Students sue Tenn. county schools over religion
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A federal lawsuit filed Monday on behalf of students accused Cheatham County schools of promoting Christianity and violating the U.S. Constitution.
The complaint states the schools showed a pattern of endorsing religion that included the distribution of Gideon's Bibles in class, a teacher who has a cross on a classroom wall and sectarian prayers at school events.
"They let Bible promoters present their particular versions of the Bible during class time where there is compulsory attendance," said George Barrett, one of the attorneys for the plaintiffs. "It discourages honest citizens who have differing views from those of the dominant religion from participating in the public schools."
School district representatives did not immediately return calls from The Associated Press.
Tricia Herzfeld, staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, which filed the suit along with Barrett's law firm, said attorneys worked with the school district for six months to try to reach an agreement before suing.
Herzfeld said the district made some changes, such as removing Bible verses from a Sycamore High School Web site, but refused to address an ongoing pattern of first amendment violations.
ACLU-TN Executive Director Hedy Weinberg said not all religious display in school violates the Constitution, but to be legal it cannot be compulsory and must be student-led.
The suit, which seeks an injunction to stop the religious activities, was filed in Nashville on behalf of two current students and two former students. It claims the plaintiffs "are a captive audience for school officials' religious displays and activities" because they take place during class time or during other events the children are required to attend.
The ACLU successfully sued the Wilson County School District over similar issues in 2008. In that case, a federal judge found the district inappropriately promoted religion at its Lakeview Elementary School.
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