Written by Don Byrd
The ACLU of South Carolina is taking on the issue of school-based prayer and promotion of religion, which it suggests is a big problem across the state. In a letter to school administrators, the civil rights advocate urges students, teachers, parents and principals to be on watch for religious freedom violations.
We assume that your school district is committed to honoring its constitutional obligation to protecting students’ freedom of religion and belief. We encourage you to use the upcoming school year to review and assess existing policies and informal practices to determine whether they respect both the right of free exercise and the separation of church and state.
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[W]e have set up a special webpage for students, parents, teachers, and other connected with South Carolina’s public schools to report potential violations.
An organized campaign may be the only way to hold school officials accountable, especially in school districts that have less experience with religious diversity. It should not be on a lone student of minority faith to stand up against a tradition of religious preference. Though many acts of such courage take place, it is asking too much. We all must be mindful and stand up for that student’s religious freedom, even where that means making challenging some assumptions and making some changes.
You can read the ACLU-SC press release here. Wall Street Journal coverage is here.
