Barry Duke, the Angry Atheist

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   “The curriculum had already drawn tensions among the county’s religious parents, with some worrying about appropriateness and arguing the material…

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   As someone who produced dozens of nativity plays as a teacher and a Sunday School leader, that title ‘A Gay…

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   The defence of a Christian view never seems to be settled by debate: exchange of facts, reference to historical events.…

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   But …… Rwanda is a safe place: Parliament says so.https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2024/8/contentsSafety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act 2024 S 2 Safety…

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   Religion can survive only on the most unquestionable assumptions. The statements made on Sundays on the BBC as if they…

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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