Colorado —
The Archuleta School District in Pagosa Springs, Colo., learned not to include bible quotes on school sports attire, thanks to FFRF.
A district community member reported that Pagosa Springs High School approved boys and girls basketball team sweatshirts that feature a religious quote alongside the school’s official logo. FFRF learned that while sweatshirts were donated by a third party, the school’s basketball coaches still exercised some amount of control over the design and approved the addition of scripture. Reportedly, students were able to choose to have one of several bible quotes printed on the sweatshirt with the school’s logo, or the sweatshirt could be printed without a quote.
“Students know that their coaches control their playing time and positions, directly affecting students’ opportunities for college scholarships and recruitment,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote to the district. “When coaches approve religious messages on team apparel, student-athletes will likely feel that going along with the majority and getting a biblical quote on their team sweatshirt is necessary to please their coaches and be viewed as a team player.”
After receiving FFRF’s letter, district Superintendent Rick Holt took action. “I have completed my investigation and found that these sweatshirts were created and distributed by parents without school permission,” Holt wrote in an email to FFRF. “Following the investigation, the athletic director is issuing a corrective action memo to all coaches, the involved parent group, and adding a section to the parent athletic handbook to ensure that there are no future incidents.”
