Georgia
FFRF took on the particularly troublesome Lanier County School District in Lakeland, Ga., after multiple school-sponsored events were used to promote Christianity.
A district parent reported that the district had a pattern and practice of holding school-sponsored prayers at a wide variety of official school events. FFRF learned that since at least 2022, Lanier County High School’s athletics program had been infused with religion, specifically Christianity. The complainant reported that Lanier County High School held prayers at official athletic events, including football and basketball games, and that student-athletes were required to participate in these prayers. The prayers were uniformly Christian and led by either the school’s principal or the head coach for the relevant sport.
Additionally, the high school reportedly scheduled and hosted Christian prayers at its annual graduation ceremonies as well as other student award and honors ceremonies. FFRF learned of the 2024 graduation ceremony including a pre-planned official prayer led by a student with references to a “Father God,” and “Jesus.”
Lastly, per the Lanier County Board of Education meeting agendas, each meeting begins with an invocation led by a board member. The board members and all attendees are expected to participate in the prayer. The prayers were uniformly religious and typically Christian. The complainant stated that at one recent meeting, students from the district were invited to attend the meeting and were thus present for and expected to participate in the prayer.
“Here, Lanier County High School crossed the constitutional line by repeatedly scheduling official student-led Christian prayer at its graduation ceremonies,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote to the district. “Moreover, Lanier County High School violated our complainant’s child’s First Amendment rights by requiring that student to choose between participating in a Christian prayer or not participating fully or at all in their own graduation ceremony.”
Brian C. Smith, an attorney from Pereira, Kirby, Kingsinger & Nguyen, contacted FFRF on behalf of the district. “Of course, the school district and the Board of Education want to include all citizens in its board meetings and allow all citizens to participate,” Smith wrote. “In the future, the board plans to discuss alternative possibilities including, inviting clergy to its meetings and a moment of silence.”
