Religious posters aren’t in Kansas public school anymore (July 11, 2013)

A letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation successfully took down eight Christian posters from a public high school math classroom in McPherson, Kan.

A concerned district resident contacted FFRF about the eight posters, which were prominently displayed in the teacher's classroom. The posters included slogans like:

• "I asked Jesus, 'How much do you love me?' He answered, 'this much.' And He stretched out His arms and died."

• "OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD"

• Good Morning, this is God! I will be handling all your problems. I will not need your help, so, have a good day. I love you!"

FFRF Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel contacted McPherson Unified School District Superintendent Randy Watson in a May 14 letter, requesting the posters be removed and the teacher be disciplined and educated about the Constitution.

The posters are inappropriate for a public school setting because they force a specific religion onto students in what should be a secular setting, he wrote. The messages assume all students subscribe to the same interpretation of Christianity and alienate those who do not.

High school students can decide for themselves whether the death of a man roughly 2,000 years ago absolved their sins and if he is also responsible for handling their everyday problems.

"There is no educational or academic component or motive for such displays, especially in a critical thinking class," Seidel wrote.

The district's counsel responded on July 11 that the posters have been removed and the teacher in question was disciplined and had a note placed in his personnel file. The counsel added, "[the teacher] has been informed of the constitutional issues raised by his actions."