings. Additionally, the teacher read as part of the curriculum a book about witches, during which she denigrated witches and witchcraft (since it conflicted with her personal religious beliefs) and told students that Christianity does not look kindly upon witches.
“Public officials may not promote or advertise religious ceremonies when acting in the course of their official duties,” FFRF Legal Fellow Hirsh M. Joshi wrote to the district.
After FFRF’s action, the district decided to correct the violations at hand.
The school’s legal counsel, Emily Omohundro, wrote back, informing FFRF hat while an investigation did take place, it involved confidential student and personnel information that could not be shared. “The district has taken steps to remind district staff of the district’s policies, including the requirement that staff avoid the promotion of religious views at school,” Omohundro wrote.
