Religious Leader Involvement Poses Problems for Public Schools

Written by Don Byrd
Religious leaders usually mean well when they want to get involved at by supporting students in their community’s public schools. School officials face potential problems, however, when their conversation with students turns to religion. In one Washington state school, youth ministers who volunteered as cafeteria supervisors have been asked not to return, pending an investigation to determine whether they exploited the opportunity to proselytize.

Wisconsin School Board Backs Away From Sacred Music Rule After Outcry

Written by Don Byrd
In Wausau County, Wisconsin, a dispute is growing louder over the school district’s recent decision to limit the amount of sacred music that can be performed at school concerts. As a result of the new rules, concerts were cancelled and one popular school choir was temporarily placed on hiatus. As you might expect, the move has angered some community members and organizations, with typical battle lines being drawn. The Alliance Defending Freedom wrote a letter decrying the Board’s move and urging them to undo it, explaining that the First Amendment does not require such an extreme effort to keep sacred music out of school concerts. Meanwhile, the Freedom From Religion Foundation wrote praising the Board’s decision and urging them to stand strong in the face of inevitable public pressures.

Ohio School Settles Lawsuit Over Jesus Portrait

Written by Don Byrd
Public school hallways are no place for administrators to promote their religious beliefs. Students should be able to enter the building and walk from class to class without being proselytized by the same officials we have entrusted to educate them. Those officials should not be able to do in messages or pictures on the wall what they can’t do in person. So it’s unsurprising that a portrait of Christ hanging in the Jackson High School in Jackson, Ohio generated controversy. Five anonymous plaintiffs filed suit challenging the use of the picture as a violation of the separation of church and state.

Tampa Bay Times Editorial Tackles Prayer at High School Football Games

Written by Don ByrdIn Florida’s Pasco County, the battle over prayer at high school football games has been heating up, after House Speaker WIll Weatherford weighed in, arguing that coaches should be able to lead their team in prayer. An editorial in today’s Tampa Bay Times takes him to task and reminds readers what is at stake.