Missouri
After a religious “See You at the Pole” event, the Mansfield R-IV School District in Missouri learned from FFRF not to allow religious events to take place on school grounds.
A community member informed FFRF that district staff led students in prayer at a SYATP event on Sept. 25, 2024. After the large group prayer, teachers, students and outside priests formed small groups where they worshiped and prayed together. Teachers and staff led these small groups. Reportedly, a teacher also presented on Christianity and faith to students after the small group worship. After the event, the district used its official Facebook account to tout the religious event.
“It is inappropriate and needlessly divisive for the district to allow its staff or outside adults to promote, participate in and organize See You At The Pole events,” FFRF Patrick O’Reiley Legal Fellow Hirsh M. Joshi wrote to the district.
District Superintendent Clint Hall wrote back to FFRF, explaining that the district and the student yearbook team both use the district’s social media presence to cover various events, including events that are not strictly district-sponsored. Regardless, the post was taken down, and Hall wrote, “In order to address any concern about the district’s involvement in the FCA student group, I have spoken with the supervisor of the FCA regarding the parameters that are appropriate for religious, noncurricular, student inhabited-groups and their activities.”
