Ohio
The Ashland City School District removed an assignment promoting a teacher’s personal religious beliefs after FFRF contacted the district.
A concerned district parent reported that a teacher at Taft Intermediate assigned students homework that required them to interpret historical timelines which included religious events that are part of religious scripture, not historical facts. FFRF learned that the assignments included the Hebrews’ Exodus from Egypt, accompanied by a picture of Moses parting the Red Sea, as well as the birth of Jesus of Nazareth in Bethlehem, accompanied by a large nativity scene.
“Parents, not public school teachers, have the constitutional right to determine their children’s religious or nonreligious upbringing,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote to Superintendent Steven Paramore.
Paramore confirmed the receipt of FFRF’s letter, writing, “We addressed this with the instructor and have amended the issue.” Paramore added that while no religious persuasion was ever intended, if further issues arose regarding the situation, the district would address the situation.
