Barry Duke, the Angry Atheist

Pointing and laughing at religious lunacy for more than half-a-century

‘Prayer cards’ removed from Mississippi school; teacher warned cease proselytizing in classrooms

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THANKS to swift action taken by America’s Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) an unnamed teacher who placed “prayer cards” beneath the desks of children at East Central Middle School has been reprimanded, and the school—part of Jackson Country School District— has taken action ro ensure such behaviour never happens again.

The FFRF—which and advocates for non-believers and has more than 40,000 members—said in a press release that it contacted the school district after a “concerned” person drew its attention to this clear constitutional violation.

The national state/church watchdog wrote to Jack C. Pickett, legal counsel for the school system. FFRF’s Anne Nicol Gaylor Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence said in their letter:

In order to respect the First Amendment rights of students, we ask that the district investigate this situation and ensure that [the teacher], and all other teachers, refrain from using their positions to proselytize or encourage prayer going forward.

FFRF reminded the district that students have the First Amendment right to be free from religious indoctrination in their public schools.

When teachers use their position to push their personal religious beliefs and encourage prayer, it communicates to students and parents that they are outsiders—not full members of the political community—if they do not follow the same religious belief. Additionally, the district has an obligation to ensure that teachers are not using their positions to promote their religious beliefs.

After being informed of the constitutional violation, the district worked to bring itself back in line. Pickett detailed action that the district has taken since it received the letter. Superintendent David Baggett directed the assistant superintendent to investigate the incident.

Pickett said:

Upon confirmation that the conduct had occurred, the teacher in question was officially reprimanded on September 13, 2023, by the principal of East Central Middle School.

Among other things, the letter of reprimand to the god-addled teacher stressed the seriousness of their misconduct and:

Expressly stated that teachers are prohibited from using their positions to promote personal religious beliefs. The letter also stated any expressions of religious viewpoints in the classroom and like settings is considered a constitutional violation and must cease immediately.

The district has additionally handed a slide show titled ‘Religion in our Schools’ to all principals in the district to be utilized in the training of personnel.

The FFRF said it found the steps taken by the district to be satisfactory.

FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor added:

This teacher deserved an ‘F’ for presenting her vulnerable young students with prayer cards in their first week of school,. Our public schools exist to educate, not to indoctrinate children in the religious faith of their teachers.

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4 responses to “‘Prayer cards’ removed from Mississippi school; teacher warned cease proselytizing in classrooms”

  1. malcolmjdodd Avatar
    malcolmjdodd

    The teacher is likely a Jehovah’s Witless, who have to proselytise every minute of every day in every way.

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  2. Broga Avatar
    Broga

    Broga: I can imagine the outrage from religious teachers if colleagues surreptitiously conveyed their personal atheist opinions. There seems to be an assumption that Christian beliefs must be acceptable. It is encouraging to see that challenged.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  3. Matilda Avatar
    Matilda

    Oh that poor persecuted teacher!! (s/BTW).
    I first stated noticing the howls of ‘persecution’ from my then fellow x-tians in 2007. We began attending a Brethren Assembly – don’t ask!! One Elder who preached and ran the mid-week ‘evangelistic’ lunch club in our village, began to take every opportunity to denounce to both sets of attendees, the fact that such complaints about x-tian evangelism were the thin end of the wedge, that soon full-blown silencing of x-tians was coming. They – we – were so accustomed to our entitlement in a ‘x-tian nation,’ we failed to see times have changed, UK life is largely secular, much more multi-ethnic now. And as I was slowly deconverting, I realised that those Brethren folks only wanted converts who would embrace their strict Brethren doctrines…..a few elderly lunch club members tried to say they were already x-tian, they attended the Methodist Chapel. No doubt those Elders were praying they’d see the light and join their Brethren Assembly and leave that doctrinally-incorrect Wesleyan one. I’m so pleased that the ‘x-tian privilege’ I took for granted for so long, is now largely disappearing.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. barriejohn Avatar
      barriejohn

      Mine evaporated long ago! I remember reading in magazines like “Precious Seed” reports from evangelists whose “Beach Missions” and the like had been prohibited, and requests for “prayer” that their “freedom to preach the Gospel in this Christian country” might be restored. What an outrage that people enjoying a day out with their families should have to put up with such disturbance, and, worse still, that their children should be indoctrinated with such nonsense. No one was suggesting that they should be prohibited from practising their faith, but that’s how they saw it. And you’re right about the PBs, but I know of places where the assemblies themselves are split right down the middle, and if you attended one belonging to one faction you wouldn’t be welcome at the others!

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