Students in a math class in Florida’s Palm Beach County School District will no longer be subject to proselytization – thanks to the diligent efforts of the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
The FFRF wrote to the prefecture in January, after a Santaluces High School math teacher distributed Christmas devotional pamphlets from New Life Alliance Church to all of his students. The pamphlet proselytizes through a fictionalized depiction of the candy cane’s history, claiming that the white stripes represent Jesus’ purity and the red his bloodshed, accompanied by numerous Bible verses. He told students that they “belong to Jesus” and “should only follow Him.” This instilled the doctrine at the heart of the Christian religion that Jesus lived a “pure and sinless life” and then died on the cross “for all of us that we might have eternal life through him.”
“The district must ensure that none of its employees illegally and inappropriately indoctrinate students on religious matters by discussing their personal religious beliefs, preaching, inviting students to their church, or creating any other way a religious environment in their classrooms,” said the FFRF lawyer. Chris Line wrote.
It is a fundamental principle of Establishment Clause jurisprudence that a public school cannot promote, prefer or promote religion, the FFRF reiterated. The district has an obligation under law to ensure that its teachers do not violate the rights of its students by missioning and coercing students to participate in religious events or attend church. If the district continued to turn a blind eye to the blatant proselytizing and inappropriate conduct occurring in this teacher’s classroom, it would be complicit in a blatant constitutional violation and breach of trust.
The FFRF’s appeal to reason prevailed.
Superintendent Michael J. Burke sent an email to the FFRF complainant, writing: “This is a blatant violation of school board policy and we completely agree that it does not there is no place in our schools for proselytism or anti-Semitism. » The teacher received a written reprimand following an investigation, which is placed in the employee’s personnel file.
“Religion and math are a serious violation in a public school classroom,” says FFRF co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor. “We appreciate the district acting quickly in this matter and preventing a teacher from abusing the trust parents and students place in her.”
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a national nonprofit organization with more than 40,000 members and several chapters across the country, including more than 2,000 members and a local chapter in Florida. Its goals are to protect the constitutional principle of separation between state and church and to educate the public on issues related to nontheism.
