Written by Don Byrd
A school district in Ohio received a 4th letter this week from a church-state group alleging the unlawful promotion of religion, particularly through its athletic programs. At Licking Valley schools, the letters claim, coaches have improperly participated in prayer with teams, and a chaplain is on the high school football staff.
The Columbus Dispatch reports:
A letter to Superintendent David Hile . . . said someone contacted the [Freedom From Religion Foundation] to complain that “a youth pastor, Jeff Hawkins, is allowed access to the team players to ‘evangelize every Thursday after practice and every Friday before games.’”
Markert said Hawkins has been serving as chaplain to the football team since 1996, according to the unnamed accuser, who claimed to have witnessed Hawkins addressing the team before a Nov. 7 game against Marysville in which he told the players, “The Lord is on our side,” and “mentions salvation at least once,” Markert said.
A growing area of concern regarding religion in public schools is the extent to which school officials allow outside religious advocates to have access to students during the school day or school-sponsored events. Should schools allow youth ministers, for example, to visit with students during lunch? Or employ chaplains for athletic teams?
It seems pretty clear that students should be able to attend school and participate fully in extracurricular activities without having to be proselytized by school representatives. The same should apply to community members who want to use the public school system to access students.
