FFRF has worked to keep Florida’s Lake County Schools free from indoctrinating prayers during graduation ceremonies going forward.
FFRF was informed that East Ridge High School schedules and hosts prayer at graduation ceremonies each year. It was understood that the prayers were being delivered by a student, but the prayer is an official part of the ceremony planned by the school.
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to the district, and James A. Myers, general counsel for the district, wrote back informing FFRF that the superintendent had addressed the concerns with the school’s principal. “The prayer in question was apparently a tribute to an East Ridge student who passed away and was delivered as part of the speech given by the school’s student government association president.” Expectations have been set to prevent further prayer at graduation in the future.
