Nearly every day we hear about another challenge to religious liberty. The latest
story comes from an elementary school in Georgia. Teachers received an email that said
the following. “As of today, if you have a Bible verse on your school email and/or Bible
verse posted in the classroom, please remove it immediately.” The email went on to say:
“If a student-led prayer is initiated, you must remove yourself and step away from the
group.”
Apparently Bible verses, Christmas card displays, Bible screen savers, and
Christian music are all off-limits. The reason? The school received a complaint from
Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. Back in April, the group filed
a complaint about prayers at school events as well as teachers participating in the prayers.
Never mind that Americans United for the Separation of Church and State as well
as other similar organizations have usually been on the losing side when they call for
such “religious cleansing” of the classroom. Their complaint is usually intimidating
enough so that school leaders will just give into the pressure.
One teacher’s spouse, Mr. Cook, was so incensed that he formed a grassroots
organization to fight for religious liberty in the school. “I fear that if more of us do not
stand firm against the progressive cancer of political correctness that is eating way at our
society,” he warned, “we may not have much time left before we lose all religious
liberty.”
An attorney for the Liberty Institute flew to Georgia and spoke to a packed room
at the Board of Education. He argued that this is “viewpoint discrimination that the
school board is not permitted to engage in.” His comments brought many “Amens” from
those in the room.
Certainly Christian teachers, or any other teachers for that matter, should not
abuse their position when teaching elementary school children. But Christian teachers do
not lose their religious rights at the door to the classroom. This is one more example of
the need for Christians to exercise their religious rights.